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Papaya – Carica papaya

Superficially Carica papaya appears to be a tree. It grows as a single stem up to 5m tall with a crown of large long-stalked leaves at the top, below which the flowers and then the fruit are held.  It is however an herbaceous plant with a hollow stem and does not form timber. New leaves are produced only at the top so a diamond pattern is left on the stem as the lower leaves drop off and are not replaced. Carica papaya needs high heat and humidity to grow. It originated in Central America and has been introduced throughout the tropics. Confusingly it is sometimes referred to as Pawpaw although that name is also used as the common name for another fruit which is from Asimina triloba; an entirely different plant.

Carica papaya is a species of flexible gender. It is usually dioecious. This means that flowers of different sexes are produced on different plants, therefore for fruit to be produced a male and a female plant is required. There are some cultivars which are monoecious; produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Hermaphrodite cultivars also exist, they produce flowers which contain both male and female parts. But the monoecious and also hermaphrodite flowering plants do not fruit as well as the dioecious plants. In a further variation sometimes male plants which are cut back will regrow as female plants.

Carica papaya has a range of culinary applications. The ripe fruit can be eaten raw and unripe fruit can be eaten cooked. The plant’s leaves or extract from the fruit can be used to tenderise meat and clarify beer. It also has a variety of medicinal uses which included treatment of digestive disorders and rheumatism. The sweet tasting fruit is a good source of potassium, Vitamin A, C and E, and caratenoids. The particularly active component of Carica papaya is the enzyme papain which is present throughout the plant though most concentrated in the leaves and the skin of the unripe fruit.  When the skin of the unripe fruit is cut it exudes a milky latex containing papain which solidifies. This provides a technique for collecting papain but is a defensive technique the plant has developed. The papain is toxic to herbivorous insects and provides a defensive mechanism for the plant through protecting it from extensive consumption.

Papain is an enzyme which breaks down protein as well as carbohydrates and esters. Used on the skin it breaks down the surface layer of dead skin cells and other impurities that accumulate. It is incorporated in ACQUIZHEN’s Gentle Exfoliating Mask to thoroughly cleanse and soften skin. The fruit extract is also used as a nutritious emollient in ACQUIZHEN’s Nurturing Night Cream.