Serratiopeptidase

Serratiopeptidase (also known as serratiapeptase, serratia peptidase, or serrapeptidase) is a proteolytic enzyme isolated from the non-pathogenic enterobacteria Serratia E15 found in silkworms. It has a history of homepathic use in Japan and Europe in alternative medicine for pain and inflammation due to various conditions such as arthritis, minor muscle trauma, sinusitis, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and painful swelling of the breasts. [cite web |url=http://www.reference.md/files/C022/mC022640.html |title=Serratiopeptidase (definition) |accessdate=2008-03-20 |format=HTML |work=Reference.MD]

Serratiopeptidase formulations are available over-the-counter as a homeopathic remedy in the United States and most other countries.

Studies

A systematic review by the evidence-based healthcare medical journal Bandolier stated that " [t] he evidence on serratiopeptidase being effective for anything is not based on a firm foundation of clinical trials."cite web |url=http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/alternat/serrapep.html |title=Serratiopeptidase: Finding the Evidence |accessdate=2008-03-20 |format=HTML |work=Bandolier online edition]

The review revealed only 34 total publications in medical databases that addressed the efficacy of seratiopeptidase, of which several were found to be animal experiments, personal letters, uncontrolled trials or those with inadequate or nonexistent randomisation. Several of the case reports also indicated adverse reactions to the enzyme without mentioning so in the abstract.

Contrary to anecdotal reports, no studies were found to have ever been conducted on the efficacy of serratiopeptidase as treatment for back pain, heart attack, stroke, or asthma. Of the 10 medical conditions with randomized-evidence studies on file in connection with serratiopeptidase, trial quality was described as "generally poor". According to Bandolier: Quote box
quote = "Studies were small, outcomes were poorly defined, and in some, different medical conditions were mixed. Five studies were described as double blind: one was completely uninterpretable, three methodologically weak studies were positive, and one trial of apparent high quality was negative. This latter study compared serratiopeptidase, serraprose S or placebo in the treatment of chronic respiratory disease, with about 120 patients per group, and found no significant difference between groups for any outcome."
source = - Bandolier, "Serratiopeptidase - Finding the Evidence"
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References