Does Papain Enzyme Improve Collagen Degradation?

Abstract

Herman Y. L. Wihastyoko, Setyawati Soeharto, Edi Widjajanto, Kusworini Handono, Bambang Pardjianto.

Papain as a protease cysteine enzyme has the potential to increase the collagen degradation process. This research determined the effect of papain enzyme in the enhancement of collagen degradation under the acidic conditions of abnormal scarring. This study was a randomized controlled trial post-test only design using Rattus norvegicus as an experimental animal. The rats were threatened by 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg of papain doses at 12th, 13th, and 14th weeks. The abnormal scar tissue was excised at 15th. The pH was measured by using the pH meter. The MMP-1 and TIMP-1 activity were observed by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. A modified Vancouver Scar Scale Modification (VSSm) score used to measure the morphology of abnormal scar in rats. All data were analyzed by SPSS 25 software. The results showed there are significant differences (p<0.05) between the treatments of papain enzyme in each variable (pH, MMP-1, TIMP-1, Ratio of TIMP-1 with MMP-1, and VSS) and controls. The reduction of the VSSm score results in the enhancement of papain dosage, represent this morphologically repair the abnormal scar of Rattus norvegicus.