Carica papaya L. (CP) (family Caricaceae), commonly known as papaya, is a widely cultivated tropical fruit plant valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and economic importance. Native to southern Mexico and Central America, papaya is now grown extensively in tropical and subtropical regions, with India being the largest global producer. Traditionally, C. papaya has been used in various medicinal systems for the management of digestive disorders, wounds, infectious diseases, and inflammatory conditions. Different parts of the plant, including leaves, fruits, seeds, and latex, contain diverse bioactive constituents such as papain, chymopapain, flavonoids, alkaloids, carotenoids, lycopene, vitamins, and antioxidants, which contribute to its broad pharmacological activities. These compounds exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, and immune-modulatory properties. In addition to its therapeutic potential, papaya is nutritionally rich, providing essential vitamins, dietary fiber, and phytonutrients, making it an affordable and valuable dietary component. This review comprehensively summarizes the taxonomy, origin, nutritional composition, phytochemistry, traditional and ethnopharmacological uses, post-harvest practices, genomics, genetic improvement, and commercially available value-added products of Carica papaya. By integrating findings from diverse scientific sources, this article highlights key research developments and emphasizes the potential of C. papaya as a functional food and medicinal plant, while identifying future research opportunities for its effective utilization in healthcare and agriculture.
Jaya Rani Sonkar* Smrutiranjan Dash (Sun,) studied this question.
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