Title: Ficin
CAS Registry Number: 9001-33-6
Synonyms: Ficus proteinase; Ficus protease
Trademarks: Debricin (J & J); Higueroxyl Delabarre
Literature References: A proteolytic enzyme of est. mol wt 23,800-25,500 which requires a free sulfhydryl group for activity and as such is a member of a group which includes papain and bromelain,
q.q.v. Occurs in the latex of tropical trees of the genus
Ficus subgenus
Pharmacosyce, Moraceae (Oje trees). The commercial product is a concentrate prepd by filtering and drying the latex of
Ficus glabrata H. B. & K.,
Moraceae. First crystallized from fresh fig latex: Walti,
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 60, 493 (1938). Characterization: Cohen,
Nature 182, 659 (1958); Englund
et al., Biochemistry 7, 163 (1968). Purification: Gibian, Bratfisch,
US 2950227 (1960 to Schering AG). Amino acid composition: Wong, Liener,
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 17, 470 (1964); Metrione
et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 122, 137 (1967); Husain, Lowe,
Biochem. J. 117, 333 (1970). Pharmacodynamics: H. Heisto, M. K. Fagerhol,
Transfusion 19, 545 (1979); A. Perkash
et al., ibid. 20, 301 (1980). Toxicology: H. Molitor
et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 71, 20 (1941).
Reviews: Liener, Friedenson,
Methods Enzymol. 19, 260-273 (1970); Glazer, Smith,
The Enzymes vol. III, P. D. Boyer, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 3rd ed., 1971) pp 538-542.
Properties: Buff to cream-colored hygroscopic powder. Acrid odor, growing stronger with age. Bulky, approx 3 ml/g, not free-flowing. Appears dry, even with 15% H2O present. Not completely sol in water, 2-10% insol material. The sol portion of 1 g dissolves in 3 ml H2O. pH (2% soln): 4.1. Insol in usual organic solvents. Loses about 10-20% activity when stored 1-3 yrs at ordinary temp and atm conditions. Aq solns inactivated at 100°, solid partially inactivated within a few hours. Solns relatively stable between pH 4-8.5; incompatible with iron, copper, aluminum. Gelatin, coagulated egg white, casein, meat and most protein-like material hydrolyzed in aq ficin solns. Ficin is 10-20 times as active as papain in regard to milk clotting; 4-10 times as active, in general. LD50 orally in rats, mice: ~10 g/kg; in rabbits, guinea pigs: ~5 g/kg (Molitor).
Toxicity data: LD50 orally in rats, mice: ~10 g/kg; in rabbits, guinea pigs: ~5 g/kg (Molitor)
NOTE: The name ficin is currently used to describe both the crude dried latex from different species of the genus
Ficus, as well as the enzyme itself.
CAUTION: Handle ficin carefully because of its tissue-dissolving properties. Can cause irritation to skin, eyes, mucous membranes. Large doses by mouth cause purging.
Use: Protein digestant. In the brewing industry as a chill proofing agent in beer. In the cheese industry as a substitute for rennet in the coagulation of milk. In the meat industry as a meat tenderizer and as an agent for removing casings from formed sausage. In the leather industry for the bating of leather. In the textile industry for shrinkproofing wool, for removing gelatin from sized thread, and mixed with amylases and maltases as a spot remover. In the prepn of peptones. For solubilizing protein material in spent grains. Also used in the determination of the Rh factor. Speeds 10 times the agglutination of human blood cells by the Rh factor when in contact with the anti-Rh serum.
Therap-Cat-Vet: Has been used as a trichuricide.
