Papaya fruit contains many vital nutrients to the body. Such as various vitamins, beta-carotene, protein, fat and various enzymes and compounds that are very useful for the human body. "But in my opinion, the most numerous in papaya is vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Function of beta-carotene is an antioxidant, "said Bambang S. Djokolelono, an herbalist and holistic trainer who has a medical clinic in the area of Crocodile Hole, East Jakarta. Indonesia.
The most well-known compounds contained in papaya is papain. This compound is known for its function as a proteolytic or protein-breaking enzymes. Papain is now widely used in industry, as ingredients of medicines, cosmetics and textiles. Papaya fruit is the largest producer of papain, which is about 400 milk clotting units (MCU) gram. Differences with the stems and leaves of papaya are only producing 200 MCU / g.
There are three kinds of papaya papain produced:
- Crude papain (crude papain),
- net papain (papain refined)
- pure papain (papain puree).
In 1997, the International Cancer Foundation announced that the content of Vitamin C and carotene in papaya, is able to prevent cancer. In addition, papaya fruit can also be used against colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and breast cancer, but is able to reduce free radicals which become the source of cancers.
