papain

American  

[puh-pey-in, -pahy-in] / pəˈpeɪ ɪn, -ˈpaɪ ɪn /

noun

1. Biochemistry. a proteolytic enzyme found in the fruit of the papaya tree, Carica papaya.

2. Pharmacology. a commercial preparation of this used as a meat tenderizer and in medicine as a digestant.

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papain British  

/ pəˈpeɪɪn, -ˈpaɪɪn /

noun

1. a proteolytic enzyme occurring in the unripe fruit of the papaya tree, Carica papaya: used as a meat tenderizer and in medicine as an aid to protein digestion

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Etymology

Origin of papain

First recorded in 1885–90; papa(ya) + -in ²

Example Sentences

For example, pineapple have a protease called bromelain, kiwifruit has actinidin and papaya have papain.

From US News • Apr. 27, 2016

Using a protein-splitting enzyme called papain, Porter broke the antibody molecule into three fragments.

From Time Magazine Archive

Now papain is moving from the kitchen into the operating room.

From Time Magazine Archive

Smith sold his patent rights to Baxter Travenol Laboratories of Deerfield, Ill., which extracted from papain another enzyme, chymopapain, that was more potent and less toxic.

From Time Magazine Archive

The natives use the cold infusion of the leaves to wash clothes spotted with blood and the spots disappear rapidly by virtue of the ferment papain which digests the fibrin.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers