pinellia ternata/protease

OBJECTIVE To investigate the irritation stability of raphides from Pinellia ternata and the contribution of raphides proteins on irritation. METHODS The irritation of raphides and tubers from P. ternata treated with different solvents or protease digestion were evaluated by the Draize test. The

Pinellia ternata is a perennial herb that belongs to the Araceae Family. The tuber of the P. ternata plant contains active ingredients such as alkaloids and pinellia starch, and can be used as a Chinese medicine for antineoplastic and anti-inflammatory disorders in humans (Marki et al. 1987). In