Studies on the antiheliminthic activities of seeds of Carica papaya Linn.

Krishnakumari, M. K. and Majumder, S. K. (1960) Studies on the antiheliminthic activities of seeds of Carica papaya Linn. Annals of Biochemistry and Experimental Medicine, 20. pp. 551-556.

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Abstract

In many tropical countries papaya seed is administered as an anthelmintic. In Central and South America the seeds are used as vermifuge and emmenogogue (1). In some parts of India, the seeds are administered with honey for expelling roundworms. Recent in vivo studies on the anthelminthic activity of papaya seeds by Robinson (2) and Fernando (3) have given little conflicting results. Chemical studies by Merck (4) and Rijn (5) have shown that an alkaloid, carpaine (C14I-12802N), is present in significant amounts in the seeds. This alkaloid has also been isolated from leaves and fruits. To and Kyu (6) claim that carpaine is a potent amoebicide. Another alkaloid called carpasemine has also been isolated from papaya seed (7). Papaya seed, although being widely used as a herbal drug for its ascarifuge action, no experimental evidence, is however, available on its in vitro activities on helminths. There have been many attempts to maintain the nematodes outside the host in artificial cultural mediam. Cavier and Savel (8) have studied the survival time of adult ascaris in a mixture of sodium chloride and sodium carbonate and also in various complex media like Ringer's and Tyrode's solutions. Robinson and Gade (9) have suggested the use of Baldwin's solution for worms for in vitro cultures. In the present communication, the results of in vitro studies on the ascaricidal activities of C. papaya seeds on Toxascaris transfuga, Ascaris sp. and Ascaris lumbricoides var. suis are reported. Chopra et al. (10), Sollman (11) and others (12) have tested the action of thymol and other anthelmintics on earthworms. Due to the non-availability of adequate numbers of parasitic test worms for trials on the solubility of the vermicidal agent of the seed in some solvents and studies on the stability of the drug-action on storage, earthworm (Pheretima sp.) was used as test organism in these experiments.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	papaya seed, ascaricidal activities, anthelmintics, earthworms
Subjects:	500 Natural Sciences and Mathematics > 05 Earth Sciences > 02 Soil Sciences 600 Technology > 08 Food technology > 24 Fruits
Divisions:	Fruit and Vegetable Technology
Depositing User:	Food Sci. & Technol. Information Services
Date Deposited:	16 Jul 2012 09:52
Last Modified:	16 Jul 2012 09:52
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/5709

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