AMERICAN PAWPAW: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

American pawpaw is a plant. The bark is used to make medicine. The fruit is eaten as food.

American pawpaw is most commonly used in homeopathic medicine. But there is no good scientific evidence to support American pawpaw for any uses.

How does it work ?

American pawpaw has chemicals that might have activity against certain cancers.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

Lice.
Cancer.
Fever.
Swelling of the mouth and throat.
Vomiting.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of American pawpaw for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if American pawpaw fruit or extract are safe when taken by mouth as medicine. Eating the fruit might cause hives, nausea, vomiting, headache, or faintness in some people. American pawpaw extract might cause vomiting.

When applied to the skin: American pawpaw is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin, short-term. It might cause a red, itchy rash when applied to the skin in some people.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if American pawpaw is safe to use when pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for AMERICAN PAWPAW overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of American pawpaw depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for American pawpaw. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Ahammadsahib, K. I., Hollingworth, R. M., McGovren, J. P., Hui, Y. H., and McLaughlin, J. L. Mode of action of bullatacin: a potent antitumor and pesticidal annonaceous acetogenin. Life Sci 1993;53(14):1113-1120. View abstract.

Magness, JR., Markle, GM., and Compton, CC. Food and feed crops of the United States. Interregional Research Project IR-4 1971;IR Bul. 1:Bul. 828.

McCage, C. M., Ward, S. M., Paling, C. A., Fisher, D. A., Flynn, P. J., and McLaughlin, J. L. Development of a paw paw herbal shampoo for the removal of head lice. Phytomedicine 2002;9(8):743-748. View abstract.

Zhao, G. X., Chao, J. F., Zeng, L., Rieser, M. J., and McLaughlin, J. L. The absolute configuration of adjacent bis-THF acetogenins and asiminocin, a novel highly potent asimicin isomer from Asimina triloba. Bioorg.Med.Chem. 1996;4(1):25-32. View abstract.

Zhao, G. X., Rieser, M. J., Hui, Y. H., Miesbauer, L. R., Smith, D. L., and McLaughlin, J. L. Biologically active acetogenins from stem bark of Asimina triloba. Phytochemistry 1993;33(5):1065-1073. View abstract.

Zhao, G., Hui, Y., Rupprecht, J. K., McLaughlin, J. L., and Wood, K. V. Additional bioactive compounds and trilobacin, a novel highly cytotoxic acetogenin, from the bark of Asimina triloba. J.Nat.Prod. 1992;55(3):347-356. View abstract.

A novel mechanism for the control of clinical cancer: inhibition of the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) with a standardized extract of paw paw (Asimina triloba, Annonaceae) (Unpublished). 2001.

Avalos J, Rupprecht JK, McLaughlin JL, et al. Guinea pig maximization test of the bark extract from pawpaw, Asimina triloba (Annonaceae). Contact Dermatitis 1993;29:33-5. View abstract.

Barber MA. Poisoning due to the papaw (Asimina triloba). JAMA. 1905;XLV(27):2013-2014.

He K, Zhao GX, Shi G, et al. Additional bioactive annonaceous acetogenins from Asminia triloba (Annonaceae). Bioorg Med Chem 1997;5:501-6. View abstract.

McLaughlin JL. Paw paw and cancer: Annonaceous acetogenins from discover to commercial products. J Nat Prod. 2008;71:1311-1321. View abstract.

Nam JS, Park SY, Oh HJ, Jang HL, Rhee YH. Phenolic profiles, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of pawpaw pulp (Asimina triloba [L.] Dunal) at different ripening stages. J Food Sci. 2019;84(1):174-182. View abstract.

Potts LF, Luzzio FA, Smith SC, Hetman M, Champy P, Litvan I. Annonacin in Asimina triloba fruit: implication for neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology. 2012;33(1):53-8. View abstract.

Ratnayake S, Rupprecht JK, Potter WM, McLaughlin JL. Evaluation of various parts of the paw paw tree, Asmina triloba (Annonaceae), as commercial sources for the pesticidal annonaceous acetogenins. J Econ Entomol 1992;85:2353-6. View abstract.

Zhao GX, Miesbauer LR, Smith DL, et al. Asimin, asimininacin, and asiminecin: novel highly cytotoxic asimicin isomers from Asiminia triloba. J Med Chem 1994;37:1971-6. View abstract.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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