Papaya

Catalogue Type

Seed Catalogue

Scientific Name

Carica papaya

Family

Caricaceae

Distinguishing Characters

The flesh of the fruit varies from yellow to orange to red, and is thick and juicy, with a central cavity filled with many small black seeds.
Papaya seeds contain nutrients that help heal cirrhosis of the liver and improve kidney health, preventing renal failure. Its anti-inflammatory properties help treat arthritis and joint disease.
It contains an alkaloid called carpaine that kills intestinal worms and amoeba parasites.

Photo of Seed

Description

Papayas produce an enzyme, papain, which aids digestion and is used to tenderize meat.

Papain has been used in medicine to treat ulcers and reduce skin adhesions following surgery, and studies have shown that it has antimicrobial properties

. Papain is also used to clarify beer, prepare wool and silk for dyeing, and remove hair from hides before tanning, among other uses.

Papaya is usuallydioecious but hermophrodite type and gynodioecious types are also recognized. In dioecious
type, both male and female plants are separate.