chymopapain
enzyme
Quick Summary
Chymopapain is an enzyme found in papaya plants, related to papain. It is a proteolytic enzyme, meaning it breaks down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids through hydrolysis. While papain has various uses, including meat tenderizing and contact lens cleaning, chymopapain has a specific medical application. It is used to shrink or dissolve ruptured disks in certain types of lumbar spine injuries and also functions as a protein digestant.1
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