Evidence supporting the use of: Protease
For the health condition: Edema
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Protease enzymes, particularly those derived from plants (such as bromelain from pineapple and papain from papaya), as well as animal-derived enzymes (like trypsin and chymotrypsin), have been investigated for their potential in reducing edema, especially edema associated with inflammation or injury. The scientific rationale is that proteases may aid in breaking down inflammatory mediators, fibrin, and proteins that accumulate in tissues during the inflammatory process, thereby facilitating resorption of excess fluid and improving microcirculation. Several clinical trials and animal studies have suggested that proteolytic enzymes can reduce post-traumatic and post-surgical swelling more rapidly than placebo. For example, bromelain has been studied in the context of sports injuries and dental surgery, showing modest reductions in swelling and recovery time.
However, the overall quality of evidence remains moderate to low, with many studies having small sample sizes, lack of blinding, or methodological limitations. Systematic reviews generally conclude that while there is biological plausibility and some clinical support for the use of protease enzymes in managing edema, especially when linked to acute injury or surgery, the strength of evidence is not robust. Protease supplementation is not routinely recommended as a primary therapy for generalized edema (such as that caused by heart or kidney failure), but there is some scientific support for its adjunctive use in specific, localized, inflammatory-related edema.
Other ingredients used for Edema
AbrusAbuta
Achyranthes
Actaea spicata
Adzuki bean
Aerva lanata
Aescin
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Ajuga
Akebia
Albizia
Albumin
Alisma
Allium tuberosum
alpinia galangal
amber
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Angelica
anthocyanins
apricot
Aralia
Arani
Ardisia
Arisaema
arjun tree
arjunic acid
Asam gelugor
asparagus
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
Baliospermum
bamboo
banana
banyan
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bearberry
Bergenia
berry
betony
big quaking grass
bilberry
bindweed
bioflavonoids
birch
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
Black Hellebore
blackthorn
Blepharis
blue flag
Boerhavia diffusa
bogbean
Bombax
borage
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Boswellic Acid
bottle gourd
bromelain
buchu
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
butcher's broom
bасора
cabbage
cabbage leaf
cactus
calamus
Calotropis gigantea
Carthamus
Casearia esculenta
celery
Celosia
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chanca piedra
chen pi
chervil
chestnut
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
Chlorophytum
cinquefoil
citrus bioflavonoids
cleavers
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Collinsonia
commiphora
coriander
corktree
cornsilk
couch grass
cowslip
cucumber
Cucurbita
curcumen
Cyathula
Cynodon dactylon
Cynomorium
dandelion
danshen
deer root
dioscorea
Diosmin
Dipsacus
dodder
Echinodorus
empresstree
enzyme blend
enzymes blend (proprietary)
Erythropalum scandens
escin
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European five-finger grass
fang-feng
fernbush
Ficus simplicissima
fish protein
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavoglycosides
flavonoids
flavonols
flavonones
Flueggea suffruticosa
forsythia
four-leaved grass
fu ling
fungus
Gallesia
Gentiana macrophylla
Glechoma hederacea
Glycoside
golden shower tree
goldenrod
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
Guazuma ulmifolia
hawthorn
Heartsease
heather
Hedyotis
Hellebore
Hemidesmus
Hempnettle
hesperidin
Homalomena
horse chestnut
Horsemint
horsetail
hyacinth bean
Hyaluronidase
hydrangea
Hygrophila
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian frankincense
Indian kinotree
Indian sarsparilla
Japanese sophora
joe-pye
jujube
jungli-bean
juniper berries
knotgrass
Large-leaved linden
Ledebouriella
lemon
lemongrass
Leptadenia
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Ligustrazin
