International journal of tissue reactions
-
The stem of the pineapple plant contains, in addition to a number of proteases, particularly bromelain, a non-proteolytic component which is responsible for the complete bridement of experimental burns by an "enzymatic dissection" between the viable native and the non-viable denatured burn tissue. With very little scraping, using a tongue depressor, all of the eschar can be removed and a bed suitable for grafting results. ⋯ The biological activity of the Escharase is not dependent on sulfhydryl groups nor upon the contaminating bromelain activity. The Escharase activity varies enormously from preparation to preparation, but the ultrafiltration procedure tends to concentrate Escharase activity to a fairly constant amount.