Unveiling the biochemical properties of Saudi mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens): A wild nutritious food source with therapeutic relevance

Vasconcellea pubescens , commonly known as mountain papaya or pawpaw, is a well-known food plant native to South America, valued for its nutritious and therapeutically important fruits. Recently, this species has been introduced for cultivation in Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to expand agriculture in the country. To the best of our knowledge and based on a thorough literature search, the Saudi cultivar of mountain papaya has not yet been investigated for its therapeutic and chemical properties. This study evaluated the chemical composition and biological profile of the hydroethanolic extract of V . pubescens fruits (EVPF) using various in vitro and in silico assays. The results revealed that the extract is rich in phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. Additionally, GC-MS analysis tentatively identified a total of 49 phytocompounds in EVPF. The extract demonstrated significant antioxidant potential across different assays, with the highest activity observed in the ABTS assay. A notable thrombolytic effect (88.75%) and low hemolytic activity (1.61%) were observed using the standard Triton X-100 method. The extract exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains. EVPF also showed significant inhibition of clinically important enzymes, including urease (78.26%), tyrosinase (89.85%), and α-amylase (36.14%). Furthermore, the compounds identified by GC-MS were subjected to in silico molecular docking studies to explore potential interactions with these enzymes. The best-docked compounds underwent ADMET analysis to assess their pharmacokinetic properties. This study supports the use of the Saudi cultivar of mountain papaya as a food source and a preventive alternative for treating various diseases, while also paving the way for further research and development of mountain papaya-based nutraceuticals. • Mountain papaya is a recent addition to Saudi Arabia agricultural cultivation. • Saudi cultivar of MP is polyphenolic enriched with high antioxidant properties. • Extract of MP displayed significant enzyme-inhibitory and antibacterial potential. • GC-MS revealed compounds with drug-likeness and plausible in silico interaction.