Application of Enzyme In Medicine Field

Developments of medical application for enzymes have been at least as extensive as those
for industrial application, reflecting the magnitude of the potential reward: for example,
pancreatic enzymes have been in use since the nineteenth century for the treatment of
digestive disorders. The variety of enzymes and their potential therapeutic application are
considerable. A selection of those enzymes which have realized this potential to become
significant therapeutic agents is shown in table below.

Enzyme

EC
number

Reaction

Asparaginase

3.5.1.1

Collagenase

3.4.24.3

Glutaminase

3.5.1.2

Hyaluronidasea

3.2.1.35

Hyaluronate hydrolysis

Heart attack

Lysozyme

3.2.1.17

Bacterial cell wall hydrolysis

Antibiotic

Rhodanase b

2.8.1.1

Ribonuclease

3.1.26.4

-Lactamase

3.5.2.6

Streptokinasec

3.4.22.10

Trypsin

3.4.21.4

L-Asparagine H2O

Use

L-aspartate + NH3

Collagen hydrolysis

L-Glutamine H2O

S2O32- + CN-

L-glutamate + NH3

SO32- + SCN-

RNA hydrolysis

Penicillin

Plasminogen

penicilloate

plasmin

Protein hydrolysis

Leukaemia

Skin ulcers

Leukaemia

Cyanide
poisoning

Antiviral

Penicillin
allergy

Blood clots

Inflammation

Uricase d

Urokinase e

1.7.3.3

Urate + O2

3.4.21.31

Plasminogen

allantoin

plasmin

Gout

Blood clots

In table above, its shown that enzymes are used in few cases. For examples:
A. To break the internal blood clots.
In some disorders like low blood tension or spinal injuries, there are chances of
formation of blood clots. These clots may lead to obstruction of blood flow to certain
organ. This can be life threatening if it is in the brain or heart which requires constant
supply of oxygen and energy. The only way out then is to dissolve the clots by
enzyme such as Streptokinase, Urokinase.
B. To dissolve the wound swelling to promote healing.
For wound healing, the swelling formed might be painful and tend to form pus.
Enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, serratopepetidase are used to dissolve the swelling.
In conclusion, enzymes are found wide and diverse applications at which enzymes increase
the rate of reactions which approach to equilibrium. Enzymes play critical role in the
metabolic activities of all living organisms whether humans, animals, plants or
microorganisms and are widely applied in microbial technology and their diagnosis
processes.