Studies show that serratiopeptidase (Serramend™) can increase the effectiveness of antibiotics by preventing the formation of biofilms around bacteria, which is one of the most widespread mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
For example, a 1993 Italian study showed that serratiopeptidase enhances the effectiveness of the antibiotic ofloxacin in fighting bacteria isolated from infections of prosthetic devices, such as catheters and contact lenses, by preventing the formation of biofilms. In a preliminary study testing ofloxacin with a variety of proteolytic enzymes including serratiopeptidase, clostridiopeptidase A, fibrinolysin, and streptokinase, serratiopeptidase proved most active in preventing the formation of biofilms. Further studies showed that serratiopeptidase inhibits biofilm formation and enhances the antibiotic activity of ofloxacin.
Additionally, a 1986 Japanese study showed that serratiopeptidase supplementation enhanced the permeation of the antibiotic cefotiam in lung cancer patients undergoing thoracotomy, or lung surgery, compared to those taking cefotiam alone. In addition to receiving 2g of cefotiam prior to surgery like the control group of 17 patients did, the 18 patients in the experimental group also took 10mg of serratiopeptidase three times daily in the days before surgery. The ratio of the concentration of cefotiam in pulmonary tissues to the concentration of cefotiam in the blood was 29.1 +/- 2.5% in the group receiving cefotiam only, and 44.2 +/- 6.0% in the group that received cefotiam with serratiopeptidase, showing a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the concentration of cefotiam in lung tissues. Researchers called for more trials of using cefotiam and serratiopeptidase together for patients undergoing lung surgery, and they expect to further demonstrate that serratiopeptidase stimulates the permeation of cefotiam in the lung tissues, and has an anti-inflammatory effect in the respiratory system.
In a 1985 Italian double-blind randomized study that evaluated the effects of administering the antibiotic cephalexin with serratiopeptidase versus a placebo to 93 patients suffering from perennial rhinitis, chronic rhinitis with sinusitis or chronic relapsing bronchitis, the group treated with serratiopeptidase experienced significant improvement in head cold symptoms such as rhinorrhea (runny nose) and nasal stuffiness.
NOTES
- Selan L, Berlutti F, Passariello C, Comodi-Ballanti MR, Thaller MC. Proteolytic enzymes: a new treatment strategy for prosthetic infections? Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1993; 37(12):2618-21.
- Koyama A, Mori J, Tokuda H, Waku M, Anno H, Katayama T, Murakami K, Komatsu H, Hirata M, Arai T, et al. Augmentation by serrapeptase of tissue permeation by cefotiam (Japanese). Jpn J Antibiot. 1986; 39(3):761-71.
- Perna L. Osservazionl Clniche sui traitamento in osppio cleco con Serratio peptidasl nella neifre perenna naila ninite cronica nacutizzata con sinusopattia, nella bronchia cronica nacutizzata. Rlv Pat Clin Tuberc Penumol. 1985; 56:509-516.