Papaya Extract Slows Growth of Cancer Cells in Lab Tests

Papaya is steadily gaining credibility in Western medicine for anti-cancer powers that cultures have recognized for generations.

Research scientists from the University of Florida and 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. The researchers used an extract prepared from dried papaya leaves, and the anticancer effects
were stronger when cells received larger doses of the tea.

In a paper published in the Feb. 17 issue of the Journal of
Ethnopharmacology, the researchers 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.

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 consistent with reports from indigenous
populations in Australia and Vietnam.

Researchers exposed 10 different types of cancer cell cultures to
four strengths of papaya leaf extract and measured the effect after
24 hours. Papaya slowed the growth of tumors in all the cultures.

To identify the mechanism by which papaya checked the growth of
the cultures, the team focused on a cell line for T lymphoma. Their
results suggested that at least one of the mechanisms employed by
the papaya extract is inducing cell death.

In a similar analysis, the team also looked at the effect of papaya
extract on the production of antitumor molecules known as cytokines.
Papaya was shown to promote the production of Th1-type cytokines,
important in the regulation of the immune system. For that reason,
the study findings raise the possibility of future use of papaya extract
components in immune-related conditions such as inflammation,
autoimmune disease and some cancers.

Foremost among papaya's health-promoting agents is papain,
papaya's signature enzyme, which is found in both the fruit and the
leaves.

Papaya extract's success in reducing cancer in laboratory cell
cultures must next be replicated in animal and human studies.
the researchers noted. The next step in the research is to identify
the specific compounds in the papaya extract active against the
cancer cell lines.

Story Source: University of Florida.