TLDR Papain and bisulfite break down human hair by dissolving parts of it.
The study demonstrated that papain/bisulfite disintegrated the cuticle of human hair by dissolving the endocuticle. Ethanol extraction removed cell membrane material, facilitating enzyme access and accelerating hair disintegration. Additionally, hot ethanol extraction removed a thin electron-transparent layer from the hair surface, likely the epicuticle. The origin and nature of this material were discussed.
Human hair keratins can be turned into useful 3D biomedical scaffolds through a freeze-thaw process.
19 citations
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March 1961 in “Nature” A fatty acid/protein complex in human hair helps protect it from damage.
13 citations
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January 2007 in “International journal of pharmaceutics” Papain cream removes hair better than papain gel, causing hair follicles to widen and skin to thicken.
1 citations
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December 2022 in “Planta Medica” Combining enzymes papain and chymotrypsin with laser treatment reduces facial hair more effectively than laser alone.
June 2025 in “Asia-Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology” Papain from papaya may help treat cardiovascular diseases by breaking down fibrin.
