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ficin (FAI-sin) - n., a protease enzyme obtained from the latex of fig trees used as an anthelmintic and protein digestive.
Also (possibly more commonly) called ficain. For those who don't remember, and it has been a while, an anthelmintic is a medicine that gets rid of intestinal worms. Because it hydrolyzes proteins, it's useful as a meat tenderizer -- and it's also responsible for the itching/burning in the mouth when you eat an unripe fig. Coined in 1930 from Latin ficus, fig.
---L.
Also (possibly more commonly) called ficain. For those who don't remember, and it has been a while, an anthelmintic is a medicine that gets rid of intestinal worms. Because it hydrolyzes proteins, it's useful as a meat tenderizer -- and it's also responsible for the itching/burning in the mouth when you eat an unripe fig. Coined in 1930 from Latin ficus, fig.
---L.
