Papaya

Papaya/Drug Interactions:

  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: Based on clinical review, papaya may interact with anticoagulants such as warfarin (66; 67).
  • Antidiabetic agentsAntidiabetic agents: In a human study, fermented papaya significantly lowered fasting and post-prandial blood glucose levels (7). However, papaya fruit contains carbohydrates and may theoretically increase blood sugar.
  • Anti inflammatory agentsAnti inflammatory agents: According to various studies, papaya may have anti-inflammatory properties (39; 106; 14; 107).
  • Antineoplastic agentsAntineoplastic agents: In laboratory study, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), derived from papaya extract, was shown to arrest cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis in proliferating and quiescent human colon epithelial cells (22; 23). Other human study has shown that a fermented papaya preparation may reduce atrophic cellular changes in the gastric mucosa (25).
  • Cardiovascular agentsCardiovascular agents: In laboratory study, an extract of papaya seed has been shown to irreversibly inhibit mammalian vascular contractility, presumably by increasing membrane permeability to calcium (54). Papaya has also been shown to inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation, in vitro (17).
  • CyanocobalaminCyanocobalamin: In human study, oral supplementation with a fermented papaya-derived antioxidant for one week improved cyanocobalamin absorption abnormality in alcoholics (55).
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: Papaya seed extract has been shown to exert immunostimulatory effects in vitro (14).
  • Iron saltsIron salts: In human study, 650g of papaya daily increased serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels (70; 71).
  • Potassium saltsPotassium salts: Papaya is a source of potassium. However, in human study, green papaya along with other fruits and vegetables were found to increase urinary potassium excretion (72); the effect of green papaya alone on potassium excretion is unclear.
  • RetinoidsRetinoids: In human study, 650g of papaya daily significantly increased serum retinol levels in lactating women (71).
  • SodiumSodium: In human case reports, papain induced hypernatremia (68).
  • VasodilatorsVasodilators: In laboratory study, an extract of papaya seed has been shown to irreversibly inhibit mammalian vascular contractility, presumably by increasing membrane permeability to calcium (54).
  • VasosuppressorsVasosuppressors: In laboratory study, an extract of papaya seed has been shown to irreversibly inhibit mammalian vascular contractility, presumably by increasing membrane permeability to calcium (54).

    • Papaya/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: Based on clinical review, papaya may interact with anticoagulants like warfarin (66; 67).
  • Anti inflammatory herbsAnti inflammatory herbs: According to various studies, papaya may have anti-inflammatory properties (39; 106; 14; 107).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In laboratory study, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), derived from papaya extract, has been shown to arrest cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis in proliferating and quiescent human colon epithelial cells (22; 23). Other human study has shown that a fermented papaya preparation may reduce atrophic cellular changes in the gastric mucosa (25).
  • Beta-caroteneBeta-carotene: Carotenemia has been associated with ingestion of papaya (69). The carotenoid content of papaya has been reported to be 175mg/100g (71). It is presumed that the partial processing of papaya, such as by puree, enhances the bioavailability of carotenes (71).
  • Cardiovascular herbs and supplementsCardiovascular herbs and supplements: In laboratory study, an extract of papaya seed has been shown to irreversibly inhibit mammalian vascular contractility, presumably by increasing membrane permeability to calcium (54). Papaya has also been shown to inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation, in vitro (17).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: In a human trial, fermented papaya significantly lowered fasting and post-prandial blood glucose levels (7). However, papaya fruit contains carbohydrates and may theoretically increase blood sugar.
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: Papaya seed extract has been shown to exert immunostimulatory effects in vitro (14).
  • IronIron: In human study, 650g of papaya daily increased serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels (70; 71).
  • KiwiKiwi: Cross sensitivity between kiwi and papaya, as well as papain, has been reported (58).
  • Potassium saltsPotassium salts: Papaya is a source of potassium. However, in human study, green papaya along with other fruits and vegetables were found to increase urinary potassium excretion (72); the effect of green papaya alone on potassium excretion is unclear.
  • SodiumSodium: In human case reports, papain induced hypernatremia (68).
  • Vasoconstrictor herbs and supplementsVasoconstrictor herbs and supplements: In laboratory study, an extract of papaya seed has been shown to irreversibly inhibit mammalian vascular contractility, presumably by increasing membrane permeability to calcium (54).
  • Vasodilator herbs and supplementsVasodilator herbs and supplements: In laboratory study, an extract of papaya seed has been shown to irreversibly inhibit mammalian vascular contractility, presumably by increasing membrane permeability to calcium (54).
  • Vitamin AVitamin A: In human study, 650g of papaya daily significantly increased serum retinol levels in lactating women (71).
  • Vitamin B12Vitamin B12: In human study, oral supplementation with a fermented papaya-derived antioxidant for one week improved cyanocobalamin absorption abnormality in alcoholics (55).

