By VERONICA KIRIGO
Pawpaws are a favourite for many Kenyans due to their sweet and refreshing taste.
This is in addition to the fact that they are packed with vital nutrients such as vitamins, potassium, folate, easily digestible fibre and antioxidants like folic acid and carotenes.
But the smooth shimmery black seeds, which always end up in the dustbin, could soon become key in formulating male contraceptives.
Research is underway to establish the efficacy of pawpaw seeds in inhibiting sperm fertilisation.
According to a research paper for the journal of Natural Products, administration of pawpaw seeds extract could cause reversible male infertility.
Another study published in the 2005 Reproductive Toxicology Journal further corroborates the relationship between pawpaw seeds and male fertility. The study by Indian researchers assessed the efficacy of the purified compounds of pawpaw seeds as a contraceptive in albino rats.
The investigators found complete inhibition of sperm fertilisation following 90 days of treatment.
This means that they are effective as a contraceptive, the effect was reversible and no adverse side effects were reported.
This could pave the way for pawpaw seeds to be used by pharmaceutical companies to develop a man’s pill.
Scientists found the effect reversible even with high concentrations of the extract and long-term administration.
Given the few contraceptive options available in the market, pawpaw seed extracts could be added on to the basket of family control methods targeting men.