Does <em>Carica papaya</em> leaf-extract increase the platelet count? An experimental study in a murine model

Sinhalagoda Dharmarathna

Susiji Wickramasinghe

Roshitha Waduge

Rajapakse Rajapakse

Senanayake Kularatne

Objective

To investigate the potential role of fresh Carica papaya (C. papaya) leaf extract on haematological and biochemical parameters and toxicological changes in a murine model.

Methods

In total 36 mice were used for the trial. Fresh C. papaya leaf extract [0.2 mL (2 g)/mouse] was given only to the test group (18 mice). General behavior, clinical signs and feeding patterns were recorded. Blood and tissue samples were collected at intervals. Haematological parameters including platelet, red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), serum biochemistry including serum creatinine, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) were determined. Organs for possible histopathological changes were examined.

Results

Neither group exhibited alteration of behavior or reduction in food and water intake. Similarly, no significant changes in SGOT, SGPT and serum creatinine levels were detected in the test group. Histopathological organ changes were not observed in either group of mice except in three liver samples of the test group which had a mild focal necrosis. The platelet count (11.33±0.35)×10^{/µL (}P=0.000 04) and the RBC count (7.97±0.61)×10^{/µL (}P=0.000 03) were significantly increased in the test group compared to that of the controls. However, WBC count and PCV (%) values were not changed significantly in the test group. The platelet count in the test group started to increase significantly from Day 3 (3.4±0.18×10^{/µL), reaching almost a fourfold higher at Day 21 (11.3×10}^{/µL), while it was 3.8×10}^{/µL and 5.5×10}^{/µL at Day 3 and Day 21 respectively in the control. Likewise, the RBC count in the test group increased from 6×10}^{/µL to 9×10}^{/ µL at Day 21 while it remained near constant in the control group (6×10}^/µL).

Conclusions

Fresh C. papaya leaf extract significantly increased the platelet and RBC counts in the test group as compared to controls. Therefore, it is very important to identify those chemicals of C. papaya leaves as it can be recommended to be used as a medication to boost thrombopoiesis and erythropoiesis in humans and in animals in which these cell lineages have been compromised.

*Corresponding author: Dr. Susiji Wickramasinghe (PhD), Senior Lecturer, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 81 2396512, Fax: +94 81 2389106, E-mail: pj.oc.oohay@pjijisus

Received 2013 Jun 13; Accepted 2013 Aug 10.

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the potential role of fresh Carica papaya (C. papaya) leaf extract on haematological and biochemical parameters and toxicological changes in a murine model.

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keywords: Carica papaya, Alternative medicine, Erythropoiesis, Thrombopoiesis, Toxicity

Abstract

Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the National Research Council of Sri Lanka (Research Grant No. 09-05).

Acknowledgments

Notes

Comments

Background

This study is to evaluate the effect of hematology, biochemical and toxicology changes in mice after administration of C. papaya leaf extract. C. papaya is one of the medicinal plants have been used worldwide as a remedy, food, cosmetic and widely cultivated around the world. People in rural area have used papaya leaf as alternative to treat dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever. They believe this plant's leaves can increase the platelet level of dengue patient shortly after receiving juice, boiled or raw of the leaves.

Research frontiers

Studies are being performed to evaluate the hematology, biochemical and toxicity of fresh C. papaya leaf extract in mice.

Related reports

In these studies acute, subacute and subchronic toxicity studies showed that the C. papaya leaf juice given to the Sprague Dawley rats didn't showed any toxicity effect (Halim et al., 2011; Afzan et al., 2012). The clinical trial using juice and methanol extract of C. papaya showed the extract elevated the platelet level and maintained the hematocrit stability in dengue patient during treatment (Yunita et al., 2012; Subenthiran et al., 2013). Other studies reported that the extract of C. papaya leaves administered to thrombocytopenic rat model at doses of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg for 15 d showed significant alteration in platelet count, which was considered effective in the treatment of dengue (Patil et al., 2013).

Innovations and breakthroughs

This study has shown that mice received C. papaya leaf extract showed significant increase in RBC and platelet at a dose of 2 g/kg.

Applications

It will be significant to know, what kind of compound have made the elevation of platelet and RBC level in treated mice, since anti-platelet antibodies generate after dengue virus infection cause destruction of platelets.

Peer review

This is a interesting study of the efferct of C. papaya leaves extract on the haematological and biochemical parameters in a murine model. The findings are impressive and useful for continuous study related to C. papaya. C. papaya leaf could be an alternative to treat dengue and malaria fever instead of prescription drugs.

Notes

Footnotes

Foundation Project: Supported by the National Research Council of Sri Lanka (Research Grant No. 09-05).

Conflict of interest statement: We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Footnotes

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