Papain

Papain is a proteolytic (protein-dissolving) enzyme extracted from the milky white latex of unripe papaya fruit. Green papaya, used in Southeast Asia as a salad vegetable, is an excellent source of papain. It is also found in papaya fruit and papaya leaf.

Worldwide, most papayas are eaten green. In many countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, green papaya is used to make a tart and tasty salad to accompany yams or rice. Green papaya is a richer source of the therapeutically active papain than is the ripe fruit.

Papain is a digestive aid for those who have trouble digesting proteins. It is also useful for pain relief. It aids digestion and heartburn, stimulates appetite, and helps to prevent ulcers. Papain also helps bruises and other injuries to heal faster.

Benefits of papain for specific health conditions include the following:

• Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Papain relieves acute prostate inflammation.
• Bruises, sore muscles, sprains and strains, and recovery from surgery. Several double-blind controlled studies have found that treating individuals with ankle injuries, mild athletic injuries, and finger fractures with proteolytic enzymes resulted in significantly improved healing time. Other double-blind studies have found that treatment with proteolytic enzymes after knee surgery, oral surgery, and nasal surgery improved the speed of recovery.
• Celiac disease. Papain breaks down wheat gluten, a major factor in celiac disease. Some people with celiac disease are able to tolerate moderate amounts of wheat products if they take a papain supplement with meals.
• Herpes virus infection and shingles. A scientifically controlled study conducted in Germany found that the application of papain creams to skin affected by herpes outbreaks produced pain relief equivalent to that of acyclovir (Zovirax), although the papain took longer than acyclovir to control redness. Overall, acyclovir and papain were judged equally effective in the treatment of shingles (herpes zoster). Although both treatments afforded similar pain relief, people treated with papain experienced fewer side effects.

Papain is available in the form of Linked-Papain cream for external use, and as a single-herb capsule and a combined bromelain/ papain tablet for internal use.

Pregnant women can eat ripe papaya fruit in moderation, but should not use unripened papain, papaya latex, or the herb's leaves. There is some concern that proteolytic enzymes may cause additional damage to exposed tissue in ulcers. People with malabsorption disorders may want to avoid proteolytic enzymes.

A serious condition called fibrosing colonopathy, which involves damage to the large intestines, has been linked to the use of pancreatic enzymes by children with cystic fibrosis. Until more is known, children with cystic fibrosis who need to take pancreatic enzymes should do so only under the careful supervision of a health-care professional.

Papain may increase the blood-thinning effects of warfarin (Coumadin) and other anticoagulants. If you take anticoagulant medication, you should use papain in moderation only.