Most of the enzymes used in therapy are protein degradation (proteolytic) enzymes; exceptions are Lipase (fat degradation) and Amylase (starch degradation).

• Bromelain – from Ananas comosus
• Papain – from Carica Papaya
• Nattokinase – isolated from Bacillus subtilis Natto
• Serrapeptase – from the Bacteria Serratia E15 living in the gut of the silk worm
• Trypsin – from pancreas of the pork
• Chymotrypsin – from pancreas of the pork
• Pancreatin – from pancreas of the pork

Bromelain: A researcher named Chittenden first identified the presence of proteolytic enzymes in pineapple juice around 1892 and called it ‘bromelin’. Later the term ‘bromelain’ was introduced and originally applied to any protease from any plant member of the plant family Bromeliaceae. Bromelain is present in all parts of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus) but the stem is the most common commercial source, and it is readily available after the fruit has been harvested.
Pineapples have had a long tradition as a medicinal plant among the natives of South and Central America. Bromelain was first introduced in Europe as a therapeutic supplement in 1957 (reviewed by Maurer 2001).
Along with papain, Bromelain is one of the most popular substances to use for meat tenderizing. Today, approximately 90% of meat tenderizer use is in consumer households contains Bromelain. Bromelain is sold in a powdered form, which is combined with a marinade or directly sprinkled on the uncooked meat. The enzyme will penetrate the meat, and by a process called forking, cause the meat to be tender and palatable when cooked. If the enzyme is allowed to work for too long, the meat may become too “mushy” for many consumers’ preferences.

Papain: this protease is present in papaya (Carica papaya). Papain is usually produced as a crude, dried material by collecting the latex (milky sap from the fruit that coagulates on exposure to air). The latex is collected after scoring the neck of the fruit where it may either dry on the fruit or drip into a container. A purification step is necessary to remove contaminating substances. This purification consists of the solubilization and extraction of the active papain enzyme through a government registered process. This purified papain may be supplied as powder or as liquid.

Ficin:
The latex of some species of Ficus (Moraceae) has been traditionally used as vermifuge in Central and South America. It has been accepted that anthelmintic activity is due to a Proteolytic fraction called ficin.

Nattokinase:
Nattokinase an enzyme from Bacillus subtilis Natto (a mutation of Bacillus subtilis) is used during Fermentation of soybeans, the result is called Natto. Only some parts of Japan do the people eat Natto. Natto, as told to me by a friend, tastes nasty and the smell reminded him of sweaty food. But people from this region differ from people of other regions in Japan: they have practically no patients with breast tumours and the number of patients with heart and vessel diseases is significant smaller than in other parts of the world. Medical doctors attributed this to eating Natto. After investigation of all the components of Natto, 1988 Sumi found an enzyme, called Nattokinase. This enzyme, after oral application has a very high fibrinolytic activity in humans’ blood.

Serrapeptidase: also known as Serrapeptase or Serratiopeptidase is a powerful proteolytic enzyme obtained from silkworms. This enzyme is not produced by the insect itself but by microorganisms Serratia E 15 which lives in the gut wall of the silkworm used to aid digestion and dissolve its chrysalis.
I found scientific publications with Serrapeptidase since 1980 (PubMed). At moment we know that this enzyme can be used to digest non-living tissue, blood clots, cysts, arterial plaque and support healing of inflammation. Serrapeptidase uses are wide ranging and cover just about every condition that is affected by inflammation and/or non-living tissue and is in clinical use in parts of Asia and Europe.

Trypsin:
Used by Marlyn is isolated from the pork pancreas. Trypsin is produced in the pancreas in the inactive form named trypsinogen. It is then secreted into the small intestine, where the enzyme enterokinase activates it into trypsin by proteolytic cleavage. The resulting trypsin themselves activates more trypsinogen, (autocatalysis), so only a small amount of enterokinase is necessary to start the reaction. This activation mechanism serves to prevent autodigestion of the pancreas.
Trypsin is secreted into the intestine, where it acts to lyse proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids. This is necessary for the uptake of protein in the blood.
Trypsin is available in high quantities in pancreases, and can be purified rather easily. Hence it has been used widely in various biotechnological processes.
Trypsin can be used to breakdown casein in milk. If trypsin is added to a solution of milk powder, the breakdown of casein will cause the milk to become translucent. The rate of reaction can be measured by using the amount of time it takes for the milk to turn translucent.
Trypsin can also be used to dissolve blood clots in its microbial form. Trypsin is used in baby food to pre-digest it. It can break down the protein molecules which helps the baby to digest it as its stomach is not strong enough to digest bigger protein molecules.

Chymotrypsin: is synthesized in the pancreas as a precursor called chymotrypsinogen that is enzymatically inactive. On cleavage by trypsin into two parts that are still connected via an S-S bond, cleaved chymotrypsinogen molecules can activate each other by removing two small peptides in a trans-proteolysis. The resulting molecule is active chymotrypsin, a three polypeptide molecule interconnected via disulfide bonds. Chymotrypsin is a digestive enzyme that can perform proteolysis. Chymotrypsin cleaves peptides at the carboxyl side of tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine although over time it also hydrolyzes other amide bonds, particularly those with leucine-donated carboxyls. Chymotrypsin used by Marlyn is isolated from the pork pancreas.

Pancreatin: is an extract containing several enzymes produced by the exocrine cells of the pancreas. It is composed of amylase, lipase and different protease like trypsin or chymotrypsin. The mixture is used to treat conditions in which pancreatic secretions are deficient such as pancreatitis.