Serrapeptase

Serrapeptase (Serratio Peptidase) is a proteolytic enzyme commercially produced in the laboratory and isolated from the microorganism, Serratia E15. It was originally found being used by silkworms to aid digestion and dissolve its chrysalis. This enzyme can be used to digest non-living tissue, blood clots, cysts, arterial plaque and inflammation in all forms. The uses are wide ranging and cover just about every condition that is affected by inflammation and/or non-living tissue and is in clinical use in parts of Asia and Europe. Serrapeptase is used as an alternative to Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) which are commonly used to treat arthritis and inflammation. Dr. Hans Alfred Nieper (1928-1998) used Serrapeptase as an arterial blockage treatment for patients in Germany.

The enzyme offers a viable alternative to salicylates (such as aspirin), ibuprofen, and other NSAIDS as well as steroids- potentially providing relief for those suffering with rheumatoid arthritis and a wide array of other autoimmune diseases that affect the inflammatory response, including ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, uveitis, allergies, and some forms of cancer.

While steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs may offer temporary, symptomatic relief from pain, swelling and inflammation, they may also be immunosuppressive and known to hold dangerous side effects. Serrapeptase, on the other hand, eases pain and swelling with no inhibitory effects on prostaglandins and no gastrointestinal side effects. The immunologically active enzyme is completely bound to the alpha 2 macroglobulin in biological fluids.

The physiologic agent is isolated from the microorganism Serratia E15, an enzyme naturally present in the silkworm intestine which allows the emerging moth to dissolve its cocoon. Clinical use of serrapeptase as an antiinflammatory in Europe and Asia spans over twenty five years. Treatment includes chronic sinusitis, elimination of bronchopulmonary secretions (the enzyme breaks down protein fibers, allowing mucous to thin), sprains and torn ligaments, and other traumatic injuries, idiopathic edema, as well as postoperative inflammation.

Studying postoperative swelling and pain reduction of the upper ankle joint, a test was carried out in 3 randomized groups of 66 patients, each with fresh rupture of the lateral ligament treated surgically between December 1986 and April 1987. The group receiving serrapeptase saw a 50% decrease in swelling on the third postoperative day. Decreased pain, for the most part, correlated with reduction in swelling. The serrapeptase group became rapidly pain-free. The two control groups, using traditional elevation of the leg, bed rest, with and without applications of ice, had no reduction in swelling at that time. (Esch PM, Gerngross H, Fabian A, Fortachr Med,107(4):67.8, 71-2 1989 Feb 10)

Another multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to investigate the clinical efficacy of serrapeptase in 174 patients who underwent Caldwell-Luc antrotomy for chronic empyema. Eighty-eight patients received 10 mg serrapeptase 3 times the day before surgery, once the night of the operation and 3 times daily for 5 days after surgery; the other 86 received a placebo. The degree of swelling in the serrapeptase-treated patients was significantly less than that in the placebo-treated patients at every point of observation after surgery up to the 5th day. Maximal buccal swelling throughout all the postoperative points of observation was also significantly smaller in size in the serrapeptase group. No side effects were reported. (Tachibana M, Mizukosi 0, Harada Y, Kawamoto K, Nakai Y. Source: Pharmathera-peutica, 3(8):526-30 1984).

Additionally, serrapeptase in a 70 patient, double-blind controlled trial treating breast engorgement saw serrapeptase improve breast pain and swelling in significant numbers of the treatment group with no adverse reactions. (Kee WH, Tan SL; Lee V, Salmon YM .Singapore Med J, 30(I) :48-54 1989 Feb)

Researchers in Germany have used serrapeptase to treat atherosclerosis since serrapeptase helps to digest atherosclerotic plaque without harming healthy cells lining the arterial wall. The hardened, narrow arterial wall is considered the cumulative result of microscopic trauma with inflammation occurring in the presence of oxidized lipids—serrapeptase works on both inflammation as well as dissolving the avital plaque. Unlike cholesterol-blocking drugs, serapeptase clears the avital tissue from the arterial wall without interfering with cholesterol synthesis. In fact, when taking serrapeptase, cholesterol levels may rise as it is dissolved from the arteries to be eliminated from the body (cholesterol in its pure state is an antioxidant and a necessary component of steroidal hormones and the major organ systems in the body).

Medications blocking cholesterol biosynthesis hold the threat of liver, eye, lung and other soft tissue damage. While studies with serrapeptase in the treatment of coronary artery disease are relatively new; some literature reports serrapeptase as being superior to, and faster than, chelation.

The late German physician Dr. Hans Nieper used serrapeptase to treat arterial blockage in his coronary patients, reporting that serrapeptase also dissolves blood clots, and causes varicose veins to shrink or diminish. Dr.Nieper told of a woman scheduled for hand amputation and a man scheduled for bypass surgery; both recovered quickly without surgery after treatment with serrapeptase.

In addition, widespread use has included fibrocystic breast disease and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The enzyme is also used to facilitate the therapeutic effect of antibiotics in the treatment of infection. In urology serrapeptase has been successfully employed to treat cystitis and epididymitis.

Recommended Usage: For inflammation is 1 tablets three times daily on an empty stomach. For arterial blockage 1 tablets twice daily or as directed by your health professional.

Two negative abstracts from PubMed on serrapeptase induced lung disease:

"Hirahara K, Saitoh T, Terada I, Uno K, Nagai A, Kioi S, Arakawa M.

A case of pneumonitis due to Serrapeptase was described. A 69-year-old man was treated with Serrapeptase for 16 days because of common cold, then fever, nonproductive cough and dyspnea developed and chest X-ray revealed diffuse fine granular shadows in bilateral lung fields. Once the administration of Serrapeptase was halted, symptoms, chest X-ray abnormalities and laboratory data improved markedly. The fraction of lymphocytes increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and OKT4/T8 decreased. Microscopic examination of transbronchial lung biopsy showed interstitial pneumonia. Both leukocyte migration inhibition test and sensitized hemagglutination test were positive for Serrapeptase. Based on these findings, we diagnosed this case as Serrapeptase-induced pneumonitis. PMID: 2693781 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]"

"Sasaki S, Kawanami R, Motizuki Y, Nakahara Y, Kawamura T, Tanaka A, Watanabe S.

Department of Internal Medicine, National Himeji Hospital, Hyogo, Japan.

An 84-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of fever, cough, and hemoptysis. The patient had acute respiratory failure (PaO2 < 40 mmHg) on admission, with diffuse interstitial infiltration and bilateral pleural effusion. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was bloody, and contained a high percentage of eosinophils (32%). A diagnosis of acute eosinophilic pneumonia was established, and the patient made a rapid recovery after corticosteroids were administered. When the DLST (drug lymphocyte stimulation test) was performed after the corticosteroid therapy was stopped, it was positive for serrapeptase, which had been prescribed for chronic cystitis for 3 months before the onset of the pneumonia. This was a case of drug (serrapeptase)-induced pneumonitis manifesting as acute eosinophilic pneumonia.

PMID: 11019569 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]"