Synthesis of Nanoparticles from Papaya Leaf Extract

<p><em><span>In 2020, the cancer incidence rate reached 19,292,789, while the number of cancer-related deaths was 9,958,133 worldwide (Sung et al., 2021).[1] Over the past five years, the prevalence of cancer in Indonesia has increased from 1.4% to 1.49%. Various cancer therapies have been implemented, one of which is chemotherapy, which works by inhibiting cell proliferation to kill cancer cells. However, chemotherapy is less selective in targeting cancer cells, leading to significant side effects for patients. Therefore, researchers aim to develop alternative therapies using plants, one of which is papaya leaves. Carica papaya Linn., or papaya, belongs to the Caricaceae family, originating from Central America and southern Mexico, and is commonly grown in India. It has been used for its medicinal properties worldwide. Papaya plants are typically unbranched, with smooth stems and long-petioled leaves that have five to six lobes. Anticancer agents are compounds used in cancer therapy. The classes of compounds responsible for anticancer mechanisms include phenolics, flavonoids, phytosterols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and pheophorbide A. The stages of this research include extraction, nanoparticle synthesis, encapsulation, characterization, and analysis.</span></em></p>