Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 2 of 3 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Chewable Papaya Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Bio-Nutrient

Tablet Or Pill Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Chewable Papaya is a dietary supplement by Bio-Nutrient with 3 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive support for protein digestion, wound cleaning (debridement of dead tissue), sore throat and inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 92 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Papaya fruit powder, Papain. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Chewable Papaya by Bio-Nutrient

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 3 of its 3 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Bio-Nutrient Chewable Papaya has three active ingredients: amylase (a digestive enzyme we could not check), papain (an enzyme from papaya), and papaya fruit powder. Papain is thought to help break down protein in the digestive tract.

The tablet also contains several inactive ingredients — dextrose, maltodextrin, fructose, cellulose, stearic acid, silica, natural flavors, and magnesium stearate — which are fillers and binders to hold the tablet together and improve taste.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

The label doesn't state a purpose we can grade — see each ingredient's own graded uses on its monograph instead.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for papain and papaya fruit powder is not established in our data. Both ingredients have been studied for conditions including cancer, dental caries, radiation dermatitis, exercise-related muscle soreness, shingles, intestinal parasites, aging skin, hair loss, gallbladder and colorectal cancer, and diabetes — but the scientific evidence is insufficient to rate whether they work for any of these uses.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Papain Papaya

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Papain is generally tolerated as a food but supplements may irritate your digestive tract or trigger allergic reactions in sensitive people — symptoms can include itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, stomach cramps, sweating, and diarrhea. At high doses, rare serious effects like severe gastritis or esophageal perforation have been reported.

Papaya fruit powder is well tolerated in food amounts; concentrated supplements are less well studied. Concentrated papain and unripe papaya are best avoided in pregnancy due to safety concerns.

For breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable safety information on supplements, so it's best to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you have a latex allergy, be aware — papaya allergies and latex allergies sometimes overlap.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Papain Papaya

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 2 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Papain, Papaya.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 92 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check with your pharmacist if you take warfarin (blood thinner), antidiabetes drugs like glibenclamide, amiodarone (heart medication), or levothyroxine (thyroid hormone). All are Moderate severity interactions.

Use the medication checker below to verify your exact drugs.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you take warfarin, antidiabetes drugs, amiodarone, or levothyroxine, you'll need to check this product with your pharmacist or doctor before starting. The evidence for what this product actually does isn't established yet.

It's generally well tolerated at normal doses, but allergic reactions and digestive upset are possible in sensitive people.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 3 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Dec 23, 2011.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Chewable Papaya, straight from the product label.

Brand Bio-Nutrient
Barcode (UPC) 090401173014
Net contents 100 Tablet(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Dec 23, 2011
DSLD ID 3134
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Tablet Or Pill
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Chewable Papaya by Bio-Nutrient, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
4 Tablet(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
4 Tablet(s)
UPC/BARCODE
090401173014
IngredientAmount% DV
Amylase4 mg--
Papain20 mg--
Papaya fruit powder80 mg--

Other ingredients: Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Fructose, Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Silica, Natural Flavors, Magnesium Stearate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

New & improved All natural

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: Four (4) tablets with or after each meal as a dietary supplement.

Storage

Storage: Keep tightly closed in a dry place: do not expose to excessive heat.

Formulation

No corn, yeast, wheat, milk, egg, salt, sugar, starch, colors or preservatives.

Precautions

Keep out of the reach of children.

General

G011-1 7301

See for yourself

Chewable Papaya by Bio-Nutrient label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Chewable Papaya by Bio-Nutrient

These are the 3 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size4 Tablet(s) Dosage formTablet Or Pill Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Amylase

4 mg per serving

Papain

Interacts with
2 drugs
20 mg per serving

Papain is a protein-digesting enzyme from the papaya plant that is used in digestive supplements and some topical products. While it has clear food an...

Papain monograph & interactions

Papaya fruit powder

Interacts with
92 drugs
80 mg per serving

Papaya is a tropical fruit that is nutritious and generally safe to eat as food, and it contains an enzyme called papain used as a digestive aid and m...

