I was looking through some websites today...
And I wanted to know more about PLANT ENZYMES.

Why?
Me: "I ate Sunshine bread today, and I was looking through the list of ingredients when I saw 'emulsifiers, enzymes...'."
Apple jie: "I thought there's plant enzyme besides animal enzymes?"
Me: "Really?"

I always thought enzymes in foods come from animals. You know... Like the cow's rennet in cheeses, where they sliced cows throats to get the enzymes. =x

Here you go:
Plant-based enzymes are the most common favorite because of the bad name animal products have had for the past 30-40 years. 80% of the enzyme supplements sold in health food stores today are plant based. 20% are animal/glandular with a plant enzyme base. Because of modern day farming practices where animals are confined and fed foods with pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and genetically modified grains, many people have shied away from animal products, for good reason. Plant based enzymes are accepted by omnivores and vegetarians alike. They are grown in a laboratory setting and extracted from aspergillus, which is a type of fungus. The enzymes harvested from aspergillus are most commonly called plant-based, but can also be called microbial and fungal enzymes. Plant-based enzymes are considered the strongest and they can break down more fat, protein and carbohydrates in a larger pH range than any other enzymes. The plant-based enzymes are often 10-100 times more active than other choices. They are active over a much broader pH range, even with a pH as low as 3. This allows them to be active for much more of the digestive tract. One English study showed a small dose of acid-stable lipase from a plant source was more effective than a dosage 25 times larger containing conventional pancreatin in the treatment of malabsorption and malnutrition due to pancreatic enzyme deficiency. (Griffin, S. M., et al, Acid resistant lipase as replacement therapy in chronic exocrine insufficiency: a study in dogs, Gut, 30:1012-1015, 1989)

In addition to plant-based enzymes there are plant enzymes called Bromelain and papain. Bromelain breaks down protein and also clots milk. It is derived from the pineapple stem. Like pepsin and papain, bromelain is activated at a temperature higher than normal body temperature, which is why it is helpful for inflammation. Papain is an enzyme derived from the latex of papaya. This enzyme becomes active at a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 and requires a temperature above normal body temperature. Like bromelain, it is also a good digestive enzyme to use to help with inflammation.

Animal digestive enzymes such as pancreatin, pepsin, chymotrypsin and trypsin are enzymes from the pancreas, stomach and small intestine of animals. These enzymes require a pH of 8.0 to become active. They do not have the broad pH range of the plant based enzymes. These enzymes support glands and are also helpful with inflammation. They come from the pancreases of slaughter house animals. Wilderness Family Naturals carries Enzymedica digestive enzymes which are completely vegetarian and do not contain any animal digestive enzymes.

Adapted from:
http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/enzymes.htm