Carica papaya in health and disease: a review of its bioactive compounds for treating various disease conditions, including anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities

Abstract

Plants and their compounds are extensively utilized in various industries, including pharmacy, medicine, food, and cosmetics, making the papaya (Carica papaya) fruit tree economically vital in tropical and subtropical regions. This review provides detailed information on the traditional uses, nutritional content, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity of C. papaya. The authors conducted a comprehensive search using databases like Scopus, PubMed, Scilit, and Google Scholar to gather relevant articles on this title. Papaya extract is commonly used to treat various health issues, including inflammation and pain, hypertension, diabetes, dermatitis, asthma, and stomach problems due to its rich chemical compositions of flavonoids, steroids, sterol, and β-sitosterol. C. papaya extracts exhibit numerous properties anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-arthritic, analgesic, anti-fertility, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, antiviral, wound-healing, etc. in both laboratory and animal studies. C. papaya may contain new active compounds for treating various ailments, but toxicity, efficacy, and clinical trials are needed before its therapeutic use.

Keywords: Carica papaya; Chemical constituents; Nutritional value; Pharmacological activity; Toxicological studies; Traditional use.