Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
a 15-20% reduction is observed after freeze-drying (Sidhu
2006). Lobo and Cano (1998) observed that the freez-
ing process itself did not result in significant changes in
the more commonly assessed quality parameters of tex-
ture, color, and flavor. However, during storage at
pregnancy) or teratogenic properties (causes malformations
of the fetus) because it is able to trigger uterine contrac-
tions (Adebiyi et al., 2002). Moreover, the seed extracts of
Carica papaya reveal spermicidal activity in vitro (Lohiya
et al., 2000).
Plant cysteine proteinases are potential candidates for
a novel class of anthelmintics urgently required for the
treatment
24 C,
changes in sensorial characteristics occurred that became
more evident as storage continued. Freezing and canning
processing of papaya slices led to significant decreases in
the total carotenoids (Cano et al., 1996). Moyano et al.
(2002) evaluated the effect of combined processes of os-
motic dehydration and freezing on papaya preservation.
Fast freezing was the best process to preserve the tex-
ture. When the osmotic dehydration was performed using
65 Brix for the concentration of the osmotic medium, 20 C
for the syrup temperature, and 60 min for the osmotic de-
hydration time, the product obtained resulted in 98% of
acceptance.
of
humans
and
domestic
livestock
(Stepek
et al., 2005).
Papaya is a good source of carotenoids, natural pigments
responsible for the color of the fruit and related to biolog-
ical functions or actions in humans such as provitamin A
activity, enhancement of the immune system, reduction of
the risk of degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovas-
cular diseases, macular degeneration, and cataracts (Cano
et al., 1996; Chandrika et al., 2003). Some carotenoids are
provitamin A, and others are not. The consumption of juice
or fresh or dry slices of papaya contribute to raise serum
retinol levels, the juice and the fresh fruit being the best
forms because they have higher bioavailability values and
therefore can improve efficiently vitamin A status of popu-
lation (Gouado et al., 2007).
Moreover, carotenoids such as lycopene present in
red-fleshed papayas are more efficient antioxidants than
ß-carotene (Di Mascio et al., 1989) and have been linked
with reduction of the risk of cancer, especially lung, stom-
ach, and prostate cancer (Giovannucci, 1999).
Phenolic compounds can be extracted from papaya leaves
and used for their beneficial effects on human health as teas
or infusions (Canini et al., 2007). Thus, papaya leaf extract
may potentially provide the means for the treatment and
prevention of selected human diseases such as cancer and
various allergic disorders and may also serve as immunoad-
juvant for vaccine therapy (Otsuki et al., 2010).
An important and promising group of compounds that
have a cancer-chemopreventive property are organosulfur
compounds such as isothiocyanates. Several epidemiologi-
cal studies indicated that the dietary consumption of isoth-
iocyanates such as benzyl isothiocyante (BITC) present in
papaya inversely correlates with the risk of developing lung,
breast, and colon cancers, providing evidence that they have
a potential to prevent cancer in humans (Nakamura, 2009).
Therefore papaya can be considered a good dietary source
of glucosinolate and isothiocyanates.
Fibach et al. (2010) observed an amelioration of ox-
idative stress in red blood cells from patients with
ß-thalassemia and E-ß-thalassemia after administration of
a fermented papaya preparation. This product has antiox-
idant activity and may have a therapeutic potential for
the prevention of contact hypersensitive immuno-response
Health significance
Papain is used for combating dyspepsia and other digestive
disorders (Morton, 1987); as a phytotherapeutic agent in the
treatment of pressure ulcers, gangrene, eschars, burns, and
the acceleration of wound healing; as a debriding chem-
ical agent to remove damaged or necrotic tissue (Starley
et al., 1999; Almeida et al., 2002), and for preventing
cornea scar deformation, for edemas, for inflammatory pro-
cesses; and to treat ulcers, dissolve membranes in diphthe-
ria, and reduce swelling, fever, and adhesions after surgery,
and also as an ingredient in cleaning solutions for soft
contact lenses.
A related enzyme produced by papaya is chymopapain,
which has different characteristics of mobility and sol-
ubility. It is used as a protein digestant and to shrink or
dissolve ruptured disks in certain kinds of lumbar spine
injuries. Chemonucleolysis (intradisk administration of
chymopapain) is a procedure to treat intervertebral disk
hernia, although the remarkable rate of sensitization after
chemonucleolysis may partially limit the usefulness of
the procedure (Garciaortega et al., 1991). Dando et al.
(1995) suggested that removal of glycyl endopeptidase and
caricain from pharmaceutical preparations of chymopapain
may help reduce the incidence of allergic reactions during
chemonucleolysis.
Caricain is another enzyme in the papaya latex that
would be suitable for enzyme therapy in gluten intolerance
(Cornell et al., 2010).
In India and parts of Southeast Asia and Indonesia, con-
sumption of papaya fruit is widely believed to be harm-
ful during pregnancy since unripe papaya is believed to
have abortifacient properties (induces miscarriage during
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