Papain

See also :

• Papaya
• Enzymes
• Digestive Enzymes
• Fibrinolytic Enzymes
  

Other Names: Carica papaya, Concentré de Protéase Végétale, Papaina, Papaïne, Papainum Crudum, Pepsine Végétale, Plant Protease Concentrate, Protease, Protéase, Vegetable Pepsin.
Papain is taken from the fruit of the papaya tree. It is used to make medicine.

Special Precautions of Papain

• Papain is LIKELY SAFE when used in food amounts. It is POSSIBLY SAFE in medicinal amounts for most adults, although it can cause irritation of the throat and stomach. Skin contact with raw papain can cause irritation and blisters.
• Taking large amounts of papain by mouth is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. In excessive doses, papain can cause severe throat damage.
• There have also been reports of severe allergic reactions.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking papain by mouth during pregnancy is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. There is a concern that it might cause birth defects or miscarriage. Not enough is known about the safety of using papain during breast-feeding. Don’t use it if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Allergy to fig or kiwi fruit: One case report suggests that people who are allergic to fig and kiwi might also be allergic to papain.
• Bleeding problems: There is a concern that papain might increase the risk of bleeding in people with a clotting disorder.

Benefits and uses of Papain are

Although research on the health effects of taking papain supplements is fairly limited, there's some evidence that papain may offer certain benefits. Here's a look at some key findings from the available research on papain:

• Wound Healing : Papain shows promise for the treatment of wounds, according to a 2012 report published in the Portuguese journal Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem. Looking at a number of studies on the use of papain in the wound-healing process (including only one clinical trial), the report's authors found that papain may help promote the healing of wounds. However, the report's authors point out that papain might cause side effects such as burning and pain.
• Herpes zoster (shingles). : There's some evidence that papain may help treat shingles. In a 1995 study published in the German journal Fortschritte der Medizin, for instance, researchers found that papain may offer effects similar to those of acyclovir (a medication commonly used in treatment of shingles). For the study, 192 patients with shingles took either acyclovir or a formula containing a variety of enzymes (including papain) for 14 days. In their analysis of study findings, researchers found no significant differences between the two treatments in terms of their effects on the pain and skin lesions caused by shingles.
• Sore throat and throat swelling (pharyngitis) : Several studies published in the 1970s and 1980s indicate that papain may be useful in the treatment of sore throat. However, more recent research on papain's effectiveness as a sore throat treatment is lacking.