Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Aspects of Mountain Papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens A.DC.)

Mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens A.DC.) is a high-altitude species with significant potential as a wild nutritious food source and a therapeutic agent. This review examines the ethnobotanical significance, phytochemical profile, and pharmacological activities of this plant. Specifically, this review contextualises the phytochemical and pharmacological data for the Wonosobo cultivar from the Dieng Plateau within the broader global dataset for this species, including data from Chile and Saudi Arabia. Traditionally, mountain papaya is used as a folk remedy to treat digestive disorders such as diarrhea and dyspepsia, as a topical agent to promote skin tissue repair, and as a natural dewormer for gastrointestinal parasites. The therapeutic properties of mountain papaya are primarily driven by phenolic acids, flavonoids, carpaine alkaloids, and proteolytic enzymes. Pharmacological evaluations highlight the plant’s potent antioxidant activity, antiglycation effects, inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and thrombolytic properties, all of which are relevant to wound healing and the treatment of diabetes, diarrhea, and inflammatory diseases. The traditional uses of mountain papaya are corroborated by pharmacological activity evaluations attributed to related metabolites. This review highlights the need for further standardization and pharmacological validation before mountain papaya-derived products can advance into interventional clinical trials or regulatory approval of phytopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, or functional foods.