Search Results (211)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chitosan/cassava starch/TiO₂ coatings on the respiratory activity, physicochemical properties, and commercial/postharvest quality attributes (appearance, odour, colour, fungal incidence, shine, and film adhesiveness) of Hawaiian papaya. Three treatments were evaluated: uncoated papaya (control), papaya coated with chitosan/cassava starch (1:1) (CH/ST), and papaya coated with chitosan/cassava starch (1:1) containing 1% TiO₂ (CH/ST/T). The fruits were stored under fluorescent light at 22 ± 1 °C and 80% ± 1% RH, for 18 days. The biopolymeric coatings acted as a physical barrier, reducing the respiratory rate and mass loss, delaying senescence-associated metabolic changes and slowing chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid accumulation. The coatings maintain pulp firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, and internal quality, resulting in fruits with superior sensory attributes and greater commercial appeal. The coatings also showed good adhesion to the fruit peel, reduced fungal incidence, and maintained desirable odour, colour, shine, and overall acceptance. The coating containing TiO₂ (CH/ST/T) was the most effective in extending the shelf life of papaya by six and nine days, compared to fruits treated with TiO₂-free coating (CH/ST) and the uncoated control, respectively. Full article

Adequate soil quality is essential for ensuring the productivity and sustainability of agriculture, with soil pH being a key variable due to its influence on nutrient availability, microbial activity, and plant development. This study proposes a Mamdani fuzzy inference system (FIS) optimized through metaheuristic algorithms for soil pH prediction in papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivation, a crop highly sensitive to pH fluctuations within the rhizosphere. Soil temperature and soil moisture were used as independent variables, while the estimated soil pH constituted the dependent variable of the system. Three optimization techniques—genetic algorithms (GAs), Differential Evolution (DE), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)—were evaluated to optimize the membership functions and fuzzy rule base of the Mamdani FIS. Model performance was assessed through 30 independent runs using 1500 records collected from a commercial papaya plantation. Across the 30 independent runs, the GA-optimized model achieved the best overall predictive performance, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.3636 ± 0.0035, Mean Relative Error (MRE) of 0.0554 ± 0.0004, and mean coefficient of determination (r²) of 0.8699 ± 0.0048. The best observed GA values were an MAE of 0.3305, MRE of 0.0513, and r² of 0.8957. In addition, a web-based decision support platform and an automated Telegram alert system were developed for event-driven pH alert notification. The results confirm that GA-optimized fuzzy systems constitute an effective, interpretable, and practical tool for pH-based soil condition monitoring and agronomic decision support in precision agriculture. Full article

Papaya is a trioecious species, but a unified framework for comparing floral sex differentiation has been lacking. We combined stereomicroscopy, paraffin sectioning, and scanning electron microscopy to establish a continuous 12-stage developmental system from floral primordium initiation to anthesis. Male, female, and hermaphroditic flowers followed a common developmental trajectory during Stages 1–4 and diverged at Stage 5. Male flowers formed fertile stamens and a reduced pistillode, female flowers developed a complete gynoecium without stamens, and hermaphroditic flowers displayed normal, aborted, or transitional pistils and carpellodic stamens. RNA sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis of morphologically defined tissues identified gene modules associated with normal pistil development, distinct modes of pistil abortion, and stamen carpellody. These modules were enriched in chromatin and RNA regulation, protein homeostasis, floral-organ identity, hormone and receptor-kinase signaling, pollen-wall formation, and stress-responsive pathways, yielding 30 representative candidate genes. This developmental framework integrates developmental morphology with transcriptional programs underlying reproductive-organ fate and plasticity in papaya. Full article