Papaya fruit powder monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Fructose, Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Silica, Natural Flavors, Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Chewable Papaya by Bio-Nutrient Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Chewable Papaya?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
92Drugs
92 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Papain 2

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Chewable Papaya with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Papaya fruit powder4 drug types · 92 drugs

Amiodarone (Cordarone)

Theoretically, papaya extract may increase the levels and clinical effects of amiodarone.
Animal research in rats shows that a single oral dose of papaya extract, as well as multiple doses of papaya extract daily over 14 days, prior to a single dose of amiodarone delays the time to maximum amiodarone concentration. However, only the 14-day papaya extract regimen increases systemic amiodarone exposure by 60% to 70%. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects. It is unclear if other forms of papaya have the same effect.
A small low-quality clinical study in patients with type 2 diabetes who are taking glibenclamide shows that taking a fermented papaya preparation 3 grams daily for 2 months decreases fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels when compared to baseline. Additionally, of the 25 patients in the study, 9 required a reduction in glibenclamide dose.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Others)

Theoretically, consuming large quantities of papaya fruit can reduce the clinical effects of levothyroxine.
In one case-report, a 37-year-old male with a history of thyroidectomy who was stabilized on levothyroxine for 5 years presented with hypothyroidism after consuming 5-6 papaya fruits daily for 14 days during vacation. In a controlled re-challenge test involving 5-6 papayas daily, the patient remained euthyroid for 7 days, but developed mild hypothyroidism after 14 days. Both times, thyroid levels normalized 40-45 days after discontinuing papaya.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, concomitant use of warfarin with papain-containing papaya extract might increase the effects and side effects of warfarin.
In one case report, a patient previously stable on warfarin was found to have an international normalization ratio (INR) of 7.4, which was attributed to ingestion of a supplement containing papain from papaya extract.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Papain1 drug type · 2 drugs

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, papain might increase the effects and side effects of warfarin.
In one case report, a patient previously stable on warfarin was found to have an international normalization ratio (INR) of 7.4, which was attributed to ingestion of a supplement containing papain from papaya extract.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Chewable Papaya, from the product label.

Bio-Nutrient

See all Bio-Nutrient products
Name
Bio-Nutrient Products, A Division of Archon Vitamin Corp.
City
Irvington
State
New Jersey
ZipCode
07111
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Chewable Papaya by Bio-Nutrient: Common Questions

Does Chewable Papaya by Bio-Nutrient interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Chewable Papaya has a known interaction with 92 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Chewable Papaya contains 3 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant?
The concentrated papain in supplements is possibly unsafe in pregnancy. Papaya fruit powder itself is considered likely safe in food amounts, but safety data on supplements during pregnancy is limited. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using this product while pregnant — it's not a simple yes or no.
Is papain safe for breastfeeding?
There isn't enough reliable safety information on papain supplements while breastfeeding. Papaya fruit powder is considered likely safe in food amounts. To be safe, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this supplement if you're nursing.
What is papain and what does it do?
Papain is a digestive enzyme from papaya that's thought to help break down protein in your digestive tract. It's generally tolerated as a food, but the scientific evidence for what this product actually accomplishes isn't established in our data.
Can I get an allergic reaction from this?
Yes, some people are sensitive to papain or papaya and can have allergic reactions — itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, stomach cramps, sweating, and diarrhea. If you have a latex allergy, be extra cautious, since papaya and latex allergies sometimes overlap.
What are the inactive ingredients?
The tablet contains dextrose, maltodextrin, fructose, cellulose, stearic acid, silica, natural flavors, and magnesium stearate. These are fillers and binders that help hold the tablet together and flavor it.
Can I take this if I have a sensitive stomach?
Papain supplements may irritate your digestive tract, so if you have a sensitive stomach or a history of stomach problems, talk with your pharmacist first. At normal doses it's usually well tolerated, but high doses carry a small risk of gastritis or other GI upset.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Chewable Papaya is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Chewable Papaya label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Chewable Papaya's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 25 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Papain 11 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Shaw D, Leon C, Kolev S, Murray V. Traditional remedies and food supplements: a 5-year toxicological study (1991-1995). Drug Saf 1997;17:342-56.
  3. Shuttleworth D, Hill S, Marks R, Connelly DM. Relief of experimentally induced pruritus with a novel eutectic mixture of local anaesthetic agents. Br J Dermatol 1988;119:535-40.
  4. Mansfield LE, Ting S, Haverly RW, Yoo TJ. The incidence and clinical implications of hypersensitivity to papain in an allergic population, confirmed by blinded oral challenge. Ann Allergy 1985;55:541-3.
  5. Martin, T., Uhder, K., Kurek, R., Roeddiger, S., Schneider, L., Vogt, H. G., Heyd, R., and Zamboglou, N. Does prophylactic treatment with proteolytic enzymes reduce acute toxicity of adjuvant pelvic irradiation? Results of a double-blind randomized trial PubMed
  6. Walker-Renard, P. Update on the medicinal management of phytobezoars. Am J Gastroenterol. 1993;88(10):1663-1666.
  7. Tymoszuk D, Wiszniewska M, Walusiak-Skorupa J. Papain-induced occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma - A case report. Med Pr 2016;67(1):109-12. PubMed
  8. Soto-Mera MT, López-Rico MR, Filgueira JF, et al. Occupational allergy to papain. Allergy 2000;55(10):983-4. PubMed
  9. Tarlo SM, Shaikh W, Bell B, et al. Papain-induced allergic reactions. Clin Allergy 1978;8(3):207-15. PubMed
  10. Baur X, König G, Bencze K, Fruhmann G. Clinical symptoms and results of skin test, RAST and bronchial provocation test in thirty-three papain workers: Evidence for strong immunogenic potency and clinically relevant proteolytic e?ects of airborne papain. C
  11. Novey HS, Keenan WJ, Fairshter RD, Wells ID, Wilson AF, Culver BD. Pulmonary disease in workers exposed to papain: clinico-physiological and immunological studies. Clin Allergy 1980;10(6):721-31. PubMed

