A Russian study has found papaya (Carica papaya) can heal wounds and burns, lending credence to what people in Asia and Africa, where the fruit is commonly grown, have long known.

A team of scientists led by molecular biologist E V Mikhalchik of Russian State Medical University found a gel made of papaya fruit can halt the action of enzymes excreted by pathogens in a wound caused either by a cut or burn.

Their studies on rats showed the fruit enhances by as much as 500 times the bacteria-killing ability of phagocyte cells