Ficin

Protease (cysteine protease), which is activated by cysteine in a similar way to bromelain or papain. It is found in the fresh milky sap of Ficus species (see Ficus carica the fig tree below). Ficin is used in the food industry (meat tenderizer) and in the leather and textile industries. The protease is about 10 times as active as papain.

Medically, ficin is used to determine blood group antigens.

1. Barrett JT et al (1977) Serological studies with the ficin-antificin system. Enzymes 22:266-269.
2. Burger A et al. (1993) Hunnius Pharmaceutical Dictionary 7th Edition Walter de Gruyter Berlin-New York p. 545
3. Cohen W (1958) Characterization of ficin. Nature 182:659-660.