PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON CARICA PAPAYA LEAF JUICE

Whole plant parts, fruits, roots, bark, peel, seeds and pulp of Carica papaya are known to have medicinal properties. It has been used for treatment of numerous diseases like warts, corns, sinuses, eczema, cutaneous tubercles, blood pressure, dyspepsia, constipation, amenorrhoea, general debility, expel thread worms and stimulate reproductive organs. Ayurvedic literature reveals that papaya leaf extract has haemostatic properties and recent studies revealed its ability on platelet augmentation in cyclophosphamide induced thrombocytopenia rat model. Pilot studies done in dengue patients with leaf juice revealed the effect of leaf juice on elevating white blood cells, platelet count and recovery without hospital admission. Hence, in the current study, an effort was taken to study the phytochemical profile of papaya leaf extract using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (LCMS). Aqueous extract of young leaves were taken and subjected to LCMS analysis for phytochemical profiling using Water and acetonitrile as mobile phase. On LCMS analysis followed by integrated library search, 21constituents were identified and it included pharmacologically active phyto compounds, alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids and also, amino acids. Further studies can be done on these constituents to identify and isolate the most active bio constituent attributing platelet augmentation, anticancer property, anti acne activity, easing menstrual pain and relieving nausea.