What are the Uses of Papain?

Papain aids in protein digestion and can be used for conditions like chronic indigestion and gastritis. It's also effective for preventing adhesions during abdominal surgery; animal studies show it outperforms trypsin in preventing adhesion recurrence. The juice from unripe papaya can digest damaged tissue in anthrax lesions without affecting healthy tissue, although the effect is less pronounced in ripe fruit. Papain solutions can dissolve small blood clots, especially when combined with trace amounts of glutathione. It can also break down thick pus, although antibiotics like tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin can slow this process, while penicillin and sulfa drugs do not affect it.