Diabetes mellitus (DM) induces significant endocrine disruption and oxidative stress (OS) within the testes, resulting in impaired spermatogenesis, increased sperm abnormalities, and compromised reproductive function. This study aimed to evaluate the combined protective effects of Semaglutide (SEM) combined with Carica papaya (papaya) juice against type 2 diabetes-induced testicular damage in rats. Forty adult male albino rats were divided into four experimental groups: a control group, a Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic group, a diabetic group treated with SEM (0.3 mg/kg), and a diabetic group treated with SEM (0.3 mg/kg) in combination with 10% papaya juice, administered for eight weeks. Statistically significant superiority over SEM alone was observed for selected endpoints; the findings primarily support the potential of papaya as a dose-sparing adjunct rather than demonstrating uniformly enhanced efficacy. They significantly improved systemic metabolic parameters, as evidenced by reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels and restoration of the lipid profile. Importantly, it also attenuated diabetes-induced testicular injury, as demonstrated by improved reproductive hormone levels, enhanced sperm parameters, restoration of antioxidant defenses, modulation of inflammatory and apoptotic signaling, and marked histopathological recovery of seminiferous tubular architecture. Antioxidant markers revealed a notable reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), along with significant increases in reduced glutathione, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, a marked modulation of key pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic mediators was observed, including forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), microRNA-155 (miR-155), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B cell subunit 1 (NF-κB1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), caspase-3 (CASP3), and BCL2-Associated X Apoptosis Regulator (Bax), while a significant upregulation of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), microRNA-34c (miR-34c), and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) was also detected. Histopathological assessments confirmed the restoration of normal testicular architecture in the treated groups. These findings indicate that the combination strategy may have the potential to achieve dose savings while maintaining efficacy comparable to the standard-dose SEM, through the enhancement of the antioxidant defenses, modulation of inflammation, and apoptosis, specifically via the modulation of the miR-34c/miR-155 and SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling. Full article

The growing interest in sustainable materials has stimulated research into bio-based reinforcements. This study investigates the influence of fiber extraction methods on the properties of Carica papaya (CP) pseudostem fibers and on the performance of polyester-based nonwoven composites. Fibers were extracted by water retting (CPFR) and alkaline treatments using 5 wt.% NaOH (CPF5) and 10 wt.% NaOH (CPF10). Preliminary characterization confirmed the suitability of CP fibers as reinforcements for nonwoven composite materials. After carding, the fiber mats were impregnated with unsaturated polyester resin (UP), consolidated by compression molding, and post-cured in an oven. The experimental results showed that alkaline extraction significantly improved fiber–matrix adhesion and reduced water uptake. CPF10UP exhibited the lowest porosity (12.7%) and water absorption (2.62%). CPF5UP provided the best overall mechanical performance, achieving the highest tensile and flexural properties compared with neat polyester resin. In contrast, CPF10UP maximized tensile stiffness, impact resistance, and thermal stability. Radar chart analysis revealed two distinct optimization strategies: CPF5UP for superior mechanical performance and CPF10UP for enhanced moisture resistance and impact durability. Overall, the 5 wt.% NaOH treatment provided the best compromise between strength and stiffness, whereas the 10 wt.% NaOH treatment favored higher rigidity, thermal stability, and water resistance. Derived from agricultural waste, CP fibers demonstrate strong potential for semi-structural automotive interior components, particularly door panels, while supporting circular economy principles and sustainable material development. Full article

Medicinal plants are being investigated as a source of compounds with biological activities related to diabetes. The antidiabetic properties of the plant Carica papaya have been reported in experimental models. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and inhibitory activity of extracts from C. papaya leaves against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Plant material was collected in Tabasco, Mexico, and extracted by sequential maceration with solvents of increasing polarity: hexane, dichloromethane, methanol, and methanol:water. The extracts were fractionated by column chromatography, and the most active fractions were selected for further purification. The phytochemical identification of the active compounds was performed, and their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. The methanolic extract, rich in phenols and flavonoids, showed the highest antioxidant capacity (DPPH: 8.99 mmol TE/g; ABTS: 35.94 mmol RE/g; FRAP: 48.62 mmol Fe²⁺/g). The hydroalcoholic extract exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (38.44%), and bioassay-guided fractionation led to the identification of clitorin. The dichloromethane extract showed pancreatic lipase inhibition (52.2%), and the most active fraction contained loliolide. These findings demonstrate that C. papaya leaves contain bioactive compounds with antioxidants and digestive enzyme inhibitory activities, suggesting they could be candidates for further research in the management of diabetes. Full article

