Carica Papaya Leaf Extracts: A Novel Herbal Drug in Cancer Treatment

Abstract

With the continued increase in Cancer incidence and deaths, traditional clinical therapies like surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunosuppression alone are not enough to counteract cancer due to their cost and its associated side effects, thus emphasizing the need for a novel intervention plan. Hippocrates's (5th century BCE) quote "Let food be thy medicine, and let thy medicine be thy food" is well popular all over the world and thus food was chosen to enhance health and emotional wellbeing that caused the change in trend in the market for natural products that help in combating cancer. Cancer statistics showed that the consumption of diets rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is inversely associated with cancer incidence, which leads to study plant-based dietary antioxidants and its therapeutic role in cancer, which was underestimated in the past. This review is about the potential benefits of leaf extracts of Carica papaya in treating various cancers of the body; and its implication in the management of oral cancers.