What Is Papain?

Digestive aids have become a multimillion-dollar industry and their popularity continues to grow. Did you know that one of the main ingredients in aiding digestion is also a main ingredient in meat tenderizers and in the health industry, and is often used in surgical units and research labs across the world? This ingredient is called papain and it has been part of folk medicine and the culinary arts for centuries. What is this strange-sounding ingredient and how can it help you?

Where Is Papain Found?

• Papain is located in the sap found in the green fruit of the papaya tree. The papain that is used in many products and processes comes from the dried sap of the green papaya. The sap is drained from the fruit and is then purified to remove any harmful substances. Papain is then further derived into a powder or liquid.

What Is The History Of Papaya?

• An exact location of origin is not known for the papaya. It is known that the meat-tenderizing properties have been used for centuries. Earlier records show that papaya was farmed in Mexico, the northern portion of South America, and Central America but today is grown in most tropical climates including Brazil, India and Sri Lanka.

What Is Papain Used For?

• Papain has many medicinal and culinary uses. It is used to lessen intestinal gas created during the digestive process. Papain is also helpful as a topical medicine to promote healing of cuts, wounds, and lesions, and assists in removing dead tissue. The food industry uses papain as a meat tenderizer because of its ability to break down protein. The medical field uses papain in cell culture preparations and also in immunology to separate immunoglobin molecules.

How Does Papain Work?

• Papain is a proteolytic enzyme, also referred to as a protease. Proteolytic enzymes are enzymes that break down proteins. In digestion, this is a very important process because it releases the amino acids the body needs from the proteins. In the food industry, papain works to break down meat fibers, thereby softening the meat and making it easier to chew.

Can You Be Allergic To Papain?

• Any irritation or allergic reaction caused by papain is typically triggered by the sap, or latex, of the papaya. Papaya releases this papain-laced latex during the unripe stage of fruit growth. Sensitivity to latex may indicate a sensitivity to papain. The FDA is now investigating the use of papain in topical treatments. In addition, caution should be taken when ingesting too much of the fruit. Just as too much carrot in the body can cause a yellowing of the soles and palms, papaya can also cause the same.