Abstract

CONCEPTUAL STUDY OF USAGE OF OIL EXTRACTED FROM PAPAYA FRUIT IN INTRA VERTEBRAL DISC PROLAPSE - AN ALTERNATE TO THE SURGERY.

Dr. Tushar Kumar* and Dr. Satender Tanwar

ABSTRACT

Chemonucleolysis is a non-surgical treatment for a bulging disc that involves the injection of an enzyme called chymopapain into the vertebral disc with the goal of dissolving the inner part of the disc, the nucleus pulposus. This enzyme from the papaya fruit, to dissolve the displaced disc material that is putting pressure on the spinal nerve. Chymopapain is a proteolytic enzyme isolated from the latex of papaya (carica papaya). It is a medication used to treat herniated lower lumbar discs in the spine. Administration (FDA) finally approved chemonucleolysis with chymopapain; even the New York Times praised the decision. The treatment seemed to offer a less invasive, lower-cost alternative to surgery while achieving comparable success. Although many patients experienced excellent outcomes, chemonucleolysis with chymopapain was found to cause serious side effects at a higher-than-expected rate. The nonspecific enzyme digested structures in addition to the disk nucleus, leading in the worst cases to hemorrhage, pain, and paralysis. In some patients, chymopapain triggered serious allergic reactions, including fatal anaphylactic shock. Serious side effects from the use of chymopapain include anaphylaxis, paralysis of the legs, or death. Because of above said reasons twenty years later—in January 2003—the FDA halted the sale and distribution of chymopapain in the United States. After taking above concept in due consideration the oil can be extracted from the papaya plant and can be tried in the form of kati basti and kati pichu to get the better result in case of IVDP and prove to be less invasive, cost effective and one of great achievement in the field of Ayurvedic medicine if come out with successful results.

Keywords: .