an overview of papain enzyme characteristics, applications and production

Enzymatic processing, a longstanding practice in biotechnology, leverages enzymes as eco-friendly catalysts for biochemical reactions. papain is one of the most significant cysteine proteases derived from the latex of the unripe papaya plant. papain has gained significant attention for its diverse applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. the industrial-scale production of papain is essential to satisfy the growing global demand for this enzyme. this paper highlights the versatility and economic relevance of papain, providing insights into its characteristics, production methods, and expanding market trends in various industries while highlighting the synergy between natural resources and biotechnological advancement. for this purpose, we performed a comprehensive literature analysis of the papain enzyme, spanning from january 1961 to may 2024, with google scholar as our main source of information.