Formulation and Evaluation of Carica Papaya Leaves Syrup for Dengue Management

Abstract

Dengue fever is a rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease that poses a major public health concern, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. One of the major complications of dengue is thrombocytopenia (a significant drop in platelet count), which can lead to hemorrhagic manifestations and fatal outcomes if untreated. Carica papaya (papaya) leaves have been traditionally used in herbal medicine and have shown promising effects in increasing platelet counts in dengue patients due to the presence of bioactive compounds like flavonoids, alkaloids, and papain. This study aims to formulate a palatable and stable syrup containing Carica papaya leaf extract and evaluate its physicochemical properties and in-vitro effectiveness for dengue management. The formulation process included extraction of the active phytoconstituents through aqueous and hydroalcoholic methods, followed by standardization and incorporation into a syrup base with appropriate excipients for stability, taste masking, and viscosity.

Keywords

Carica Papaya Leaves Syrup, flavonoids, alkaloids, and papain, appropriate excipients for stability, taste masking, and viscosity

Introduction

Preparation procedure of herbal papaya leaf syrup

 (50 ml)

1.Prepare syrup base:

Prepare 60% sugar syrup (can be replaced or combined with honey).

Dissolve Xanthan gum (0.5–1%) in warm distilled water with constant stirring to avoid clumping.

Add Glycerine (5–10%) to improve viscosity and mouthfeel.

Add Sodium benzoate (0.1–0.2%) as preservative.

Allow the solution to cool.

2. Add herbal Extracts

Add the concentrated extracts of Carica papaya, Tulsi, and Turmeric into the syrup base under constant stirring.

3.Add Honey:

(10–15%) as natural sweetener and therapeutic agent. Mix thoroughly using a homogenizer or magnetic stirrer for uniform distribution.

4.Add orange oil or citric acid.

Add Orange oil (0.05–0.1%) as a flavoring agent.

Adjust pH to around 5–6 using citric acid.

5.Add carrot juices as colouring.

Add carrot juice / extract drop by drop.

Stir until a uniform, natural orange colour is achieved

6.Adjust volume and filter.

Add purified water q.s. to make exactly 50ml.

Stir the final mixture well.

Filter through muslin cloth or filter paper if a clearer syrup is desired.

7. Packaging and Labelling

Fill the final syrup into clean, sterilized, amber-coloured bottles. Label with contents.

Formulation table of herbal papaya leaf syrup

Sr. no	Ingredients	F1	F2	F3
1	Papaya leaf extract	1.5 ml	2.5 ml	1.5 ml
2	Turmeric extract	0.5 ml	0.6 ml	0.5 ml
3	Tulsi extract	0.5 ml	0.4 ml	0.3 ml
4	Simple syrup	25 ml	20 ml	25 ml
5	Honey	10 ml	12 ml	14 ml
6	Glycerin	5ml	10 ml	5ml
7	Xanthan gum	0.5 g	0.8 g	0.6 g
8	Sodium benzoate	0.05 g	0.03 g	0.06 g
9	Orange oil	0.05 ml	0.06 ml	0.1 ml
10	Carrot juice	1.0 ml 0.5 g	1.0 ml	1.0 ml
11	Citric acid	0.05 g	0.04 g	0.03 g
12	Purified water	q.s. to 50 ml	q.s to 50 ml	q.s to 50 ml
	Total	50 ml	50 ml	50 ml

Evaluation tests of herbal papaya leaf syrup:

To evaluate the quality and consistency of a syrup, several standard parameters are tested. Here’s a breakdown of the typical evaluation parameters for syrup. Testing parameter for papaya leaf extract syrup involve evaluating its physical chemical and pharmacological properties to ensure quality, safety and efficacy.

1.Oraganoleptic evaluation parameters:

Colour

1. 5 ml of prepared syrup was taken on a watch glass.

2. Watch glass placed against white background in white tube light.

3. Colour was observed by naked eyes.

Odour

1. 2ml prepared syrup was taken and smell by initially.

Taste - Taste has been checked.

pH:

1.pH paper strips (universal indicator paper preferred)

2. Ensure the test sample (e.g., papaya leaf syrup) is liquid, filtered, and at room temperature.

3. Tear off a small strip of pH paper.

4. Dip the paper strip into the test solution for 1–2 seconds.

5. Remove the strip and immediately observe the colour change.

6. Compare the colour of the strip to the provided pH scale.

2.Quantitative parameter:

Density

1. Take the weight of empty dry bottle with capillary tube stopper.

2. Fill the bottle with syrup and place the stopper, wipe out excess liquid from outside the tube using tissue paper.

3. Weight bottle with syrup on analytical balance.

4. Calculate weight in grams of syrup.

W????i????????? = W????i????????? ????ƒ bottle with syrup – weight of empty bottle

Density = mass/volume

Fig. Density

Viscosity

1. Thoroughly clean the Ostwald viscometer with warm chromic acid and if necessary, used an organic solvent such as acetone.

