Carica papayaLeaves Juice Significantly Accelerates the Rate of Increase in Platelet Count among Patients with Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the platelet increasing property of Carica papaya leaves juice (CPLJ) in patients with dengue fever (DF). An open labeled randomized controlled trial was carried out on 228 patients with DF and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Approximately half the patients received the juice, for 3 consecutive days while the others remained as controls and received the standard management. Their full blood count was monitored 8 hours for 48 hours. Gene expression studies were conducted on the ALOX 12 and PTAFR genes. The mean increase in platelet counts were compared in both groups using repeated measure ANCOVA. There was a significant increase in mean platelet count observed in the intervention group (P < 0.001) but not in the control group 40 hours since the first dose of CPLJ. Comparison of mean platelet count between intervention and control group showed that mean platelet count in intervention group was significantly higher than control group after 40 and 48 hours of admission (P < 0.01). The ALOX 12 (FC = 15.00) and PTAFR (FC = 13.42) genes were highly expressed among those on the juice. It was concluded that CPLJ does significantly increase the platelet count in patients with DF and DHF.

Comparative evaluation of platelet augmentation activity of Carica papaya leaf juice and hydrocortisone in thrombocytopenic rats

“…ALOX 12 gene is known to be associated with increased megakaryocyte production as well as its conversion to platelets through 12-HETE mediated pathway which in turn leads to increased platelet production. 17 The present study, for the first time, evaluates the comparative increasing platelet effect of freshly prepared leaf concentrate of Carica papaya and hydrocortisone in induced thrombocytopenic rats. This was an important therapeutic investigation as there is no effective treatment method for thrombocytopenia at present.…”

“…The veins and the petiole of the Carica papaya leaves selected for the tests was removed and Juice was extracted from fresh leaves using a juice extractor without any addition of water, under sterile conditions and the mucilaginous (with mucus) juice concentrate manually was separated (like squeezing coconut milk) from the leaf-residue. 17 Then the mixture was filtered to obtain a pure extract of Carica papaya leaves. Finally, the volume of the extract was measured and the extracts were stored at 4°C until use and administered orally 2ml/day per rat.…”

Papaya leaves juice as an alternative treatment for dengue fever

“…A total of 229 patients were recruited (111 and 117 patients were from the interventional and control group respectively) whereby the experimental subject were given fresh juice from 50 grams of C. papaya leaves once daily, 15 minute after breakfast for 3 consecutive days. The findings has shown a significant increase in platelet count in the intervention group after 40 hours and 48 hours of treatment (Subenthiran et al, 2013). Furthermore, in Karachi, Pakistan a case report showed that a medical student with symptom of DF was given 150mL of papaya leaf extract once daily for 5 consecutive days and a continuous rise in platelet by the end of the fifth day was recorded (Siddique et al, 2014).…”

“…For centuries Carica papaya leaves obtained from papaya tree have been used in the folk medicine to combat DF, because it is considered to be an effective, safe and cheap remedy (Dharmarathna et al, 2013;Subenthiran et al, 2013). Many studies have revealed that C. papaya leaves has a lot of benefits such as anti-inflammatory agent, antitumor, antioxidant, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidaemic, anti-sickling properties in sickle cell disease and act as a vermifuge (Patil et al, 2013;Subenthiran et al, 2013 Siddique et al, 2014). Due to its' ability to exert therapeutics effects on human; numerous studies on C. papaya leaf have been conducted in order to evaluate its properties, safety and toxicity in human.…”

“…The most prominent therapeutics effect of this herb is its ability to increase platelet count in patient with thrombocytopenia in DF. An open labeled randomized controlled trial conducted in a hospital located in Malaysia to investigate the effect of C. papaya leaves juice to increase the platelet count in patient with DF and DHF (Subenthiran et al, 2013). A total of 229 patients were recruited (111 and 117 patients were from the interventional and control group respectively) whereby the experimental subject were given fresh juice from 50 grams of C. papaya leaves once daily, 15 minute after breakfast for 3 consecutive days.…”