See these in context on the Papain monograph →

Papaya 14 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. Shaw D, Leon C, Kolev S, Murray V. Traditional remedies and food supplements: a 5-year toxicological study (1991-1995). Drug Saf 1997;17:342-56.
  4. Mansfield LE, Ting S, Haverly RW, Yoo TJ. The incidence and clinical implications of hypersensitivity to papain in an allergic population, confirmed by blinded oral challenge. Ann Allergy 1985;55:541-3.
  5. Blanco C, Diaz-Perales A, Collada C, et al. Class I chitinases as potential panallergens involved in the latex-fruit syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103(3 Pt 1):507-13. PubMed
  6. Diaz-Perales A, Collada C, Blanco C, et al. Cross-reactions in the latex-fruit syndrome: A relevant role of chitinases but not of complex asparagine-linked glycans. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:681-7. PubMed
  7. Castillo, R., Delgado, J., Quiralte, J., Blanco, C., and Carrillo, T. Food hypersensitivity among adult patients: epidemiological and clinical aspects. Allergol.Immunopathol.(Madr.) 1996;24(3):93-97.
  8. Oderinde, O., Noronha, C., Oremosu, A., Kusemiju, T., and Okanlawon, O. A. Abortifacient properties of aqueous extract of Carica papaya (Linn) seeds on female Sprague-Dawley rats. Niger.Postgrad.Med J 2002;9(2):95-98. DOI
  9. Danese, C., Esposito, D., D'Alfonso, V., Cirene, M., Ambrosino, M., and Colotto, M. Plasma glucose level decreases as collateral effect of fermented papaya preparation use. Clin Ter. 2006;157(3):195-198.
  10. Iliev, D. and Elsner, P. Generalized drug reaction due to papaya juice in throat lozenges. Dermatology 1997;194(4):364-366. PubMed
  11. Andersen HA, Bernatz PE, Grindlay JH. Perforation of the esophagus after use of a digestant agent: report of case and experimental study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1959;68:890-6. PubMed
  12. Deiana L, Marini S, Mariotti S. Ingestion of large amounts of papaya fruit and impaired effectiveness of levothyroxine therapy. Endocr Pract 2012;18(1):98-100. PubMed
  13. Rodrigues M, Alves G, Francisco J, Fortuna A, Falcão A. Herb-drug pharmacokinetic interaction between Carica papaya extract and amiodarone in rats. J Pharm Pharm Sci 2014;17(3):302-15. PubMed
  14. Rajapakse S, de Silva NL, Weeratunga P, Rodrigo C, Sigera C, Fernando SD. Carica papaya extract in dengue: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):265. PubMed

See these in context on the Papaya monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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