I had posted about how you can gain many benefits from papaya, in my previous post which titled, What Makes You Should Eat Papaya?. In this second chapter about papaya, I will tell you the benefits of papaya leaves to treat diabetes and cancer.
Oseng Daun Kates
I had told before in the earlier post that oseng daun kates, or translate in English as papaya leaf stir, is considered to be the best dish made by my mom. I then asked my mom what is the recipe for oseng daun kates? My mom said that the recipe for a portion of oseng daun kates contains: ten pieces of papaya leaves and five pieces of cassava leaves. Cassava leaves are used in order to lower the bitter taste of papaya leaves. Other additional ingredients are added as much as needed, such as: chillies (big and small chillies, red and green coloured chillies), onion, garlic, ginger, tomato, lemon grass and salt.
First of all, the papaya and cassave leaves are boiled in a pan for 15 minutes. Take the leaves from the pan. Stir the whole additional ingredients in a frying pan, and then added the leaves until well cooked. The oseng daun kates is ready to serve.
Why do I have to tell you the recipe of oseng daun kates? It is just a way to enjoy papaya leaves in a form of a dish. Other way is by boiling the papaya leaves in a pan, until one third of the water remains. Take and drink the water extract. But, the water extract of papaya leaves will taste more bitter than the dish.
Antihyperglycemic and Hypolipidemic Activities of Papaya Leaves
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder of multiple etiologies characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbance of carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. In simple words, diabetes also means, a disease characterized by a complete or partial inability of the body to burn sugar as a fuel.
According to International Diabetes Federation, the number of diabetic people in India is currently around 40.9 millions and is expected to rise to 69.9 million by 2025. Concerning to their country, as the diabetic capital of the world, a study by Yasmeen Maniyar and Prabhu Bhixavatimath, has been able to demonstrate the antihyperglycemic, and hypolipidemic potentials of papaya leaves aqueous extract in diabetic rats. (Maniyar Y, et al. 2012)
Another study also confirms the hypoglycemic effect of papaya leaves along with other beneficial effects such as, the increasing of glucose blood levels four days after injection, and the decreasing of body weight, in diabetic rats. The study suggests that the papaya leaves aqueous extract may improve the metabolic disruption produced by diabetes. (Juárez-Rojop IE, et al. 2012)
Anti-tumor Activity and Immunomodulatory Effects of Papaya Leaves
Various parts of papaya (Carica papaya Linn.) have been traditionally used as folk medicines to treat many disorders, including cancer. A study in The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, observed a significant growth inhibitory activity of the papaya leaves extract on tumor cell lines. The study resulted that papaya leaves extract, managed to inhibit tumor cell growth and stimulate anti-tumor effects. The study also suggested that papaya leaves extract may potential for the treatment and prevention of cancer, various allergic disorders, and serve as immunoadjuvant for vaccine therapy. (Otsuki N, et al. 2010)
Benzyl glucosinolate, a compound found in all parts of the plant, but highest in young leaves of papaya, is studied in Agriculture School of Hainan University, Haikou, China, to demonstrate its anti-cancer activity. The study concluded that the hydrolysis product of benzyl glucosinolate has certain anti-cancer activities for human. (Li ZY, et al. 2012)