Background
Unripe papaya contains a chemical called papain. Papain breaks down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. But papain is changed in the stomach, so it's not clear if it's effective as medicine when taken by mouth. Papaya also contains a chemical called carpain, which seems to be able to kill certain parasites and might affect the central nervous system.
People use papaya for cancer, diabetes, dengue fever, HPV, and many other conditions, but there's no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
The unripe papaya fruit is possibly unsafe. Unripe papaya fruit contains papaya latex, which contains an enzyme called papain. Taking large amounts of papain might damage the esophagus.
When applied to the skin: The ripe papaya fruit is possibly safe when applied to the skin or gums for up to 10 days. Applying unripe papaya fruit to the skin is possibly unsafe. Unripe papaya fruit contains papaya latex. This can cause severe irritation and allergic reactions in some people.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Ripe papaya fruit is commonly consumed in foods. Unripe papaya fruit is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. There is some evidence that unprocessed papain, one of the chemicals found in unripe papaya fruit, might poison the fetus or cause birth defects.Breast-feeding: Ripe papaya fruit is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if papaya is safe to use as medicine when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
Latex allergy: If you have a latex allergy, use caution with papaya or products that contain papaya. You may also be allergic to papaya.
Papain allergy: Unripe papaya contains papain. If you are allergic to papain, avoid unripe papaya.
Surgery: Papaya that has been fermented can lower blood sugar. This form of papaya might affect blood sugar during and after surgery. If you are taking papaya, you should stop 2 weeks before surgery.
Effectiveness
Dosing & administration
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Amiodarone (Cordarone)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taking papaya extract by mouth along with amiodarone might increase the amount of amiodarone in the body. This might increase the effects and adverse effects of amiodarone.
Levothyroxine (Synthroid, others)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Eating large amounts of papaya might reduce the effects of levothyroxine.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Papaya might lower blood sugar levels. Taking papaya along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Warfarin is used to slow blood clotting. Papaya might increase the effects of warfarin and increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin might need to be changed.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Interactions with foods
Products
View all products- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Tetratheca ericifolia (Black-eyed susan)
- Callistemon linearis (Bottlebrush)
- Boronia ledifolia
- Epacris longiflora (Bush fuchsia)
- Crowea saligna
- Jacaranda mimosifolia
- Actinotus minor (Little flannel flower)
- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Epacris longiflora (Bush fuchsia)
- Isopogon anethifolius
- Jacaranda mimosifolia
- Drosera spatulata (Sundew)
- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Epacris longiflora (Bush fuchsia)
- Crowea saligna
- Thysanotus tuberosus (Fringed violet)
- Ptilotus atripicifolius (Mulla mulla)
- Telopea speciosissima (Waratah)
- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Banksia robur (Swamp banksia)
- Callistemon linearis (Bottlebrush)
- Epacris longiflora (Bush fuchsia)
- Patersonia longifolia (Bush iris)
- Crowea saligna
- Thysanotus tuberosus (Fringed violet)
- Eucalyptus macrocarpa
- Ptilotus atripicifolius (Mulla mulla)
- Nelumbo nucifera (Red lily)
- Casuarina glauca (She oak)
- Eucalyptus caesia (Silver princess)
- Drosera spatulata (Sundew)
- Ptilotus exaltatus (Tall mulla mulla)
- Carica papaya (Paw paw) (fruit) powder
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Marine collagen peptides 250 mg
- Lepidium meyenii (root) powder
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR-32)
- Bifidobacterium longum (BL-05)
- Zinc
- Cannabis sativa powder 520 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 370 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) flour (Flaxseed) 250 mg
- Wheatgrass powder
- Sunflower lecithin
- Citrus limon (juice) (Lemon)
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
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- Apple pectin
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon)
- Fragaria ananassa (juice) powder (Strawberry)
- Garcinia mangostana (fruit) powder
- Punica granatum juice dry
- Vaccinium macrocarpon (fruit) powder
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Lycium barbarum (fruit)
- Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui berry)
- Silybum marianum powder
- Astragalus membranaceus (root) powder
- Equisetum arvense (herb) powder
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Camellia sinensis powder
- Withania somnifera (root) powder
- Eleutherococcus senticosus (root) powder
- Echinacea purpurea (root) powder
- Melissa officinalis powder
