Definition of "papain" [pa•pa•in]

• An enzyme that catalyzes the lysis of proteins, obtained from the unripe fruit of the papaya and used as a meat tenderizer and in medicine as a digestive aid. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Coz I still don't know what chemical substances are both present in papain and fabric softener which is responsible in softening the cloths."
• "Papaya contains a substance called papain, which is chemically similar to pepsin, an enzyme that helps digest protein in the body."
• "Both the seeds and the fruit contain an active principle called papain, which is really a vegetable pepsin, that has the effect of greatly assisting in the assimilation of all food with which it is eaten, hence it is a valuable remedy in the case of dyspepsia, and persons who take the fruit regularly are never subject to this exceedingly troublesome disease."