Papaya Slows Growth of Cancerous Tumors

Researchers found in a study that the leaf extract and tea of papaya greatly slowed the growth of cancerous tumors. Nam Dang of the University of Florida said the anticancer capability of papaya was strongest when large doses of papaya leaf tea were administered into cells.

Photo: Papaya Slows Growth of Cancerous Tumors

The study shows that papaya is effective against cancer of the cervix, breast, lung, liver, and pancreas. The papaya’s effectiveness lies in its ability to increase the body’s production of immune-system regulating molecules called Th1-type cytokines, Daily Contributor reported.

Papaya has been used as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments in many parts of the world, especially Asia. Deng said the results are consistent with reports from indigenous populations in Australia and his native Vietnam.

The researchers said papaya extract did not have any toxic effects on normal cells, avoiding a common side effect of many cancer treatments.

Researchers exposed 10 different types of cancer cell cultures to four strengths of papaya leaf extract and measured the effect after 24 hours. Papaya slowed the growth of tumors in all the cultures.

Dang and a colleague have applied to patent the process to distill the papaya extract through the University of Tokyo, AFP informs.

"We have always known that papaya has a lot of interesting things in there," said Aggarwal, a professor in the center’s department of experimental therapeutics who was not involved in the UF research. Foremost among papaya’s health-promoting agents is papain, papaya’s signature enzyme, which is found in both the fruit and the leaves.

"This paper has not gone too much into identifying the components responsible for the activity, which is just fine. I think that is a good beginning," Aggarwal said.

Aggarwal also noted that papaya extract’s success in reducing cancer in laboratory cell cultures must next be replicated in animal and human studies.

"I hope Dr. Dang takes it further, because I think we need enthusiastic people like him to move it forward," Aggarwal said, Insciences Organisation informs.