New Research Showing Additional Health Benefits of Papaya

Papaya fruit is a rich source of nutrients such as pro-vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins, lycopene, dietary minerals and dietary fiber. Papaya skin, pulp and seeds also contain a variety of phytochemicals, including natural phenols.

24 Oct 2012 --- The amazing health benefits of the delicious fruit and Super Food known as Papaya have been well documented in recent years. However, new medical research conducted by University of Florida researchers as well as an informative article posted at Health and Wellness Portal BeWellBuzz.com have shown new potential health benefits of Papaya in the field of Cancer research.

Papayas are spherical or pear-shaped fruits that can be as long as 20 inches. Papaya fruit is a rich source of nutrients such as pro-vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins, lycopene, dietary minerals and dietary fiber. Papaya skin, pulp and seeds also contain a variety of phytochemicals, including natural phenols. Sold primarily at major grocery store chains and health food stores, Papaya has been popular addition to many people’s daily diet in recent years; primarily due to its sweet taste.

However, recent studies which were published in the February 17th, 2011 edition of the Journal of Ethno Pharmacology, conducted by University of Florida researcher Dr. Nam Dang, and colleagues in Japan have documented papaya’s dramatic anticancer effect against a broad range of lab-grown tumors, including cancers of the cervix, breast, liver, lung and pancreas.

In the above published study, Dr. Dang and his colleagues documented for the first time that papaya leaf extract boosts the production of key signaling molecules called Th1-type cytokines. This regulation of the immune system, in addition to papaya’s direct antitumor effect on various cancers, suggests possible therapeutic strategies that use the immune system to fight cancers.

According to this study, the papaya extract did not have any toxic effects on normal cells, avoiding a common and devastating consequence of many cancer therapy regimens. The success of the papaya extract in acting on cancer without toxicity is what is advancing additional research to be conducted about the medical benefits of Papaya for treating cancer patients.