It is rich in a plethora of protease enzymes, and is used to modify protein to make it more easily digested. Another such enzyme is trypsin, used for the same purpose. Pancreatic tissue and its derivatives are the ingredients used in Nutramigen, Alimentum, and GoodStart infant formulas to break down the protein for children who cannot otherwise digest it. If a doctor recommends use of such products, a Rabbinic authority should be consulted. There are three major plant-derived protease enzymes used commercially today.
Papain is derived from the papaya plant.
Bromelain from the pineapple plant, and ficin from the fig Papain and bromelain are commonly used as meat tenderizers, ficin being more limited in use due to its more dangerous proteolytic activity. Barley amylase is also used to make maltose syrup. The recent explosion of interest in enzymes involves the third source-microbial. The growth of microorganisms on nutrient media allows these microorganisms to produce varied enzymes as part of their natural metabolic function. This process is commonly referred to as fermentation .