Family Name: Caricaceae
Botanical Name(s): Carica Papaya
Popular Name(s): Papaya, Paw Paw, Kates, Papaw
Parts Used: Leaves, Fruits, Roots
Habitat: Through out IndiaDescription: It is a small-unbranched tree, single stem growing to 5-10 m tall, with the spirally arranged leaves; the lower trunk is conspicuously scarred with the leaf. The leaves are large, 50-70 cm diameter, deeply palmate lobed with 7 lobes.
Uses: Carica papaya contains many biologically active compounds. Two important compounds are chymopapain and papain, which are supposed to aid in digestion. The level of the compounds varies in the fruit, latex, leaves and roots. Papaya has been used for digestive problems and intestinal worms. The softening qualities of papain have been taken advantage of in the treatment of warts, corns, sinuses, and chronic forms of scaly eczema, cutaneous tubercles, and other hardness of the skin, produced by irritation. Papain also is used to treat arthritis.