Botanical name : carica popayaa family : caricacae Chromosome no . 2n= 2x=18 Origin : mexico
INTRODUCTION :
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the major tropical fruit crops, having a production of more than eleven million metric tons per annum
THE NUTRITION COMPOSITION AND FRUIT CHEMISTRY
The papaya fruit is a good source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and carotenoids (provitamin A), two important nutrients for people in the subtropical and tropical regions. Table 1 shows the nutrient composition of papaya from data published in 1965, 1990, and 1999
Moisture (%) 86–89
Carbohydrate (g) 9.5–12.2
Protein (N × 6.25: g) 0.36–0.5
Fat (g) 0.06–0.1
Fiber (g) 0.5–0.6
POPAYA LEAVES ADVANTAGES
Papaya leaves and their extracts are sold as dietary supplements to improve the immune system and increase platelet counts. Lab studies showed that papaya leaf extracts have antibacterial effects. A few clinical studies found benefits of papaya leaf extract in treating dengue fever and in increasing platelet counts.