Reliance on mineral fertilization in papaya cultivation raises sustainability concerns and drives demand for validated organic alternatives. This study tested whether integrating humic substances (HS) and sugarcane filter cake (FC) would stimulate photosynthetic physiology, upregulate carbon metabolism gene expression, and increase fruit yield in ‘Golden’ papaya while outperforming conventional NPK fertilization. A 12-month field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of four HS doses (0, 90, 180, and 270 mL plant⁻¹) combined with two FC doses (0 and 60 kg plant⁻¹) plus an NPK control, measuring photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange, relative expression of rbcL, ACC oxidase, invertase, relative growth rate, and fruit yield. Combined HS and FC increased chlorophyll a by up to 205%, chlorophyll b by 277%, and carotenoids by 208% relative to unamended controls. Gene expression was strongly induced: rbcL reached 202-fold, invertase 156-fold, and ACC oxidase 84.8-fold above control values. Photosynthetic rate followed a quadratic dose-response peaking near 90 mL plant⁻¹ HS. Fruit yield nearly doubled under the optimal combined treatment (115 t ha⁻¹) compared with unamended controls (62 t ha⁻¹) and NPK fertilization (66 t ha⁻¹). These results confirm that HS and FC act synergistically as dual-purpose amendments, improving soil fertility while biostimulating papaya physiology through coordinated upregulation of photosynthetic capacity and carbon partitioning toward reproductive sinks. Full article

Agro-industrial by-products represent a sustainable and underutilized source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in human health. Among them, papaya (Carica papaya L.) peel, typically discarded during industrial processing, constitutes a promising and underexploited matrix for carotenoid recovery and valorization. In this study, different extraction strategies were evaluated and compared to identify the most efficient approach for carotenoid recovery. Total carotenoid contents of 7.13 ± 0.32, 5.35 ± 0.24, and 4.44 ± 0.38 µg β-carotene/100 g dry weight (DW) were obtained, respectively. The conventional extraction was further optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to maximize carotenoid recovery and antioxidant activity. The extracts obtained under the optimized conditions were characterized by spectrophotometric analysis, HPLC-DAD, and in vitro antioxidant assays (DPPH and ORAC-FL), exhibiting antioxidant capacities of 528.4 ± 43.3 µmol TE/100 g DW and 5.0 ± 0.5 mmol TE/100 g DW, respectively. The carotenoid profile revealed lutein as the predominant compound (1414.28 µg/100 g fresh weight (FW)), followed by violaxanthin (629.55 µg/100 g FW), zeaxanthin (624.58 µg/100 g FW), β-cryptoxanthin (531.23 µg/100 g FW), and β-carotene (278.82 µg/100 g FW), while lycopene was not detected. The predominance of xanthophylls, particularly lutein, highlights the potential of papaya peel as a source of carotenoids that have been associated with visual health in previous studies, supported by its significant antioxidant activity. Overall, papaya peel is confirmed as a valuable and sustainable source of carotenoids, particularly xanthophylls associated with visual health, supporting its potential use in the development of functional ingredients. These findings contribute to circular economy strategies and support the sustainable production of bioactive compounds with potential applications in functional food and nutraceutical formulations. Full article

Monieziosis presents a considerable challenge to livestock farming, mainly due to the parasite’s resistance to common anthelmintics, prompting the need for alternative control strategies. This study examined the in vitro effect of two enzymatic sources (plant and fungal) on the structural integrity of Moniezia expansa eggs, aiming to find new environmental management solutions. The plant enzyme papain was tested at various concentrations and time points, while the fungal enzyme was produced through solid-state fermentation using Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001), resulting in an active crude enzymatic extract (ACEE). Papain at 10% w/v showed nonlinear degradation (R² = 0.998), achieving 95% egg reduction after 48 h. The fungal extract ACEE (71.2 U mL⁻¹) caused a 60% reduction after 72 h. Morphological studies indicated significant eggshell damage following both treatments. A compatibility assay showed an antagonistic interaction, with enzyme activity decreasing by 83.83% within 48 h, likely due to cross-proteolysis. Although each agent is effective individually, combining them is not feasible. This is the first study documenting the activity of ACEE and papain against M. expansa eggs, and it recommends using them separately or sequentially for effective parasite control. Full article

