Papain is a 100% natural bioenzyme product extracted from the unripe fruits of Carica papaya L. via advanced bioengineering technologies. Composed of 212 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 21,000 Da, it is classified as a thiol (-SH)-containing endopeptidase. Endowed with both proteolytic and esterolytic activities, papain exhibits broad substrate specificity—exerting potent hydrolytic effects on animal/plant proteins, polypeptides, esters, and amides. Notably, it also possesses synthetic capability, enabling the resynthesis of proteinaceous substances from protein hydrolysates. This unique property can be harnessed to enhance the nutritional value or functional characteristics of animal and plant proteins.
Product Features
1. Advanced Processing Technologies: Integration of state-of-the-art bioengineering, membrane separation, and vacuum freeze-drying technologies, coupled with proprietary enzyme stabilization technology, minimizes enzyme activity loss during manufacturing.
2. Stringent Quality Compliance: Manufactured in accordance with United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards and current Chinese national standards. A rigorous quality control system, aligned with international quality certification requirements, ensures strict microbial limits, meeting the national hygiene standards for export food.
3. High-Efficiency Ultrafiltration Separation: Optimized ultrafiltration technology for papain purification enables the extraction of high-purity papain under ambient temperature conditions, achieving a protease recovery rate of over 90%. This significantly improves yield and reduces production costs.
Product Appearance: Pale yellow or white solid powder
Application Fields
1. Food Industry
Leveraging its enzymatic catalysis, papain hydrolyzes macromolecular proteins in food into small-molecule peptides and amino acids for easy absorption. It is widely used in:
Hydrolysis of animal/plant proteins (chicken, pork, beef, seafood, blood products, soybean, peanut, etc.)
Meat tenderizer, wine clarifier, biscuit crisping agent, noodle stabilizer
Health food production, soy sauce brewing, and wine fermentation starter
Papain not only enhances the nutritional value of food but also reduces production costs.
2. Biscuit Industry
Reduces dough gluten viscosity, improves dough plasticity and physicochemical properties.
Hydrolyzes macromolecular proteins into short peptides and amino acids, facilitating the Maillard reaction between sugars and amino compounds—resulting in faster color development, a bright, glossy, and appetizing appearance, enhanced crispness, and a distinct reticular cross-section with clear layers.
Lowers biscuit cracking and breakage rates, yielding well-shaped, plump, non-shrinking biscuits with sharp patterns and smooth surfaces.
Reduces the usage of sodium metabisulfite by 10%–25%, thereby decreasing residual harmful substances such as SO₂. It also mitigates the negative impact of chemical additives on biscuit flavor, significantly improving product quality.
3. Pharmaceutical Industry
Drugs formulated with papain (e.g., papain throat lozenges, enteric-coated tablets/capsules, buccal tablets) exhibit anti-inflammatory, cholagogic, analgesic, digestive-aiding, and immunity-boosting effects. Further research indicates its potential applications in:
Red blood cell surface analysis and blood group identification
Treatment of gynecological disorders, glaucoma, and insect bites
4. Textile Industry
Wool Shrink-Resistant Finishing: Wool treated with papain demonstrates higher tensile strength than conventionally processed wool, with a soft, comfortable handfeel and zero shrinkage.
Silk Degumming and Refining: Effective for degumming raw silk and refining silk fibers.
5. Leather Industry
Papain-based depilatory agents are used in leather tanning processes, producing leather with fine, smooth, and glossy pores.
6. Feed Industry
Hydrolyzes feed proteins into amino acids, increasing nutrient solubility and improving absorption and utilization in poultry.
Supplements endogenous enzyme deficiencies in animals, enhancing feed conversion efficiency and reducing feed costs.
Stimulates appetite, promotes animal growth, and increases daily weight gain and survival rates.
Can be used as an additive in high-grade compound fertilizers for fruits and vegetables.
7. Daily Chemical Industry
Incorporated into soaps, detergents, laundry powders, and hand sanitizers, papain effectively removes stubborn stains such as blood, milk, fruit juice, soy sauce, and grease—stains that are typically difficult to eliminate with ordinary detergents. It enhances detergency, provides bactericidal and disinfectant effects, and ensures safe use.
8. Cosmetic Industry
Skin Rejuvenation: Acts on aged cuticle cells, promoting their decomposition and exfoliation to achieve a skin-smoothing effect and stimulate cell proliferation. Papain hydrolysates form a film of amino acid derivatives on the skin surface, maintaining skin hydration and smoothness.
Whitening and Spot Lightening: Easily chelates copper ions in melanin (the key pigment causing skin spots), reducing melanin synthesis and fading existing spots. Additionally, tripeptides derived from papain hydrolysis directly inhibit the activity of tyrosinase (the enzyme responsible for melanin production) and scavenge free radicals, thereby achieving whitening and spot-removing effects.
9. Other Applications
Added to toothpaste, mouthwash, and tooth powder for oral hygiene, effectively removing dental plaque and tartar.
Formulated with other solvents to produce cleaning and disinfecting agents for contact lenses.
Used in the recovery of silver from photographic films.
Recommended Application Conditions
Optimum Temperature: 50–55℃
Optimum pH: 6.5
Optimum Dosage: Must be adjusted according to specific production conditions.
Storage Instructions
Store in a cool, dry, and dark place. Prolonged storage or adverse storage conditions (e.g., high temperature and humidity) may cause varying degrees of enzyme activity loss. In such cases, the dosage should be appropriately increased during application.
Safety Precautions
As a natural enzyme preparation and protein, papain is safe for human consumption—equivalent to consuming protein-rich foods—and offers nutritional benefits.
High-concentration papain powder or mists may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Prolonged contact may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Wear protective equipment such as masks and goggles during operation. Promptly clean up any excess or spilled enzyme powder: sweep large spills gently back into containers; use a vacuum cleaner or damp cloth to clean small spills.
Papain is a biologically active substance susceptible to inhibition or inactivation by heavy metal ions (Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg⁺, Pb⁺, etc.) and oxidizing agents. Avoid contact with these substances during storage and application.
I2623007