Papaya has many uses, but can it cure cancer?

Papaya leaves and flowers are used for medicinal purposes.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Triet, pharmacist at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, branch 3, papaya has many nutritional values ​​and vitamins necessary for the body. Ripe fruit contains provitamin A such as: β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamins A, E, B5, B6, folic acid...

The leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots of the papaya tree are all used as medicine. In folk medicine, papaya leaves are used as an antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, and anti-helminthic. Root decoction is used to treat venereal diseases, hemorrhoids, and warts. Carpain from papaya leaves has the effect of slowing the heart rate.

The white latex of papaya contains an enzyme called papain. Papain has the ability to hydrolyze proteins, is used to tenderize meat, as an antiseptic for wound dressings, for indigestion, ringworm, psoriasis, cancer, and to neutralize certain toxins and toxalbumin.

Papaya is a familiar fruit to Vietnamese people. Illustration photo: Shutterstock

According to the documentMedicinal plants and herbs of VietnamAccording to Professor Do Tat Loi, people often use papaya latex as medicine to treat worms such as pinworms, roundworms, and pork tapeworms.

Papaya seeds have strong antibacterial properties. Fresh or dried male papaya flowers steamed with sugar are used to treat coughs, pneumonia, and loss of voice. Papaya roots are decocted and used as a medicine to stop bleeding in cases of hemorrhage and kidney stones.

"It can be seen that, according to folk experience, papaya is both a food and a multifunctional medicinal herb," ​​Dr. Triet shared.

The truth about the rumor that male papaya flowers cure cancer

Recently, on social networks and by word of mouth, people have been spreading information that papaya leaves and flowers (especially male papaya flowers) are like a “miracle drug” that can cure many types of cancer. Dr. Triet affirmed that previously recorded documents did not mention the cancer treatment effects of papaya leaves and flowers.

Looking up many domestic and foreign sources, he found that most of the cancer studies on papaya leaves and flowers were in vitro tests on cancer cell lines cultured outside the living body, and there were not many studies on animals. In particular, there were no studies on humans (clinical studies).

Some studies by foreign authors also showed that papaya leaves have moderate inhibitory effects on some in vitro cultured cancer cell lines and recommended that further studies are needed to confirm.

Dr. Triet stated that there is not enough scientific basis to show that using male papaya leaves and flowers can prevent and treat cancer.

Recently, Dr. Dang Huy Quoc Thinh - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital also said that folk methods passed down by word of mouth such as drinking papaya leaves, medicinal leaves... have absolutely no scientific basis and are not beneficial for cancer patients.

"We meet many cancer patients who do not seek treatment immediately but follow instructions on the internet. They take this medicine and that medicine, but it is not effective. By the time they return to the hospital, the cancer is already at a very late stage and difficult to control," said Dr. Thinh.

Notes when using papaya leaves and flowers

Doctor, pharmacist Nguyen Thanh Triet said that currently, the toxicity of papaya leaves and flowers has not been fully evaluated. People who use papaya leaves and flowers as tea need to pay attention to the dosage, about 4-12g/day for a certain period of time, do not drink it instead of water.

In addition, caution should be exercised when using it with special subjects such as children, pregnant women and people with stomach ulcers. When using papaya leaves and flowers for treatment or supporting treatment, it is necessary to consult a specialist in the field of traditional medicine for appropriate use.