La Papaya (Carica papaya L.) è un frutto intensivamente coltivato nelle regioni tropicali e subtropicali che ha una lunga storia come medicina tradizionale per la cura di varie malattie e viene utilizzata nel settore alimentare come complemento di alimenti, bevande.

Appartiene alla famiglia botanica delle Caricaceae.

La papaya è diffusa principalmente nell'America centrale ed in Brasile, è stata importata nei paesi mediterranei, in particolare in Israele e in Sicilia dove viene coltivata in serre.

Varietà :

• Solo
• Sunrise
• Maradol
• Kapoho solo

Il frutto pesa circa 400/450 grammi.

Nella sua composizione si trovano polifenoli e flavonoidi che svolgono un'azione antibatterica ed antiossidante (1). Nella polpa e nella pelle è presente un buon contenuto di Vitamina A, C, E, acido pantotenico, magnesio e potassio.

Inoltre, la papaya e la fragola contengono un buon contenuto di carotenoidi nella polpa (2) :

• ß-criptoxantina  34,2%
• licopene  8,31%
• β-carotene  6,26%

La polvere fermentata di papaia esercita un'azione antiossidante contro le malattie legate all'età e malattie neurologiche e può essere utile per contrastare un'eccessiva produzione di radicali liberi in pazienti con la malattia di Alzheimer (3).

I componenti dell'olio estratto dai semi di papaya, acido oleico, acido linoleico, saponine, antociani, tocoferolo, hanno dimostrato effetti benefici sul sistema cardiovascolare (4).

Si può quindi concludere che questo frutto è un nutraceutico.

Papaya studi

Carica papaya

Bibliografia________________________________________________________________________

(1) Asghar N, Naqvi SA, Hussain Z, Rasool N, Khan ZA, Shahzad SA, Sherazi TA, Janjua MR, Nagra SA, Zia-Ul-Haq M, Jaafar HZ. Compositional difference in antioxidant and antibacterial activity of all parts of the Carica papaya using different solvents. Chem Cent J. 2016 Feb 3;10:5. doi: 10.1186/s13065-016-0149-0. 

Abstract. Background: Carica papaya is a well known medicinal plant used in the West and Asian countries to cope several diseases. Patients were advised to eat papaya fruit frequently during dengue fever epidemic in Pakistan by physicians. This study was conducted to establish Polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidant potential profile of extracts of all major parts of the C. papaya with seven major solvents i.e. water, ethanol, methanol, n-butanol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. Results: TPC, TFC, antioxidant and antibacterial potential were determined using different aqueous and organic solvents in addition to the determination of trace element in leaves, pulp and peel of C. papaya. Total soluble phenolics and flavonoids were found in promising quantity (≈66 mg GAE/g) especially in case of methanol and ethanol extracts. Antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical scavenging assay indicated leaves, bark, roots and pulp extracts showed >75.0 % scavenging potential while leaves and pulp showed 84.9 and 80.9 % inhibition of peroxidation, respectively. Reducing power assay showed leaves, pulp and roots extracts active to reduce Fe(3+) to Fe(2+) ions. The antibacterial study showed pulp extract is the best to cope infectious action of bacteria. Conclusion: This study was conducted to test the medicinal profile of all parts of C. papaya by extracting secondary metabolites with organic and aqueous solvents. Ethanol and methanol both were found to be the best solvents of choice to extract natural products to get maximum medicinal benefits and could be used to medicinal formulation against different infectious diseases.Graphical abstractMedicinal evaluation of different parts of C. papaya.

(2)  Swada JG, Keeley CJ, Ghane MA, Engeseth NJ. Relationship between pulp structure breakdown and nutritional value of papaya (Carica papaya) and strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) nectars using alternative thermal and non-thermal processing techniques. J Sci Food Agric. 2016 May;96(7):2514-23. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.7372. 

(3) Barbagallo M, Marotta F, Dominguez LJ. Oxidative stress in patients with Alzheimer's disease: effect of extracts of fermented papaya powder. Mediators Inflamm. 2015;2015:624801. doi: 10.1155/2015/624801. Epub 2015 Apr 7. PMID: 25944987; 

Abstract. Brain tissue is particularly susceptible to oxidative stress (OS). Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced antioxidant systems, and decreased efficiency in repairing mechanisms have been linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Postmortem studies in AD patients' brains have shown oxidative damage markers (i.e., lipid peroxidation, protein oxidative damage, and glycoxidation). Fermented papaya (FPP, a product of Carica papaya Linn fermentation with yeast) is a nutraceutical supplement with favorable effects on immunological, hematological, inflammatory, and OS parameters in chronic/degenerative diseases. We studied 40 patients (age 78.2 ± 1.1 years), 28 AD patients, and 12 controls. Urinary 8-OHdG was measured to assess OS. Twenty AD patients were supplemented with FPP (Immunage, 4.5 grams/day) for 6 months, while controls did not receive any treatment. At baseline, 8-OHdG was significantly higher in patients with AD versus controls (13.7 ± 1.61 ng/mL versus 1.6 ± 0.12 ng/mL, P < 0.01). In AD patients FPP significantly decreased 8-OHdG (14.1 ± 1.7 ng/mL to 8.45 ± 1.1 ng/mL, P < 0.01), with no significant changes in controls. AD is associated with increased OS, and FPP may be helpful to counteract excessive ROS in AD patients.

(4) Santana LF, Inada AC, Espirito Santo BLSD, Filiú WFO, Pott A, Alves FM, Guimarães RCA, Freitas KC, Hiane PA. Nutraceutical Potential of Carica papaya in Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients. 2019 Jul 16;11(7):1608. doi: 10.3390/nu11071608. 

Abstract. Carica papaya L. is a well-known fruit worldwide, and its highest production occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. The pulp contains vitamins A, C, and E, B complex vitamins, such as pantothenic acid and folate, and minerals, such as magnesium and potassium, as well as food fibers. Phenolic compounds, such as benzyl isothiocyanate, glucosinolates, tocopherols (α and δ), β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene and carotenoids, are found in the seeds. The oil extracted from the seed principally presents oleic fatty acid followed by palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids, whereas the leaves have high contents of food fibers and polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, pro-anthocyanins, tocopherol, and benzyl isothiocyanate. Studies demonstrated that the nutrients present in its composition have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, protecting it against cardiovascular illnesses and preventing harm caused by free radicals. It has also been reported that it aids in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and in the reduction of cholesterol levels. Thus, both the pulp and the other parts of the plant (leaves and seeds) present antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic actions, which, in turn, can contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.