Phytochemical Screening and Nutrient Evaluation of Pawpaw Leaves Extract
Chapter One
Objective of the Research Study
The objective of this study was to assess chemical and biological activity of Carica papaya leaf using selected bench top bioassays, including antibacterial and antioxidant tests.
In addition to identifying phytomedicines, it can offer solutions to modern day diseases like AIDS and certain cancers.
Increased knowledge about phytomedicines can:
- Serve as alternative solutions where orthodox medicines have limitations, for examples antibiotics (in case of antibacterial-drug resistance), anticancer drugs from plants, like tubulin polymerization inhibitors (which is less toxic than current anti- cancer drugs such as Actinomycin D).
- Provide man with necessary knowledge to avoid or minimize unwanted side effects from toxicities resulting from use of herbal
- To determine plants extraordinary ability to synthesize secondary metabolites:
- Plants defense mechanisms are sophisticated which allow them to survive. They do this with an enormous variety of secondary metabolites that they synthesize. Several types of thousands of secondary metabolites have already been isolated and their structures were elucidated
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Antimalarial activity of Carica papaya (Family: Caricaceae) leaf extract against Plasmodiumfalciparum
The objective of this experiment was to determine the antimalarial activity of the ethanol leaf extract of Carica papaya (C. papaya), blood stages of CQ-sensitive and CQ resistant strains against Plasmodium falcipurum (P.falcipurum) as target species.
- papaya leaf was collected in and around Kalveerampalyam village, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. C. papaya leaf was washed with tap water and shade dried at room temperature. An electrical blender powdered the dried plant materials (leaves). The powder 500g of the leaf was extracted with 1.5 L of organic solvents of ethanol for 8 h using a Soxhlet apparatus. The crude plant extracts were evaporated to dryness in rotary vacuum evaporator. One gram of the plant residue was dissolved in 100 mL of acetone (stock solution) and considered as 1% stock solution. From this stock solution, different concentrations were prepared ranging from 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%,respectively.
The highest larval mortality in the ethanol leaf extract of C. papaya against the 1st to 4th instars larvae and pupae values of LC50= 3.65%, 4.28%, 5.41%, 6.70%, and 7.50%,
respectively. The LC90 values of 9.61%, 11.75%, 13.53%, 16.36%, and 16.92%, respectively. Plant extracts showed moderate to good antiparasitic effects. These four concentrations (25, 50,100 and 150 μg/mL) of ethanol leaf extracts exhibited promising inhibitory activity against the CQ sensitive strain with (IC50) values 40.75%, 36.54%, 25.30%, and 18.0% and in CQ resistant 50.23%, 32.50%, 21.45%, and 23.12% against P. falciparum.
In conclusion, the results indicate the effective plant extracts have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of vector mosquitoes [Kovendan K., et al, 2012].
Anti-fertility Effects of Carica papaya Linn: Methanol Leaf Extracts in Male Wistar Rats
Carica papaya methanol leaf extract (CPMLE) is used widely in West Africa as anti-malarial and antimicrobial. The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of (CPMLE) on fertility in male Wistar rats using sperm counts and percentage of defective sperm cells as markers. Acute toxicity test was performed. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups and treated orally with 100, 200 and 400 mg kg-1 weight respectively with the extract. Group 4 served as control (10 mL kg-1 distilled water). After 28 days of treatment, serum biochemical parameters including Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Total Bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), triglycerides, total protein and albumin and histopathological study of the testes, kidney, heart and liver were assayed. Acute toxicity results showed that CPMLE produced no mortalities at the dose of 1500 mg kg-1. However, there were CNS signs as well as diuresis. CPMLE significantly (p<0.01) produced dose dependent decreases in sperm counts and increased the percentage of defective sperm cells. There were significant (p<0.05) increases in AST and BUN. Histopathological studies showed mild kidney and cardiac hyperaemia, slight hepatic degeneration and severe necrosis of the germinal epithelium of the testes. These show that CPMLE can produce some defects to fertility and may be used to control birth rate [Udeh E. Nkeiruka and Nwaehujor O. Chinaka, 2013].
Central and Cardiovascular Effects of the Alcoholic Extract of the Leaves of Carica papaya
The central effects of an alcoholic extract of Carica papaya leaf were investigated in male rats. The extract (≥ 10 mg kg−1, i.p.) induced a dose-dependent sedative effect. The extract (≥ 5 mg kg, i.p.) also induced central muscle relaxation. The behavioral effects of the extract were associated with an initial desynchronization of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and an increased activity of the electromyogram (EMG). This was followed by a deactivating pattern in the optic chiasma while the EMG activity was diminished. The extract at doses ≥50 mg kg−1 (i.p.) completely protected the rats against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures, while doses of 5 mg kg−1 (i.p.) gave 50% protection. The extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg kg−1 (i.p.) also gave 100% protection against maximal electroshock-induced convulsions [A. Gupta, Co. Wambebe and D. L. Parsons, 1990].
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
PREPARATION OF PLANT EXTRACT FOREXPERIMENTS
Collection and Identification of Carica papayaLeaf
Carica papaya leaf was collected in the month of April 2013 from Sobahanbag during rainy season when weeds were in their maximum densities.
Washing and Drying of Papaya Leaf
At first the leaves were thoroughly washed with tap water to remove dust, soil, bird‟s droppings etc within them. The leaves were dried under sunlight for one week. But, due to rainy season sun drying was avoided. Instead, the leaves were dried in hot air oven at 500C for 2 hours.
Grinding and Storage of Dried SampleS
The dried parts were ground to coarse powder with the help of home blender machine. This process breaks the plant parts into smaller pieces thus exposing internal tissues and cells to solvents and facilitating their easy penetration into the cells to extract the constituents. Then the powdered sample was kept in clean closed glass containers till extraction. During grinding of sample, the grinder was thoroughly cleaned to avoid contamination with any remnant of previously ground material or other extraneous matters deposited on the grinder. The total weight of the dried powdered leaf was 300.18 gm which was measured using electronic balance and it was found to be 300.18 gm.
CHAPTER FOUR
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
RESULTS
Phytochemical Screening
Preliminary phytochemical screening results of crude C. papaya leaf are mentioned in Table
- which revealed the presence of only Tannin and
Table 4.1: Result of chemical group test of the crude methanolic extract of C. papaya
leaf
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
The presence of antibacterial substances in the higher plants is well established. Plants have provided a source of inspiration for novel drug compounds as plants derived medicines have made significant contribution towards human health. Phytomedicines can be used for the treatment of diseases as is done in case of Unani and Ayurvedic system of medicines or it can be the base for the development of a medicine, a natural blue print for the development of a drug.
The crude methanolic extract of C. papaya showed significant, antimicrobial activities, some of which supports the traditional use of this plant in various diseases.
The plant can be further screened against various diseases in order to find out its unexplored efficacy and can be a potential source of chemically interesting and biologically important drug candidates. Very few compounds are isolated from the C. papaya. Therefore, there is huge potential to find active principles which could be beneficial for mankind for targeting various diseases.
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