PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF PAWPAW LEAVES (CARICA PAPAYA)

ABSTRACT The leaves of Carica papaya (pawpaw) have long been recognized for their medicinal properties in traditional medicine. This study focuses on the phytochemical profiling and evaluation of the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging activity of Carica papaya leaf extracts. The samples were analyzed using standard methods. Phytochemical screening revealed that the key bioactive compounds such as, alkaloids, saponins, polyphenols, steroids and glycosides were heavily present. Quinones and tannins were moderately and slightly present respectively. Whereas coumarins, flavonoids terpenoids, and phenols were not detected in the pawpaw plant analyzed. The antioxidant capacity was assessed using the hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, where the leaf extract exhibited a significant ability to neutralize H₂O₂, a reactive oxygen species that contributes to oxidative stress. The presence of bioactive compounds in the extract contributes to its antioxidant properties. This study provides insight into the phytochemical richness of Carica papaya leaves and highlights their potentials as natural source of antioxidants. These findings could support the development of plant-based therapeutic agents for managing oxidative stress-related diseases. Further research is recommended to isolate and characterize the specific compounds responsible for the observed antioxidant activity.