    • Papaya/Food Interactions:

  • Carotene-containing foodsCarotene-containing foods: Carotenemia has been associated with ingestion of papaya (69). The carotenoid content of papaya has been reported to be 175mg/100g (71). It is presumed that the partial processing of papaya, such as by puree, enhances the bioavailability of carotenes (71).
  • Dietary ironDietary iron: In human study, 650g of papaya daily significantly increased serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels in lactating women (70; 71).
  • Dietary potassiumDietary potassium: Papaya is a source of potassium. However, in human study, green papaya along with other fruits and vegetables were found to increase urinary potassium excretion (72); the effect of green papaya alone on potassium excretion is unclear.
  • Dietary vitamin ADietary vitamin A: In human study, 650g of papaya daily significantly increased serum retinol levels in lactating women (71).
  • Dietary vitamin B12Dietary vitamin B12: In human study, oral supplementation with a fermented papaya-derived antioxidant for one week improved cyanocobalamin absorption abnormality in alcoholics (55).
  • Kiwi fruitKiwi fruit: Cross sensitivity between kiwi and papaya, as well as papain, has been reported (58).
  • SodiumSodium: In human case reports, papain induced hypernatremia (68).

    • Papaya/Lab Interactions:

  • Blood glucoseBlood glucose: In human study, fermented papaya significantly lowered fasting and post-prandial blood glucose levels (7). However, papaya fruit contains carbohydrates and may theoretically increase blood sugar.
  • Coagulation panelCoagulation panel: Based on clinical review, papaya may interact with the anticoagulant warfarin (66; 67).
  • Ferritin levelsFerritin levels: In clinical study, 650g papaya daily significantly increased serum ferritin levels in lactating women (70; 71).
  • Hemoglobin levelsHemoglobin levels: Papaya significantly increased serum hemoglobin levels in lactating women (71).
  • Potassium levelsPotassium levels: Papaya is a source of potassium. However, in human study, green papaya along with other fruits and vegetables were found to increase urinary potassium excretion (72); the effect of green papaya alone on potassium excretion is unclear.
  • Radiation therapyRadiation therapy: Evidence from human study has suggested that supplementation with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and papain as an adjuvant to radiation therapy may reduce the intensity of some adverse effects associated with radiation (109). However, other experimentation found no such effect (110). The effect of papain alone is unclear.
  • Red blood cells (RBC)Red blood cells (RBC): Papaya has been reported to have antisickling effects and to protect RBC from oxidative damage (51; 65). In human study, a correlation was noted between consumption of a preparation containing fermented papaya products (Bionormalizer?) and higher RBC malonyldialdehyde, blood viscosity and lower plasma glutathione, whole blood filterability, and RBC fluidity (38).
  • Reflux spectrophotometryReflux spectrophotometry: Based on in vitro experimentation, papaya may interfere with spectrophotometric tests for reflux that use bilirubin as a marker for detection of disease, contributing to false positive results (108).
  • Retinol levelsRetinol levels: In human study, 650g of papaya daily for 60 days was shown to significantly increase retinol levels in lactating women (71).
  • Sodium levelsSodium levels: In human case reports, papain induced hypernatremia (68).
  • Vitamin B12 levelsVitamin B12 levels: In human study, oral supplementation with a fermented papaya-derived antioxidant for one week improved cyanocobalamin absorption abnormality in alcoholics (55).