Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigation of Carica Papaya Leaf

Carica papaya belonging to the Caricaceae family is an effective medicinal herb that is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases throughout the world including Bangladesh. It can be used for treatment of a numerous diseases like warts, corns, sinuses, eczema, cutaneous tubercles, glandular tumors, blood pressure, dyspepsia, constipation, amenorrhoea, general debility, expel worms and stimulate reproductive organs and many, as a result Carica papaya can be regarded as a Neutraceutical. Studies conducted in some countries have shown that there is a significant antibacterial activity in organic extracts of different parts of C. papaya. The present study was designed for the evaluation of biological activities of the crude extract of Carica papaya leaf with special emphasis to the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity using standard chemical procedures. Powdered leaves of Carica papaya were extracted with methanol. The extracts were tested for antibacterial activity against gram positive bacteria such as B. cereus, B. subtilitis, βhemolytic streptococcus and B. megaterium. The extract was also tested against the fungus Candida albicans. The antimicrobial test was carried out by disc diffusion method. The leaf extract provided mild to moderate antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms at different concentrations (250, 500, 750 μg/disc). The total phenolic content of the extract was also determined by the modified FolinCiocalteu reagent. The reagent measures the amount of substance being tested needed to inhibit the oxidation of the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The reagent reacted with phenols and non-phenolic reducing substances to form chromogens that were detected spectrophotometrically. The crude methanolic extract of Carica papaya leaf exhibited significant antioxidant activity.