Papain Introduction

Papain is the natural bio-enzyme extracted from white latex of unripe carica papaya skin through modern biological engineering technology. It is –SH containing peptide chain endonuclease, which has the activity of prolease and esterase, wide specificity, and relatively strong hydrolysis ability to animal and plant protein, polypeptide, ester, and acid amide; it also has synthesis ability, which can synthesize protolysate into proteinoid. It is soluble in water and glycerine, the color of solution is either transparent or light yellow, sometimes milky white. It is almost insoluble in such organic solvents as ethanol and chloroform; it is best used when PH=5.7 (useful between 3 to 9.5), and also functional at neutral or slight acid PH value; isoelectric point is 18.75; most suitable temperature is 55 -60 ℃ (but it is functional between 10 ℃ to 85 ℃ ); good heat resistance, will not completely lose activity even at 90 ℃ ; suppressed by oxidants and activated by deoxidizers. Papain has the characteristic of high enzyme activity and strong thermal stability; it is safe and sanitary to use as well. It has been extensively applied in numerous industries, such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and health care, household chemical products, feeds, leather, and textile to effectively improve product’s quality and grade and lower production cost at the same time.

Application of Papain in Different Industries:

1. Pharmaceutical Industry: Medicines that contain papain are resistance to cancer, tumor, lymphatic leukemia, bacteria and parasite, tubercle bacillus, and inflammation; they are good for gall, and they can kill pains and help with digestion. They are also helpful to treat gynecopathy, glaucoma, and hyperosteogeny, heal wounds from gunshots or knife cuts; identify blood type, and treat insect stings.
2. Food Industry: Hydrolyze protein from food’s giant molecules into peptide or amino acid through enzymic reaction. Applied for hydrolyzing animal and plant’s protein, making tenderizer, hydrolyzing placenta and soybeans, making cracker swelling agent, noodle stabilizer, beer and beverage clarifier, premium oral medicine, health care products, soy sauce, and wine starter. It can effectively convert protein, greatly improve food’s nutrition value, and lower cost; it is also beneficial for body digestion and absorption.
3. Beauty and Cosmetic Industry: Add papain into protein and grease included cosmetic products can whiten and smooth skin, lighten freckles and remove grease, accelerate blood circulation, improve skin function, and enhance product quality. It can also be integrated into diet tea and beauty products.
4. Household Chemical Products: Used in soap, washing agent, detergent, and hand soap; it can eliminate dirt, grease, bacteria, and it is safe to use.
5. Feeds Industry: Used for feeds additives to explore protein source; it helps with absorption, improves feeds utilization rate, saves cost, and aids animal digestion and growth. It can be added into feeds for pig, cow, sheep, chicken, duck, goose, fish, and shrimp; it can also be mixed into premium compound fertilizer for vegetables and fruits.
6. Leather Industry: Leather made by using the depilating agent that contains papain has small pores and shinny grain.
7. Textile Industry: Can be applied in wool processing, degumming of silkworm chrysalis, and silk refining; it is soft, comfortable, and resistance to contraction.