The papaya (also called papaw, pawpaw, mamao, or tree melon) is believed to have originated in southern Mexico, Central America, or the West Indies, but is now grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. It is a pear-shaped fruit with skin that turns from green to a bright orange-yellow as it ripens. It is also the source of one of nature’s own digestive aids: papain.

What is Papain?
Papain is a milky latex that is collected by making incisions in unripe papayas. It is one of a group of proteolytic enzymes found in papayas, pineapples, and certain other plants. Proteolytic enzymes help you digest the proteins in food. Papaya and pineapple are two of the richest plant sources of proteolytic enzymes.

Where Does Papain Come From?
Papain comes from the papaya, a tropical fruit that is about 6 inches long and can range from 1-20 pounds in weight, depending on the variety. Inside, the papaya has silky smooth, orange-yellow flesh and a large center cavity full of shiny grayish-black seeds. The flesh is juicy and has a subtle, sweet-tart or musky taste, somewhat like a cantaloupe.</p>

Papaya is now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries. There are about 45 species of papaya. The most common variety in the United States is the Solo papaya, which is grown in Hawaii and Florida. Mexican papayas are much larger than the Hawaiian types and may be more than 15 inches long.

To extract papain latex from a papaya, the skin of an unripe papaya is cut. After the latex is collected, it is dried either by the sun or in ovens and sold in powdered form.

What is Papain Used For?
The primary use of papain is as a meat tenderizer. It is also used as a digestive aid for people who have trouble digesting proteins.

Evidence suggests that papain may also help reduce inflammation and pain. For example, several studies suggest that papain and other proteolytic enzymes may improve the rate of recovery from various types of injuries, and reduce the chronic pain and discomfort of conditions such as neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and osteoarthritis. Proteolytic enzymes have also been evaluated as an aid to recovery from surgery, with mixed results.

Two other studies suggest that proteolytic enzymes might be helpful for the treatment of the painful condition known as shingles (herpes zoster).

Many practitioners of alternative medicine believe that papain may be helpful for food allergies and autoimmune diseases.

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