SOME BENEFICIAL PROPERTIES OF CARICA PAPAYA LINN. LEAVES AND HOW THEY VARY ACCORDING TO SEASONS AND SITE OF COLLECTION

Abstract

Background: Carica papaya Linn, belonging to the family Caricaceae, and it’s an important
medicinal herb. Different morphological parts of the plant are traditionally used for prevention
and treatment of various diseases. However, the medicinal values of herbs are affected by
season and site of collection.
Aim: This study evaluated how geographical location and seasons of harvest affect the
medicinal properties of Carica papaya leaf.
Methods: Thirty C. papaya leaf samples were collected from three collection sites in five local
government areas of Kaduna state, Nigeria, during rainy and dry seasons. Antioxidant activity
of the ethanol extracts of the various samples was determined using DPPH free radical
scavenging method, while the elemental analysis was conducted using atomic absorption
spectroscopy.
Results: Samples were found to be highly potent in scavenging DPPH free radical with
significant (P < .05) difference observed between the EC50 (efficient concentration at 50 %) of
the various samples and ascorbic acid (positive control). The antioxidant activities of the plant
were found to be higher in dry season compared to rainy season. Samples were found to be rich
in iron, manganese and zinc and were within the FAO/WHO official limits.
Conclusion: C. papaya leaf when collected during dry season has higher concentrations of
Iron, Manganese and Zinc and also better antioxidant activity than those collected during rainy
season.