Carica papaya Leaf Source & Identity
The botanical entity is Carica papaya L., the papaya, a fast-growing tree-like herb of the Caricaceae family, native to tropical America. The part used is the leaf, the palmate blade on a long hollow stalk. Fruit, seed, root and the milky latex are not part of this ingredient.
Papaya is best known for its fruit, so the part is the main identity point here. Ripe papaya fruit is sweet and rich in carotenoids, while unripe fruit and the plant’s latex are the main source of the protease enzyme papain. The leaf is a different tissue that is bitter and rich in alkaloids, including carpaine, together with flavonoids such as rutin and kaempferol glycosides and phenolic compounds.
A leaf extract and a fruit extract of papaya therefore have almost nothing in common apart from the species.












