Theeuroblog.com – Health, Food and Travel

I love this fruit but I seldom eat papaya now. The papaya is a fruit of the plant Carica papaya. I could still remember a bit my biology class before. This fruit is rich in lycopene, a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots and watermelons.

The ripe fruit is usually eaten raw, without skin or seeds. The unripe green fruit of papaya can be eaten cooked, usually in curries, salads and stews. It has a relatively high amount of pectin, which can be used to make jellies.

In the Philippines and other parts of Asia, green papaya is used both raw and cooked. Papaya can be used as a food, a cooking aid, and in medicine. The stem and bark are also used in rope production.
Medicinal Potential of Papaya

* The juice has an in vitro antiproliferative effect on liver cancer cells, probably due to its component of lycopene or immune system stimulation.
* Papaya seed could be used as an antibacterial agent for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella typhi, although further research is needed before advocating large-scale therapy.
* Papaya seed extract may be nephroprotective (protect the kidneys) in toxicity-induced kidney failure.

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