papain

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A natural enzyme from unripe papaya that makes meat softer and helps heal wounds

noun
/pəˈpeɪn/

Specialized

: papaína

The recipients: Vito Cannavo (BA '75) is a partner in the firm of Sullivan, Papain, Block, McGrath & Cannavo, one of the leading personal injury firms in the nation.
papain enzyme

Examples

This dietary supplement contains papain, which can help with digestion by breaking down proteins.
Papain is often used as a papain tenderizer because it breaks down tough proteins in the meat.
For primary glial cultures, brains from P1-P4 pups were dissociated into single-cell suspensions with a papain dissociation system.

Academic text (2018)
The papain challenge was done by anesthetizing mice with isoflurane and administering 30g of papain in 30L PBS every 24 hours for five days. Mice were sacrificed for analysis 24 hours after the last challenge.

Academic text (2017)
The papain challenge was done by anesthetizing mice with isoflurane and administering 30g of papain in 30L PBS every 24 hours for five days. Mice were sacrificed for analysis 24 hours after the last challenge.

Academic text (2017)
Many chefs recommend using papain to improve the texture of grilled steak.

Surface Forms

papain singular

papains plural

Etymology

Papain comes from the fruit papaya and the enzyme ending -in, so it literally means the 'enzyme from papaya'. This enzyme 'breaks proteins', which is why cooks use it to make meat tender and why it is used in some medicines.