Papita (Carica papaya linn.)

Papita (Carica papaya linn.)

Herb's Description

Papita (Carica papaya linn.) belongs to Caricaceae family is a small fast growing, soft-wooded and short lived tree with milky sap. It has palmate and glabrous leaves. Its flowers are greenish white or cream yellow. The fruit of the plant is oblong, fragrant and succulent. Its seeds colour are dark. A well pollinated fruit may contain as many as 1,200 seeds. The number of seeds are also dependent on the variety of the fruit and its size. The skin of the fruit is green in colour while it is immature. It turns yellow to orange as the fruit ripens.

It is native of southern Mexico and tropical Central America. It occurs in Australia, India, Pakistan, Hawaii, Philippines and Sri Lanka. The odour of ripe fruit of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) is pleasant. Taste of the ripe fruit is sweet.

Common Names of Papita (Carica papaya Linn.)

The Arabic names of papita are Shajrat-ul- papita and Arand kharbuza. Its english names are papaya and pawpa. The Urdu names of this herb are Amba- hindi, Arand kharbuza, paapeeto and papita.

Temperament of the Drug

The temperament of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) is warm and dry in first order. (Hot 1° and Moist 1°)

Pharmacological Actions

The pharmacological actions of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) are anthelmintic, anti-bacterial, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-emetic, anti-fertility, anti-inflammatory, anti-nauseant, anti-phlegmatic, antidote, calorific, carminative, digestive, diuretic, Emmenagogue, resolvent, sedative and gastric tonic. Some lithontriptic activity also has been reported.

Roots: Purgative

Seed (powder): Anti-fertility

Unripe fruit (milky juice): Anthelmintic, Emmenagogue, Diuretic, Vermifuge and Laxative.

Indications

The main indication of Flowers of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) is jaundice.
Leaves of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) are indicated specially in nervous pain.
Papita (Carica papaya Linn.) leaf juice is a possible herbal medicine to cure dengue fever.
Juice of (Carica papaya Linn.) leaf is a popular beverage. Its young leaves, shoots, and fruits are cooked as a vegetable.
Papita (Carica papaya Linn.) fruits are a source of flavouring agent used in candies, jellies, preserves and ice creams.
The Indications of ripe fruit of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) are dyspepsia, habitual constipation, flatulence, asthma, dropsical affections, rheumatic pain, bleeding piles and piles.
Dried fruit of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) is indicated in enlarged liver and enlarged spleen.
Roots of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) are indicated in piles and Yaws.
Seed powder of of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) are mainly indicated in watery stools, colic, abdominal discomfort and paralysis.
The indications of unripe fruit (milky juice) of papita (Carica papaya Linn.) are ringworm, skin inflammation, psoriasis, freckles, tongue fissures, tongue ulcers and ringworm infection.