Among the fruits which are known to give various benefits, papaya has lately categorized as one of those super-fruits for its benefit in preventing cancer. This fruit contains lycophene, a nutrition which can effectively prevent and fight cancer cells from spreading. The substance can stimulate the cells’ immunity inside our body to fight cancer so the damage of DNA and lipid can be prevented, and the spread of cancer cells can be inhibited.
Researchers of University of Florida found that papaya can be an anti-cancer agent which could effectively fight against cervical cancer, breast, liver, lung, and pancreas cancer. The conclusion was made after performing a test using certain tea made of dry papaya leaves extract. And from the test, it was found that papaya can increase the production of chemical substance which regulates the body’s immune system. The findings of the study have been published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
According to Dr Nam Dang of University of Florida, the papaya extract which was tested in the laboratory doesn’t have toxic effects to normal cells. So it is very safe for alternative medication. However, further study regarding papaya must be conducted in order to find out the effect it would cause once it enters our body.
Besides lycophene, papaya also contains other nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid. The flesh is not the only part of this fruit we can benefit of, the leaves of the papaya tree can be used to cure vaginal discharge or fluor albus, improving menstruation, and breastfeeding, while the seeds are known as the source of saponins which can improve the body’s immunity. Considering its richness in those healthy nutrients, there is no wonder that this fruit is considered as super-fruit.
Other kinds of fruits and veggies which also known to contain lycophene are tomato, watermelon, and orange. Foods which are very rich of lycophene can be easily recognized from the flesh; if the fruit has colorful flesh then it is surely rich of the substance.