Chemical Properties
cream powder
Potential Exposure
It is an enzyme found in the pancreas
and is used in medicines and in treating leather and
textiles.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including
resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR
if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get
medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
Medical observation for Up to 8 hours after breathing
exposure is recommended, as symptoms may be delayed.
Incompatibilities
Dust may form explosive mixture
with air. Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates,
peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine,
fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep
away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids,
oxoacids, epoxides, alcohols.
History
The first observations and experimental demonstrations that pancreatin could be used to improve protein and fat digestion in animals and human patients are from the 19th century, soon after Claude Bernard had revealed the essential role of pancreatic secretion in the digestion of foods. In 1859, the dutch physician Joseph Alexander Fles showed that the daily intake of calf pancreas extract could restore the digestion of fat in a diabetic patient who suffered from diarrhea and had large amounts of fat in the stools. In 1890, Abelmann showed that the consumption of fresh pig pancreas could improve protein and fat digestion in dogs after surgical removal of the pancreas. This is considered as the first experimental demonstration of enzyme replacement[1].
Uses
Enzyme (digestant adjunct).
Brand name
Panteric (Parke-Davis).
Biological Functions
Pancreatin is a supplement that can result in decreased food intake. It is used for digestion, and absorption of food. Your pancreas secretes about one and one half quarts of pancreatic juice daily into the small intestine.
General Description
Pancreatin (Panteric) is a substance obtained from the fresh pancreas of the hog or the ox and contains a mixture of enzymes, principally pancreatic amylase (amylopsin), protease, and pancreatic lipase (steapsin). It converts not less than 25 times its weight of USP Potato Starch Reference Standard into soluble carbohydrates and not less than 25 times its weight of casein into proteoses. It acts best in neutral or faintly alkaline media, and excessive acid or alkali renders it inert. Pancreatin can be prepared by extracting the fresh gland with 25% alcohol or with water and subsequently precipitating with alcohol. Besides the enzymes mentioned, it contains some trypsinogen, which can be activated by intestinal enterokinase; chymotrypsinogen, which is converted by trypsin to chymotrypsin; and carboxypeptidase.
Pancreatin is used largely for predigestion of food and for the preparation of hydrolysates. The value of its enzymes orally must be very small because they are digested by pepsin and acid in the stomach, although some of them may escape into the intestines without change. Even if they are protected by enteric coatings, it is doubtful they could be of great assistance in digestion.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Due to the enzymatic components such as trypsin, amylase and lipase, pancreatin hydrolyzes proteins, starch and fats. Pancreatin will convert not less than 25 times its weight of potato starch into soluble carbohydrates in 5 minutes in water at 40?°C, will digest not less than 25 times its weight of casein in 60 minutes at pH7.5 at 40?°C and will release not less than 2 microequivalents of acid per min per mg pancreatin from olive oil at pH9.0 at 37?°C.
Safety Profile
Moderately toxic by subcutaneous and intraperitoneal routes.
Drug interactions
Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
None known
Metabolism
Pharmacokinetic data are not available as the enzymes
act locally in the gastrointestinal tract. After exerting
their action, the enzymes are digested themselves in the
intestine.
References
[1] Amal Salhi . “Characterization of all the lipolytic activities in pancreatin and comparison with porcine and human pancreatic juices.” Biochimie 169 (2020): Pages 106-120.