Recent foodborne outbreaks by Salmonella Typhimurium associated with the consumption of ‘Maradol’ papaya have prompted an assessment of the pathogen’s behavior with regard to the fruit. The objective of this research was to assess the survival and possible internalization of S. Typhimurium in inoculated ‘Maradol’ papaya harvested at two maturity stages and stored for various days at 11 °C and 24 °C. The physicochemical analysis on fruit included firmness (N), total soluble solids (%), and pH. The location of S. Typhimurium in fruit exocarp and mesocarp tissues was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results indicated that the high temperature (24 °C) was the most important factor for the survival of S. Typhimurium. At this same temperature, it was the variable firmness that was the most affected, regardless of storage days, whether inoculated or not. The principal component analysis (PCA) separated the data into two components that explained 57% of the variance. PC1 linked higher S. Typhimurium populations with declining firmness, TSS, and exocarp pH were found in fruit stored at 24 °C, whereas PC2 was associated with moderate physicochemical changes at 11 °C. The CLSM observations confirmed superficial colonization of the bacteria on papaya fruit rather than an internalization but only at 24 °C, regardless of ripening stage throughout the 7 days sampling period. Maintaining the cold chain is essential to mitigate the risk of salmonellosis in papaya. Full article

Cancer represents one of the major public health issues in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with increasing incidence and mortality rates as a result of late diagnosis, limited healthcare infrastructure, and financial difficulties. Traditional medicine plays an important role in healthcare across different populations in SSA, as more than 80% of the population depend on indigenous plant-based remedies for treating or managing different ailments, including cancer. This study aimed to document medicinal plants traditionally used to treat cancer in SSA. A systematic search of all documents available in the last two decades (2006–2026) was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. After screening studies using the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 55 studies met the eligibility requirements and were selected for analysis based on their relevance to the topic, geographic scope, and reported applications in cancer management. The scientific names of the identified plant species and their taxonomic authorities were verified using the Plants of the World Online database. A total of 556 species, belonging to 110 families, were recorded as medicinal plants used to treat various forms of cancer in SSA. The top five families with the most frequently used plants were Fabaceae (51 species), Asteraceae (34 species), Euphorbiaceae (25 species), Apocynaceae (22 species) and Lamiaceae (22 species). Frequently cited plants include Kigelia africana, Annona muricata, Adansonia digitata, Carica papaya, and Tamarindus indica. A total of 11 plant parts were documented, with leaves (41.20%), roots (18.75%), and bark (17.25%) being the dominant plant parts utilised. The primary methods of preparation were decoction (38.23%), powdering and grinding (14.51%), and infusion and tea preparation (49.73%), while the main modes of administration were oral (66.88%) and topical (26.46%). The results show that traditional medicinal plants hold significant potential as sources of novel anticancer drugs in SSA. However, a significant gap exists between ethnobotanical knowledge, laboratory research, and clinical application. Rigorous pharmacological and toxicity evaluations and well-designed clinical trials on the identified medicinal plants are needed to integrate effective and safe plant-based therapies into evidence-based oncology. Full article

The use of underutilized biomass improves resource-use efficiency and reduces agricultural waste, particularly in temperate systems cultivating tropical crops. Papaya (Carica papaya L.), grown as an annual crop in these systems, produces substantial trunk biomass that is typically discarded after harvest. This study evaluated the potential of papaya trunk xylem rays as an edible resource through compositional, sensory, and functional analyses. Trunks were harvested at the end of the fruiting period (December) and after exposure to a cold wave (January) and were classified by organ types and maturity level. Xylem rays showed moisture and carbohydrate contents comparable to those of green papaya fruit, and were judged as edible by all panelists (100%) in December-harvested samples. However, exposure to a cold wave reduced sweetness and increased bitterness, resulting in decreased overall acceptability. Nevertheless, boiling effectively reduced bitterness and improved palatability even in cold-exposed samples. In addition, xylem rays exhibited higher total polyphenol content than green papaya fruit, while showing comparable DPPH radical scavenging activity. These results suggest that xylem rays have potential as an edible plant resource with antioxidant-related properties, contributing to resource-use efficiency and potentially providing opportunities for biomass valorization in temperate production systems. Full article

