_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email: of.nworji@unizik.edu.ng; European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety 12(11): 59-66, 2020; Article no.EJNFS.62942 ISSN: 2347-5641 Screening of Carica papaya Seeds for Pharmacologically Bioactive and Nutritionally Beneficial Substances for Optimization of Its Nutraceutical Potential V. H. A. Enemor 1 , O. F. Nworji 1* , U. C. Ogbodo 1 , O. R. Ngwu 1 , E. C. Orji 1 and I. O. Ohagim 1 1 Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author VHAE designed the study. Author IOO performed the experiments. Author OFN performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and the first draft of the manuscript. Authors UCO, ORN and ECO managed the analyses of the study and the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/EJNFS/2020/v12i1130319 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Raffaella Preti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Reviewers: (1) Sushan Chowhan, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Bangladesh. (2) Douglas F. Silva, Paraná Northern State University – UENP, Brasil. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle4.com/review-history/62942 Received 20 September 2020 Accepted 27 November 2020 Published 14 December 2020 ABSTRACT Papaya seeds, though rarely eaten, are used in folk medicine around the world. This study analysed the seeds to evaluate their nutritional and phytochemical content using standard methods. Proximate analysis showed the seeds are a good source of carbohydrate (48.91% ± 0.69) and protein (24.33% ± 0.74). Essential minerals such as iron (70.16 mg/kg ± 0.08), selenium (12.50 mg/kg ± 0.08), and calcium (26.96 mg/kg ± 0.08) are present in the seeds at optimal quantities. Amino acid and vitamin analysis indicated that papaya seeds are rich sources of vitamin A (117.28 ± 2.09 mg/kg), B 6 (37.70 ± 1.84 mg/kg), D (27.60 ± 3.96 mg/kg), K (119.81 ± 15.88 mg/kg), and all essential amino acids. Phytochemical analysis of the seeds revealed forty- three bioactive compounds including acetic acid and pyrrole, both of which have antimicrobial properties. From the above analytical results, it was revealed that papaya seeds have nutraceutical properties and can be used, in the appropriate quantity as a food or health supplement or an adjunct animal feed. Original Research Article