Papain

Papain is 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.

Its utility is in breaking down the tough meat fibers and has been utilized for thousands of years in its native South America. It is sold as a component in powdered meat tenderizer available in most supermarkets. Papain, in the form of a meat tenderizer, made into a paste with water, is also a home remedy treatment for jellyfish, bee, yellow jacket (wasps) stings, mosquito bites, and possibly stingray wounds, breaking down the protein toxins in the venom. It is also used in some traditional medicine for wound healing.