8 Main Benefits of eating Pawpaw (Carica papaya)

Introduction

Papaya (Carica papaya) also known as Pawpaw, originated in tropical America. It is now produced commercially in several Caribbean countries and is in high demand in the tourism industry and the local market. It also has tremendous potential as an export crop.

The pawpaw fruit is rich in vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, protein, carbohydrates, and phosphorus.

Group uses of Papaya (Pawpaw)

For Food: used in drinks, fruit salads, sauce for cakes, ice cream sundaes, pies, pickles, marmalade, or jam.

Nutritional facts: 1 cup contained 55 calories; high in fiber and nutrients. It’s a good source of Vitamins A& C, minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.

8 main uses of Papaya (Pawpaw)

1. Papain: a major enzyme and chemical compound obtained from the fruits, seeds, and latex gotten from the stem is used in medical, nutraceutical, and industrial companies like brewing, winemaking, tanning, and textile industries. Pawpaw contains a broad spectrum of phytochemicals including vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, minerals, enzymes, glycosides, fats and oils, lectins, saponins, flavonoids, sterols, etc.
2. Pawpaw is highly nutritious: The abundance of natural vitamins and minerals and low in calories. It comes first among fruits for its high deposits of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Thiamine (Vitamin B¹), Folic Acid (Vitamin B⁹), Calcium, Riboflavin (Vitamin B²), Niacin (Vitamin B³), Vitamin E, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, and Fibre. It is low in Sodium and fat. The high levels of Carotene and the eye-saving carotenoids (Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Lycopene)in pawpaw help fight against free radicals and help in the coloration of egg yolks in layers, the shanks of broilers and layers when used as a feed ingredient.
3. Rich in Enzymes for Digestion: One of the main challenges of the modern poultry farmer is ensuring the digestibility and gut health of the birds, which allows optimal feed conversion ratio, meat yield, a good environment for probiotics in the gut, and high immunity. These reduce costs, health disasters, and waste. Pawpaw is filled with different enzymes that promote good digestion, good breakdown of ingested food, and gastrointestinal health. Papain digests proteins in any medium, whether acidic, alkaline, or neutral. It breaks down proteins in wheat-based or soy/corn-based diets.
4. Tenderizing Meat: Papain in pawpaw helps in making the meat tender and sweeter. This has been a known method used by Indians via the use of boiling meat with raw uncooked pawpaw. In some parts of the tropics, meat is wrapped in pawpaw leaves. At room temperature, a slow reaction of tenderizing occurs but is heightened at a maximum temperature of 80°C to make it tender.
5. Antioxidant & Immunity Booster: The fruit is a very viable antioxidant to fight against diseases in aging animals. It also creates more leukocytes (white blood cells)which boosts immunity.

6. Dietary Ingredient For Broiler Finisher & Layer Diet: When the dried peels of pawpaw are added at 120g/kg of Finisher Masha & 90g/kg of Layer Mash, it allows feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency, survivability, and meat yield. The Pawpaw Leaf is another vital dietary ingredient for the poultry diet. Pawpaw leaf meal contains four identified proteolytic enzymes
7. Pawpaw Seeds act as Antihelmintic (Dewormer): The air-dried pawpaw black seeds have deworming properties because it also has carpaine (a bitter alkaloid), carpasemine (or benzyl thiourea) and benzyl isothiocyanate. This is a cheap, harmless, and very effective way of preventing and treating intestinal worms in poultry. Benzyl isothiocyanate contained in the seeds is a very strong dewormer and renders the GIT very harsh to worms so that they cannot inhabit or multiply.
8. Pawpaw Seeds act as Antimicrobial (Antibiotic): The extracts of ripe or unripe Pawpaw seeds and pulp slow and neutralize the microbial activities of E.coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Staphyloccocus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, etc.

General uses of Papaya (Pawpaw)

• Pawpaw leaves & roots have antibacterial efficacy against Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi.
• The Latex from the Stem or punctured pawpaw fruits and leaves is also a very good dewormer. The latex is dried before being used for this purpose. It is very effective in treating Ascaris nematodes in pigs, poultry, and other mammals.
• The Dried Latex has Antifungal properties, especially when used to treat Candida Albicans, which causes Sour Crop, Candidiasis& Thrush in poultry. Antibiotics cannot kill fungi, it is even a known fact that abuse of antibiotics and poorly fermented feed cause serious fungal infections.
• The edible pulp of Pawpaw has a curative impact (due to Vitamin A)and antimicrobial impact on the healing of wounds and ulcers especially necrotic enteritis in the intestines of birds due to the presence of proteolytic enzymes like Papain and Chymopapain.
• Pawpaw is anti-inflammatory due to Vitamin A, that’s why it is used in the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis. Vitamin A facilitates the healing of the damaged intestines and stops diarrhea(bloody or mucus). It also has Fibrin which helps in blood clotting; a very necessary action in treating coccidiosis.
• Pawpaw is also known to regulate the immune system, and fight free radicals that cause diseases and oxidative stress in broilers and layers.TheRipefruit can be fermented with yeast, lactic acid bacteria, and seaweed to create a very potent antioxidant & probiotic.
• Pawpaw is neuroprotective (protects the liver), removes toxins from the liver, and reduces cholesterol in broilers. It ensures the birds have less fatty meat but increases meat yield.
• Latex from unripe Pawpaw fruits is larvacidal. It kills mosquito larvae and can be used to control mosquito reproductive populations near the poultry pen; this counters the spread of Fowl Pox since mosquitoes are the main vectors of it.
• Since Pawpaw has 33% more vitamin C and 50% more potassium than oranges, as well as 13% more Vitamin C & more than twice Potassium than apples, it serves as a good anti-stress medication in poultry.