- Taraxacum officinale (leaf) powder
- Zingiber officinale (root) powder
- Rosa canina powder
- Vaccinium myrtillus (fruit) powder
- Ulmus rubra (bark) powder
- Mushroom powder
- Kakadu plum powder
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Panax ginseng powder
- Curcuma longa (root) powder
- Backhousia citriodora (leaf)
- Thaumatin
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain)
- Protease
- Phyllanthus emblica (fruit) powder
- Morindae officinalis (fruit) powder
- Marine algae
- Malpighia glabra (fruit) powder
- Medicago sativa 200 mg
- Sambucus nigra (fruit)
- Vaccinium corymbosum (fruit) powder
- Hordeum vulgare powder 200 mg
- Salvia hispanica (seed) powder
- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Tetratheca ericifolia (Black-eyed susan)
- Boronia ledifolia
- Callistemon linearis (Bottlebrush)
- Epacris longiflora (Bush fuchsia)
- Crowea saligna
- Jacaranda mimosifolia
- Actinotus minor (Little flannel flower)
- Carica papaya (Papaya) 50 mg
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 1.58 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium bifidum 1.58 billion CFU
- Pea protein isolate 9.4 g
- Marine algae 500 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed) 250 mg
- Sunflower lecithin 200 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 100 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot) 100 mg
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot) 100 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 100 mg
- Wheatgrass powder 100 mg
- Zingiber officinale powder 40 mg
- Ribes nigrum powder 200 mg
- Vitis vinifera powder 200 mg
- Malpighia glabra powder 100 mg
- Lycium chinese powder 100 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus powder 100 mg
- Bacopa monnieri powder 50 mg
- Taraxacum officinale powder 30 mg
- Apple pectin 200 mg
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium) 100 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous 150 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 70 mg
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 30 mg
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid 20 mg
- Beta glucan 11.5 mg
- Dunaliella salina 8 mg
- Lutein 2 mg
- Zeaxanthin (Carotenoids) 400 µg
- Potassium phosphate dibasic
- Magnesium gluconate
- Calcium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Zinc gluconate
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate (Vitamin E)
- Thaumatin
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Manganese gluconate
- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine
- Retinyl palmitate
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Folate
- Chromium picolinate
- Cholecalciferol
- Fucus vesiculosus powder 97 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana powder
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1)
- Copper gluconate
- Calendula officinalis powder
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 100 mg
- Hordeum vulgare 100 mg
- Malus (fibre) powder (Apple) 963 mg
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural caramel flavour
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2)
- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Prostanthera cuneata (Alpine mint bush)
- Crowea saligna
- Thysanotus tuberosus (Fringed violet)
- Caladenia dilatata (Green spider orchid)
- Eucalyptus macrocarpa
- Acacia terminalis (Sunshine wattle)
- Carica papaya
- Punica granatum (seed)
- Glycerol
- Apple cider vinegar
- Wildberry flavour
- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Prostanthera cuneata (Alpine mint bush)
- Callistemon linearis (Bottlebrush)
- Epacris longiflora (Bush fuchsia)
- Crowea saligna
- Eucalyptus macrocarpa
- Philotheca salsolifolia
- Carica papaya (Papaya) powder
- Tasmannia lanceolata (fruit)
- Tasmannia lanceolata (leaf)
- Backhousia citriodora
- Fucoidan ext. (Brown seaweed)
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB)
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacillus paracasei
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis
- Green banana
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Orange peel
- Actinidia deliciosa (fruit) powder (Kiwi fruit (green))
- Apple cider vinegar
- Carica papaya (Papaya) powder
- Tasmannia lanceolata (fruit)
- Tasmannia lanceolata (leaf)
- Backhousia citriodora
- Fucoidan ext. (Brown seaweed)
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB)
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis
- Lactobacillus paracasei
- Green banana
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Citrus sinensis (peel)
- Actinidia deliciosa (fruit) powder (Kiwi fruit (green))
- Apple cider vinegar
- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Banksia robur (Swamp banksia)
- Callistemon linearis (Bottlebrush)
- Epacris longiflora (Bush fuchsia)
- Patersonia longifolia (Bush iris)
- Crowea saligna
- Thysanotus tuberosus (Fringed violet)
- Eucalyptus macrocarpa
- Ptilotus atripicifolius (Mulla mulla)
- Nelumbo nucifera (Red lily)
- Casuarina glauca (She oak)
- Eucalyptus caesia (Silver princess)
- Drosera spatulata (Sundew)
- Ptilotus exaltatus (Tall mulla mulla)
- Carica papaya (Paw paw)
- Epacris longiflora (Bush fuchsia)
- Isopogon anethifolius
- Jacaranda mimosifolia
- Drosera spatulata (Sundew)