Lilium polyphyllum
linden
Lindera
little ironweed
lodhtree
lophatherum leaf
loquat
Loranthus
lovage
luffa
Lysimachia
Manchurian thorn
maple
marigold
Meadowsweet
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microcos
Microtea debilis
Morinda
Moringa
mustard seed
Nardostachys
Nettle
Night jessamine
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
onion
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osmanthus
Osthole
Oxystelma
pagoda tree
Palo Azul
Pansit-pansitan
papain
parsley
peach
pear
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Peptidase
Persimmon
Petiveria
Peucedanum
Phellodendron
Physalis angulata
Pimpinella
pine bark
pineapple
Plantago
Pluchea
Polygonatum
Polygonum
poplar
potassium
prickly ash
proanthocyanidins
procyanidol
protease
proteolytic enzymes
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
Pycnogenol
Pyrola
Pyrrosia
Qin Jiao
queen of the meadow
quercetin
rhubarb
rockweed
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubiaceae
Rumex acetosa
Ruscogenins
Ruscus
rutin
Rutosides
Sanguisorba
saponins
Sargassum
Sarivan
sarsaparilla
Scabrous Gentian
Scoparia dulcis
Scotch Broom
scrophularia root
seaweed
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
serratiopeptidase
Servicetree
Sesbania
Sete sangrias
sheep's sorrel
shepherd's purse
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
siler root
silk tree
Silkmoth
Smartweed
solomon's seal
Southern Tsangshu
Spanish Needle
Spatholobus
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Speedwell
Spiraea
Stone Root
Sumac
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
Swertia
Sword Bean
Szechuan lovage
Tamarind
Taraxacin
Taraxacum
Tayuya
Tea
Terminalia
Thaumatococcus daniellii
Tree of heaven
Triphala
Troxerutin
Trypsin
turmeric
Viola
Waterhyssop
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
White Heather
White oak
White Poplar
Winter Begonia
Wulinshen
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yellow Dock
Yellow root
Yerba buena
Yin Chen
Yuzu
Zedoary
Zingiberene
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by protease
AbrasionsBruises (healing)
Burns and Scalds
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Congestion (lymphatic)
Cuts
Edema
Exercise
Inflammation
Injuries
Pain (general remedies for)
Scratches and Abrasions
Surgery (healing from)
Tendonitis
Ulcerations (external)
Wounds and Sores
Products containing protease
Pure Encapsulations
A.I. Enzymes
Designs For Health
AllerGzyme™
Douglas Laboratories
Bilex
Integrative Therapeutics
Bio-Zyme
Pure Encapsulations
Digestion GB
Pure Encapsulations
Digestion GB
Vitabase
Digestive Enzyme
Pure Encapsulations
Digestive Enzyme
Pure Encapsulations
Digestive Enzymes Ultra
Pure Encapsulations
Digestive Enzymes Ultra
Pure Encapsulations
Digestive Enzymes Ultra with Betaine HCl
Pure Encapsulations
Digestive Enzymes Ultra with Betaine HCl
Designs For Health
Digestzymes™
Designs For Health
Digestzymes™
Designs For Health
Digestzymes™
Douglas Laboratories
GI Digest
Pure Encapsulations
Gluten/Dairy Digest
Pure Encapsulations
Gluten/Dairy Digest
Douglas Laboratories
Gluten-Dairy Ultra Enzyme
Designs For Health
Inflammatone™
Designs For Health
Inflammatone™
Designs For Health
Inflammatone™
Integrative Therapeutics
Nutrivitamin No-Iron
Designs For Health
PaleoGreens®
Designs For Health
PaleoGreens®
Designs For Health
PaleoReds®
Pure Encapsulations
Pancreatic Enzyme
Pure Encapsulations
Pancreatic Enzyme
Pure Encapsulations
Pancreatic VegEnzymes
Integrative Therapeutics
Panplex 2-Phase
Metagenics
PhytoGanix® Tropical Fruit
Designs For Health
Plant Enzyme Digestive Formula
Designs For Health
ProbioMed™ Infant
Integrative Therapeutics
Similase
Integrative Therapeutics
Similase
Integrative Therapeutics
Similase BV
Integrative Therapeutics
Similase GFCF
Integrative Therapeutics
Similase-Lipo
Metagenics
SpectraZyme® Complete
Metagenics
SpectraZyme Complete
Metagenics
SpectraZyme Pan 9x
Metagenics
SpectraZyme Pan 9x
Metagenics
SpectraZyme Pan 9x ES
Vitabase
SuperZymes
Pure Encapsulations
Systemic Enzyme Complex
Vitabase
Ultra Dairy Support
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra Protein Green
Vitabase
Ultra Veggie Enzymes