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a significant staple food crop in the developing world. Despite its significance, diseases and pests are limiting its supply. Farmers have primarily relied on synthetic chemicals as control measures; however, these chemicals are harmful to humans, animals, and the environment and exacerbate pest recurrence. Medicinal plants have shown promising potential as alternative pest- and disease-controlling agents, offering an economical, sustainable, biodegradable, and cost-effective approach. This review article synthesises phytochemical, ethnobotanical, and experimental data from relevant peer-reviewed papers published across various years to identify medicinal plants. Thirty-one unique plant families have been identified and have been used to control pests and diseases of maize. Some families represented both antifungal and insecticidal applications. Medicinal plants such as Senna obtusifolia, Euphorbia balsamifera, Aristolochia ringens, Allium sativum, Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya, Moringa oleifera, and Ficus exasperata have shown antifungal and insecticidal properties, primarily under laboratory conditions. Most of the evidence is derived from laboratory studies, with only limited validation in real field conditions and with limited evaluation of safety for non-target organisms. Furthermore, this review highlighted the extraction methods, solvents used, plant parts, major active ingredients, and mode of action. Future prospects for integrating ethnobotanical knowledge with contemporary scientific methods to optimise biopesticide production are also discussed, along with the challenges of standardisation, formulation, and commercialisation. Full article

The papaya aril is a specialized seed appendage that has been reported to contain germination-inhibiting substances and usually requires removal before seed germination, thereby limiting breeding efficiency. However, the cellular origin and candidate molecular regulators of papaya aril development remain poorly understood. To investigate the early developmental process and candidate regulatory genes of the papaya aril, we combined histological analysis, bulk RNA-seq, and single-cell RNA-seq. Histological observations suggested that aril differentiation begins around 10 days after pollination (DAP) in the funiculus region. Based on this initiation stage, bulk RNA-seq profiling of seeds at 5, 10, and 15 DAP identified genes with initiation-stage-specific expression and prioritized candidate genes potentially related to seed appendage development, including CpRING-like, CpMBR2, and CpNDR8. Single-cell RNA-seq of seeds at 10 and 15 DAP annotated a putative aril cell population and reconstructed its developmental trajectory, revealing five trajectory-associated genes: CpATJ3, CpDYL1, CpGRP-like, CpHIRD11, and CpERD15. Integrative analysis of bulk and single-cell transcriptomic datasets further identified three candidate genes potentially involved in aril development: CpFER3, CpUVI4, and CpCEP1. These findings support the funiculus region as the likely anatomical origin of the papaya aril and provide candidate genes for future functional validation. Full article

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a widely cultivated tropical and subtropical fruit crop valued for its rich nutritional content, diverse food industry applications, and the medicinal use of papain. However, bitterness in papaya fruit, particularly in fibrous strands, negatively affects fruit quality and consumer acceptance; therefore, the development of papaya cultivars with stable and desirable quality is of great importance. To identify the bitter compounds in papaya fruit fibrous strands and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying their biosynthesis, we performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of fibrous strands from two papaya cultivars at three developmental stages. We identified carpaine, dehydrocarpaine II, and their derivative alkaloids. Furthermore, we identified two key regulatory genes, CpNAC82 and CpHD-Zip ANT2, associated with alkaloid biosynthesis. Finally, using single-nucleus RNA sequencing technology, we constructed a comprehensive gene expression atlas of papaya fibrous strands and stems, successfully identifying multiple cell types, including epidermal cells, guard cells, parenchyma cells, and phloem cells. Epidermal and phloem cells serve as the primary sites of alkaloid metabolism in papaya. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of bitterness in papaya’s fibrous strands and yield genomic resources for improving fruit quality in papaya. Full article