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| The '''papaya''' (from [[Carib]] via [[Spanish language|Spanish]]), is the [[fruit]] of the [[plant]] ''Carica papaya'', in the genus ''[[Carica]]''. It is native to the tropics of the Americas, and was cultivated in [[Mexico]] several centuries before the emergence of the [[Mesoamerica|Mesoamerican classic cultures]]. | | The '''papaya''' is the [[fruit]] of the [[plant]] ''Carica papaya'', in the genus ''[[Carica]]''. |
| Papaya is also known as '''PEnPe''' ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]: পেঁপে), '''fruta bomba''' (Cuba), '''lechoza''' (Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and the Dominican Republic), '''mamão''' (Brazil), '''Papol''' \ '''Guslabu''' (Tree melon in [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]]), '''papaw''' ([[Sri Lanka]]n English), '''pawpaw''' or '''tree melon''', as well as '''tree melon''' (木瓜) in [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and '''đu đủ''' in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]. However the North American [[pawpaw]] is a different species, in the genus ''[[Asimina]]''.
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| It is a large tree-like plant, the single stem growing from 5 to 10 meters tall, with spirally arranged [[leaf|leaves]] confined to the top of the trunk; the lower trunk is conspicuously scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. The leaves are large, 50-70 cm diameter, deeply palmately lobed with 7 lobes. The tree is usually unbranched if unlopped. The [[flower]]s are similar in shape to the flowers of the ''[[Plumeria]]'' but are much smaller and wax like. They appear on the axils of the leaves, maturing into the large 15-45 cm long, 10-30 cm diameter fruit. The fruit is ripe when it feels soft (like a ripe [[avocado]] or a bit softer) and its skin has attained an amber to orange hue. The fruit's taste is vaguely similar to [[pineapple]] and [[peach]], although much milder without the tartness, creamier, and more fragrant, with a texture of slightly over-ripened [[cantaloupe]].
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| == Cultivation and uses ==
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| Originally from southern [[Mexico]], [[Central America]] and northern [[South America]], the papaya is now cultivated in most countries with a [[tropical]] climate like [[Brazil]], [[India]], [[South Africa]], [[Sri Lanka]] and the [[Philippines]].
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| The ripe fruit is usually eaten raw, without the skin or seeds. The unripe green fruit of papaya can be eaten cooked, usually in curries, salads and stews.
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| Green papaya fruit and the trees [[latex]] are both rich in an enzyme called [[papain]], a [[protease]] which is useful in [[Tenderize|tenderizing]] [[meat]] and other proteins. Its ability to break down tough meat fibers was utilized for thousands of years by indigenous Americans. It is included as a component in powdered meat tenderizers, and is also marketed in tablet form to remedy [[digestion|digestive]] problems. Green papaya is used in [[Thai cuisine]], both raw and cooked.<ref>[http://www.thaitable.com/Thai/recipes/Green_Papaya_Salad.htm]</ref> [[Papain]] is also popular (in countries where it grows) as a topical application in the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns. Papain ointment is commonly made from fermented papaya flesh, and is applied as a gel-like paste. [[Harrison Ford]] was treated for a [[Spinal disc herniation| ruptured disc]] incurred during filming of [[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]] by having papain injected into his back.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=QQPpRUYPdr0C&pg=PA113&lpg=PA113&dq=harrison+ford+papaya&source=web&ots=Nf46sJ5art&sig=VkDhLMszaxrakJiPiSqx_p3MEWg Entry on Harrison Ford's back treatment].</ref>
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| Women in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other parts of the world have long used papaya as a folk remedy for contraception and abortion. Medical research in animals has confirmed the contraceptive and abortifacient capability of papaya, and also found that papaya seeds have contraceptive effects in adult male langur monkeys, possibly in adult male humans as well.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Lohiya | first = N. K. | coauthors = B. Manivannan, P. K. Mishra, N. Pathak, S. Sriram, S. S. Bhande, and S. Panneerdoss | year = 2002 | month = March | title = Chloroform extract of ''Carica papaya'' seeds induces long-term reversible azoospermia in langur monkey | journal = Asian Journal of Andrology | volume = 4 | pages = 17–26 | doi = | url = http://asiaandro.com/1008-682X/4/17.htm | accessdate = 2006-11-18 }}</ref> Unripe papaya is especially effective in large amounts or high doses. Papaya is not [[teratogenic]] and will not cause miscarriage in small, ripe amounts. [[Phytochemicals]] in papaya may suppress the effects of [[progesterone]].<ref>{{cite journal|author=Oderinde, O|title=Abortifacient properties of Carica papaya (Linn) seeds in female Sprague-Dawley rats|journal=Niger Postgrad Medical Journal|id=PMID 12163882}}</ref>
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| The black seeds are edible and have a sharp, spicy taste. They are sometimes ground up and used as a substitute for [[black pepper]]. In some parts of Asia the young leaves of papaya are steamed and eaten like spinach.
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| The papaya fruit is susceptible to the [[Papaya Fruit Fly]]. This wasp-like fly lays its eggs in young fruit.
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| ==Allergies and side-effects==
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| Caution should be taken when harvesting, as papaya is known to release a latex fluid when not quite ripe, which can cause irritation and provoke allergic reaction in some people. The papaya fruit, seeds, latex, and leaves also contains [[carpaine]], an [[anthelmintic]] [[alkaloid]] which could be dangerous in high doses.
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| Excessive consumption of papaya, as of carrots, can cause [[carotenemia]], the yellowing of soles and palms which is otherwise harmless.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} <!--- you would have to eat a *lot*, according to http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ it has 16x less beta carotene than carrots per 100g --->
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| ==Ethnomedical uses==
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| *The mature (ripe) fruit treats [[ringworm]], green fruits treat [[high blood pressure]], and are used as an [[aphrodisiac]].
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| *The fruit can be directly applied topically to skin sores <sup>[1]</sup>.
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| *The seeds are [[anti-inflammatory]], [[anthelmintic]], and [[analgesic]], and they are used to treat [[stomachache]] and [[fungal infection]]s<sup>[1]</sup>.
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| *The leaves are used as a heart tonic, analgesic, and to treat stomachache<sup>[1]</sup>.
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| *The roots are used as an analgesic<sup>[2]</sup>.
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| ===Diseases===
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| {{Main|List of papaya diseases}}
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| == References==<!-- Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 22 (1): 51–59, março 2005 -->
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| <!-- See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] for instructions. -->
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| <references />
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