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

If children cried for Castoria in those days, they kicked papain the shins for Buster Brown and his sweetheart, Mary Jane, and his dog, Tige.

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

Meat tenderizer, Arnold explains, is rich in papain, a protein-dissolving enzyme, which breaks down the venom.

From Time Magazine Archive

The leaves of this papaw contain, in their abundant sap, a solvent, papain, which has the property of destroying the connective tissue in meats.

From Trees Worth Knowing by Rogers, Julia Ellen