Papaya leaf extract for treatment of Dengue fever

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection which in recent years has become a major public health problem. Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF), a potentially lethal complication, was first recognized in the 1950s during dengue epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand. Today DHF is a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in India, Sri Lanka and other South east Asian countries.

There are four distinct types of closely related viruses which cause Dengue. Recovery from infection by one type provides lifelong immunity against that virus but confers only partial and transient protection against subsequent infection by the other three types of viruses. There is evidence that second infection with another serotype increases the risk of developing DHF.

Till date there is no specific treatment for dengue fever. The mainstay of treatment is symptomatic- rest, fluids for prevent/treat dehydration and antipyretics (like Paracetamol for the treatment of fever). Lack of public interest and sanitation has exposed our undernourished children and vulnerable populations to this deadly virus.

In these circumstances it is a relief to see that platelet counts that start decreasing in Dengue responds to papaya leaf extract, especially when given early in the disease process. Normal platelet count is in the range of 1.5 to 4 lakhs per cu.mm. Once it starts falling , it has been shown in many studies done in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan that papaya leaf which contains the enzymes, papain and chymopapain improve platelet counts and finally stabilize them, thus preventing further decreases and the need for emergency platelet transfusion. This is observed not only in viral diseases like Dengue but also in malaria, hypothyroidism and cancer chemotherapy.

A research paper published recently in JEBMH by physicians in Osmania General Hospital reveals that when used in 80 patients(all suffering from decreased platelet count due to various causes) with a mean platelet count of 50,000 per cu.mm, 25 ml of papaya leaf extract given thrice a day for 5 days caused a marked improvement in platelet count which increased to 1.6 lakhs per cu.mm. at the end of the study.

Further studies are definitely needed but thanks to papaya, many patients can be prevented from hospitalization and death due to Dengue haemorrhagic fever. Carapill prepared from the papaya leaves has already been introduced as tablets(and also in syrup form for children) by a Bangalore- based pharmaceutical company, exactly an year ago and it is definitely showing the much needed results.

-UDAAN