Ficus glabrata

Pineapple fruit Ananas comosus) Extraction from Ficus glabrata latex... 

Homologues of the classical papaya papain that have been tested for peptide S5mthesis are plant-derived enzymes such as bromelain and ficain. Bromelain extracted from pineapple could be applied in Met- and Leu-enkephalin synthesis in a low water system, reaching 97% yield [27]. Ficain isolated from Ficus glabrata latex was tested in di- and tripeptide synthesis in frozen water medium [23] and was used in the synthesis of Lys and Met oligomers starting from the respective ethyl esters [29]. 

Although ficin has been commercially available for many years, it has not attained the importance of papain and bromelain. Ficin is imported mainly from South America where it is obtained from the latex of tropical fig trees of the genus Ficus. There are over 2000 species of this genus, and the amount of activity varies considerably from one species to another (10). Most of the commercial preparations of ficin are derived from F. glabrata. The latex is collected from the trees by tapping, and the juice separated after the latex has coagulated. The juice is then spray-dried, or the protein may be precipitated with acetone. 

---