Benefits of Papaya Leaf Extract
Papaya leaves are brimming with vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that do everything from supporting digestion, to promoting healthy hair, to fighting different types of cancer. Here are seven health benefits of papaya leaf extract:
1. Increases Blood Platelet Production
If you’ve just suffered from a serious illness, keeping your blood platelet count high is vital. Research shows that papaya leaf extract can increase red blood cell and platelet counts. Patients with dengue fever, a mosquito-borne tropical disease that can cause blood platelet counts to drop to dangerous levels, have benefited from the papaya leaf extract. A 2016 meta-analysis of four studies found that while large clinical trials have not yet been conducted, papaya leaf extract is associated with an increase in platelet counts and a decrease in hospitalization days for patients with dengue. Further research suggests that the ethanol seed, leaf, and pulp extract of papaya may have potential health benefits for general blood-related medical problems.
2. Boosts Your Immune System
If you can’t kick a common cold, you may want to try papaya leaf extract. High concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin C in papaya leaves work to strengthen your immune system and keep colds and coughs from returning. One study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology also concluded that papaya leaf extracts can boost Th1 type cytokines in the immune system. These signaling molecules regulate the immune system, giving papaya more immunotherapeutic benefits and providing treatment and prevention of certain diseases and allergic disorders.
3. Makes Your Skin Glow
Papayas contain an abundance of vitamins and enzymes that make them powerful antioxidants. Rhonda Klein, board certified dermatologist at Connecticut Dermatology Group, explains that vitamin C, E, D, A and papain contribute to your skin’s health. “Papain, a natural exfoliating enzyme in papaya, helps clear pores, leaving skin glowing and healthy,” says Klein.
Vitamin A and alpha hydroxy acids in papayas can also break up dead skin cells to improve skin tone, help with collagen remodeling, and lightening lentigos. Klein added that papayas are rich in vitamin C, which works to naturally lighten sun spots and soothe the skin. Dr. Alex Roher, certified anesthesiologist and founder of SDBotox, says that the vitamin C in papaya leaves can release antioxidants that fight skin aging. “This antioxidant is beneficial for issues like acne, wrinkles, and heavy pigmentation,” he says.
4. Anti-Inflammatory
The anti-inflammatory properties of papaya leaf extract can help reduce stubborn inflammation. Papain, which is mostly concentrated in the papaya leaf, is thought to reduce inflammation in the body by breaking down damaged and oxidized proteins. These damaged proteins are associated with several autoimmune disorders that make the body much more vulnerable to disease. Susie Wang, Founder of organic skincare and cosmetic brands, 100% Pure and Puristy, says that, in addition to papain, papaya leaves are “rich with carica, a potent anti-inflammatory.”
5. Supports Digestion
At this point, you’re aware that papaya leaves contain some pretty powerful enzymes. Along with papain and chymopapain, the leaves contain protease and amylase. Together, they support proper breakdown of carbs and proteins, which helps with digestion. As a result, papaya leaf extract is often positively associated with digestive or gastric problems, including stomach ulcers. One study shows that the gastric ulcer index of alcohol-induced rats was significantly reduced when they were pretreated with carica papaya leaf extract, and concluded that it could potentially protect against gastric ulcers and oxidative stress.
6. Promotes Healthy Hair
If you’re looking for longer, healthier, and shinier hair, papaya leaf extract could be your answer. The scalp can collect too much oil, dirt, and bacteria, which causes an overproduction of yeast. “This is happening often since many women are shampooing their hair less,” she says. “This can cause ringworm, dandruff, psoriasis, itchy scalp, thinning hair (if hair follicles get clogged for too long, hair follicles will plug up and die, and hair can never grow out of that dead follicle), etc.” Papaya leaf purifies and treats the scalp without stripping it because it is rich in karapain, a deep cleansing detoxer with natural anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. For the hair, all the nutrients in papaya leaf work together for healthier, shinier locks. This isn’t to say that shampooing your hair less is always a bad thing. Shampooing less can restore shine to your hair, keep healthy amounts of natural oils on your scalp, reduce frizz, and more. It all depends on your hair and your scalp’s oil glands.
7. Potentially Fights Cancer
Papain and other proteolytic enzymes found in papaya leaves are understood to break down fibrin protein, which is involved in the process of forming protective coatings for cancer cells. Their ability to destroy cancer cells’ protective coatings has sparked researchers’ interests and created a growing body of studies that examine the possibility of using papain-rich substances as part of cancer treatment. For instance, University of Florida and Japanese researchers teamed up to test how papaya leaf extract affects breast, liver, cervical, lung, and pancreatic cancer. They found that high doses of papaya leaf tea slowed the growth of every type of tumor tested. Papaya leaves also contain acetogenins — polyketides derived from long-chained fatty acids with the potential to prevent the growth of vessels in or around a tumor and kill cells resistant to chemotherapy.