2. Mount viscometer in vertical position on a suitable stand.

3. Fill water in dry viscometer up to mark G.

4. Count time required, in second for water to flow

from mark A to mark B.        

5. Repeat step 3 at least 3 times to obtained accurate reading.

6. Rinse viscometer with test liquid and then fill it up to mark A, find out the time required for liquid to flow to mark B.

7. Determination of densities of liquid as mentioned in density determination experiment.

Fig. Ostwald Viscometer

Advantages of syrup:

• Boosts Platelet Count
• Immune System Support
• Digestive Aid
• Anti-inflammatory Properties
• Antimicrobial & Antiviral Effects
• Rich in Antioxidants

Disadvantages of syrup:

• Not Recommended During Pregnancy
• Digestive Irritation in High Doses
• Risk of Allergic Reactions
• Drug Interactions
• Bitter Taste
• Overuse Risk

RESULT:

The results obtained in this study suggest that the herbal formulations prepared possesses Anti-dengue activity. The component of the herbal syrup formulation was selected due to their reported action that plays a preventative and curative role in treatment of dengue. Syrup prepared passes all the physical parameters and shows the significant Antitussive activity. Domancestrated a significant increase in platelet count within 72 hours in groups treated with in the formulated syrup compare to controls. Haematological parameters (WBC, BC, haemoglobin) remained within normal ranges , indicating safety. The extract showed of dengue virus replication in vitro cells, indication potential antiviral activity.

Fig. Syrup

CONCLUSION:

Study suggests the therapeutic role of papaya leaf extract (PLE) as a cheap and potential herbal therapy for treating the dengue infected patients. dengue is a threat to almost 40% of the world’s population. There is still no specific treatment for dengue. Carica papaya leaf extract can be used as supplementary drug in acute febrile illness patients with thrombocytopenia. It accelerates the increase in platelet count and reduces the hospital stay thereby reducing the cost of hospitalization. The result of this work suggest that the compound extracted from leaves are used for the treatment for dengue activity and this effect is increased by increasing the quantity of compound. This extract used to prepare syrup, and evaluate purpose by using various evaluation parameters of viscosity, pH, Density.

REFERENCES

1. Alam, Samina, et al. "A novel formulation of PAP-LEF SYRUP (Carica Papaya leaf extract) for an acute viral infection (dengue fever." World Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2021): 170-175.
2. Patil S and Ayare P: Carica papaya: Formulation and evaluation of new dosage form design. Int J Pharm Sci & Res 2019; 10(4): 1677-85. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.10(4).1677-85.1) (3)
3. Halim SZ, Abdullah NR, Afzan A, Rashid BA, Jantan I, Ismail Z. Acute toxicity study of Carica papaya leaf extract in Sprague Dawley rats. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 2011 May 18;5(10):1867-72.
4. Anjum V, Ansari SH, Naquvi KJ, Arora P, Ahmad A. Development of quality standards of Carica papaya Linn. leaves. Sch Res Lib. 2013;5(2):370-6.
5. Kumar PV. Dengue and drawbacks of marketed Carica papaya leaves supplements. International Journal of Green Pharmacy (IJGP). 2016 Mar 21;10(1).
6. Nivaasini Sivarajah, Internationa Journal of Science and Research (LJSR), Index Copernicus Value, May 2015; 6(5): 2770-2772.
7. Lili Zhou, Maria Eloisa Q, Reyes and Robert E. Paull, Papaya leaf area estimation and single leaf net photosynthetic CO2 assimilation rate following leaf defoliation and fruit thining,Hort Science, 55(11): 1861-1864.
8. Anitha B, Raghu N, Gopenath TS, Karthikeyan M, gnanasekaran A, Chandrashekrappa Gk and Basalingappa KM, Journal of Natural and Ayurvedic Medicine, ISSN: 2578-4986, 2(6): 1-8.
9. Surya P. Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Sivapur V.Mathan, DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 05 May 2020, Page no: 180-188.
10. Rajasekhar Pinnamaneni, Department of Biotechnology, World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 30 july 2017; 6(8): 2559-2578.