Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF CARICA PAPAYA LEAF POWDER TABLETS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DENGUE FEVER

Sakibjiya Mujaffer Shaikh*, Prajkta Annasaheb Kate, Dr. Sampat D. Navale

ABSTRACT

Dengue fever is a major mosquito borne viral infection charac-terized by acute febrile illness and potentially severe thrombo-cytopenia, for which no specific antiviral therapy is currently available. Extracts and preparations of Carica papaya leaves have gained attention as adjunctive therapy to improve platelet counts and modulate the immune response in dengue pa-tients. The extract exhibits multifactorial bioactivity, including anti-thrombocytopenic effects via ALOX12 and PTAFR gene upregulation, immunomodulatory modulation of cytokine pro-files, antiviral enhancement of NS1 antigen clearance, and anti-inflammatory reduction of plasma leakage. This paper outlines the formulation and evaluation of 250 mg immediate release tablets containing Carica papaya leaf powder prepared by wet granulation, designed as a supportive phytopharmaceutical dos-age form for dengue associated thrombocytopenia. The pres-ence of bioactive phytoconstituents—carpaine, quercetin,kaempferol derivatives, and phenolic compounds—underpins these pharmacological actions. A concise review of clinical and preclinical evidence on papaya leaf extract in dengue is pre-sented, followed by details of formulation design, manufacturing by wet granulation, and standard quality control tests such as weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration and in vitro marker release, together with typical result ranges drawn from related herbal tablet studies.

Keywords: Carica papaya, papaya leaf extract, dengue fever, thrombocytopenia, platelet count, immunomodulation.