Other Ingredients: Natural Vegetable Capsules. This product may contain one or more of the following: Calcium Silicate, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose and Silicon Dioxide. CereCalase® is a registered trademark of National Enzyme.

SUGGESTED USE: 1-2 capsules 15 minutes before meals or as recommended by your health care professional.

Formulated to be free of allergens derived from: Gluten, yeast, artificial colors and flavors. Contains plant enzymes. If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your physician before taking this product. As with all dietary supplements, some individuals may not tolerate or may be allergic to the ingredients used. Please read the ingredient panel carefully prior to ingestion. Cease taking this product and consult your physician if you have negative reactions upon ingestion.

Contraindications: If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your physician before taking this product. This product contains the following potential allergens: corn, bromelain and Asteracea family.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this web site has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Material on the Imupharm web site is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program.

Enzymes are organic molecules that increase the rates of chemical reactions. Almost all enzymes are proteins, and almost all biological cell processes need enzymes to occur at significant rates. Enzymes are often very specific as to which reactions they catalyze and the substrates (i.e. molecule on which it acts) involved in the reactions. (Reference 1)

Enzymes

Amylase
Amylase is a class of digestive enzymes found naturally in the body (generally found in saliva), which aids in the breakdown of carbohydrates. (Reference 2) It is mainly produced in the pancreas and secreted by the salivary glands. (Reference 3)

Papain

Papain is a cystein protease hydrolase enzyme that is present in papaya. It hydrolyzes proteins forming oligopeptides and amino acids. It breaks down proteins and is used to get rid of dead tissue from burns, aiding in the healing of skin injuries, removal of warts and treatment of ringworm.  (Reference 4)

Bromelain

Bromelain is a blend of proteolytic enzymes taken from the stem and juice of pineapples. It is approvd by the German Commission E for treating swelling and inflammation after surgery. It is useful for various conditions, but is specifically effective in reducing inflammation from infection and injuries. (Reference 5)

Glucoamylase

Glucoamylase is an enzyme that breaks down starches and dextrins into glucose. (Reference 14)

Peptidase

Peptidase is an enzyme that can break down a peptide (i.e. a molecule consisting of 2 or more amino acids) into its component amino acids. (Reference 6)

Protease

Protease is any enzyme that can break down protein into its component peptides. (Reference 7) It breaks down proteins found in eggs, cheese, nuts and meats. (Reference 8)

Maltase

Maltase digests disaccharides to monosaccharides (malt sugars). (Reference 8)

Lactase

Lactase breaks down lactose (milk sugars). (Reference 8)

Alpha-galactosidase

This type of enzyme facilitates digestion of beans, legumes, seeds, roots, soy products, and underground stems. (Reference 8)

Lipase

Lipase breaks down fats found in most dairy products, nuts, oils, and meat. (Reference 8)

Pectinase

Pectinase breaks down the pectin in fruit. (Reference 8)

Invertase

Invertase breaks down sucrose (table sugar). (Reference 8)

Cellulase

Cellulase breaks down cellulose, plant fiber; not found in humans. (Reference 8)

Xylanase

Xylanase breaks down xylan sugars, works well with grains such as corn. (Reference 8)

CereCalase

CereCalase is a unique cellulase complex from National Enzyme Company that maximizes fiber and cereal digestion and absorption of essential minerals; an exclusive blend of synergistic phytase, hemicellulase, and beta-glucanase. (Reference 8)

Other Ingredients:

Artichoke Leaf Extract (ALE)

Globe artichokes have been traditionally used in Europe to improve digestive and urinary tract health. In Germany and Switzerland, ALEs are currently used to remedy indigestion, and in the UK, they are available as over-the-counter food supplement. (Reference 9) Recently, it has been found to lower cholesterol in healthy people who had increased levels of cholesterol but not yet at the state where medical intervention was needed. (Reference 9)

ALE has been shown to have potential in relieving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBC), as well as improve health-related quality-of-life (QOL). (References 10, 11)

Gentian Root Extract (Gentiana lutea)

The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approved the internal use of gentian root for digestive orders such as loss of appetite, fullness, and flatulence. (Reference 12) The British Herbal Compendium approves gentian for lack of appetite, anorexia, atonic dyspepsia, gastrointestinal atony, and as a tonic and anti-emetic. (Reference 13)

Enzyme Sources:
   • Amylase, Protease 4.5 and 6.0, Peptidase and Lactase: Aspergillus oryzae.
   • Glucoamylase, Protease 3.0, CereCalase®, Alpha- Galactosidase and Pectinase:
     Aspergillus niger.
   • CereCalase®, Cellulase and Xylanase: Trichoderma longibrachiatrum.
   • Acid Maltase: Rhizopus oryaze.
   • Bromelain: Ananas comosus.
   • Lipase: Candida rugosa.
   • Neutral protease: Bacillus subtilis.

(1) Reference.com website.
[Online: http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Enzyme]

(2) NutritionalCenter.com
[Online: http://www.nutritionalcenter.com/site/en/reference/nutrients/view/90]

(3) University of Maryland Medical Center. Medical Reference.
[Online: http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003464.htm]

(4) NutritionalCenter.com
[Online: http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/digestive-enzymes/papain.php]

(5) University of Maryland Medical Center. Medical Reference.
[Online: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/bromelain-000289.htm]

(6) Medical Dictionary. Medicine.net
[Online: http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=33421]

(7) Medical Dictionary. Medicine.net
[Online: http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5079]

(8) Enzyme Stuff website.
[Online: http://www.enzymestuff.com/basicswhichenzyme.htm]

(9) ScienceDaily.com website.
[Online: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702170607.htm]

(10) Walker AF, Middleton RW, Petrowicz O. Artichoke leaf extract reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in a post-marketing surveillance study. Phytother Res. 2001 Feb;15(1):58-61.
[Online: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11180525]
   
(11) Bundy R, Walker AF, Middleton RW, Marakis G, Booth JC. Artichoke leaf extract reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and improves quality of life in otherwise healthy volunteers suffering from concomitant dyspepsia: a subset analysis. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Aug;10(4):667-9.
[Online: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15353023]

(12) American Botanical Council.
[Online: http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalmedicine/Gentianroot.html]
   
(13) Bradley, P.R. (ed.). 1992. British Herbal Compendium, Vol. 1. Bournemouth: British Herbal Medicine Association.   

(14) Biology Online website.
[Online: http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Glucoamylase]