Supplement

Serrapeptase

Serrapeptase is a protein-digesting enzyme that may help thin mucus and calm inflammation in tissues such as the sinuses. People mostly look at it for sinus trouble, and the evidence there is limited: trials found nasal mucus production improved. Those studies were small, about 190 people across four trials, and they focused on allergy and ear, nose and throat complaints rather than sinusitis itself.

Sources: PMID 3279939; PMID 2257960

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
11 studies cited

Best evidence: Grade B
Conditions studied: 11
Outcomes: 19
Graded outcomes: 0260

Evidence by condition

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

11 conditions

Surgical Recovery

Surgical Recovery: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Inflammation Small Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	4 studies	390 people
Studies that measured inflammation A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of paracetamol, serratiopeptidase, ibuprofen and betamethasone using the dental impaction pain modelInt J Oral Maxillofac Surg · PMID 19168326 A multi-centre, double-blind study of serrapeptase versus placebo in post-antrotomy buccal swellingPharmatherapeutica · PMID 6366808 [Reduction of postoperative swelling. Objective measurement of swelling of the upper ankle joint in treatment with serrapeptase-- a prospective study]Fortschr Med · PMID 2647603 Comparison of the roles of serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone in the control of inflammation and trismus following impacted third molar surgeryIndian J Dent Res · PMID 23649050
	Leg Edema Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		240 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	150 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125

Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)

Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever): outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Mucus Production Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect	4 studies	193 people
Studies that measured mucus production Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placeboJ Int Med Res · PMID 2257960 Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase in patients with chronic airway diseaseRespirology · PMID 12911824 Effect of expectorants on relaxation behavior of sputum viscoelasticity in vivoBiorheology · PMID 6375756 The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucusArch Otorhinolaryngol · PMID 3279939
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	193 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125

Pain Relief

Inflammation: improves
Pain: improves

Pain Relief: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Inflammation Small Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	4 studies	150 people
Studies that measured inflammation A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of paracetamol, serratiopeptidase, ibuprofen and betamethasone using the dental impaction pain modelInt J Oral Maxillofac Surg · PMID 19168326 A multi-centre, double-blind study of serrapeptase versus placebo in post-antrotomy buccal swellingPharmatherapeutica · PMID 6366808 [Reduction of postoperative swelling. Objective measurement of swelling of the upper ankle joint in treatment with serrapeptase-- a prospective study]Fortschr Med · PMID 2647603 Comparison of the roles of serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone in the control of inflammation and trismus following impacted third molar surgeryIndian J Dent Res · PMID 23649050
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	150 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125

Trismus

Inflammation: improves
Pain: improves

Trismus: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Inflammation Small Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	4 studies	110 people
Studies that measured inflammation A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of paracetamol, serratiopeptidase, ibuprofen and betamethasone using the dental impaction pain modelInt J Oral Maxillofac Surg · PMID 19168326 A multi-centre, double-blind study of serrapeptase versus placebo in post-antrotomy buccal swellingPharmatherapeutica · PMID 6366808 [Reduction of postoperative swelling. Objective measurement of swelling of the upper ankle joint in treatment with serrapeptase-- a prospective study]Fortschr Med · PMID 2647603 Comparison of the roles of serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone in the control of inflammation and trismus following impacted third molar surgeryIndian J Dent Res · PMID 23649050
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	110 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125

Inflammatory Venous Disease

Pain: improves
Superficial Thrombophlebitis Symptoms: improves

Inflammatory Venous Disease: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Pain Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	40 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125
	Superficial Thrombophlebitis Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	40 people
Studies that measured superficial thrombophlebitis symptoms [Clinical study of the efficacy of and tolerance to seaprose S in inflammatory venous disease. Controlled study versus serratio-peptidase]Minerva Cardioangiol · PMID 9091835

Breast Engorgement

Breast Tenderness: improves
Pain: improves

Breast Engorgement: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Breast Tenderness Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		70 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	70 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125

Lactation (Breast Milk Production)

Breast Tenderness: improves
Pain: improves

Lactation (Breast Milk Production): outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Breast Tenderness Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		70 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	70 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125

Chronic Pulmonary Disease

Mucus Production: improves

Chronic Pulmonary Disease: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Mucus Production	Improves (the measure goes up)		4 studies	40 people
Studies that measured mucus production Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placeboJ Int Med Res · PMID 2257960 Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase in patients with chronic airway diseaseRespirology · PMID 12911824 Effect of expectorants on relaxation behavior of sputum viscoelasticity in vivoBiorheology · PMID 6375756 The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucusArch Otorhinolaryngol · PMID 3279939

Sinusitis

Mucus Production: improves

Sinusitis: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Mucus Production	Improves (the measure goes up)		4 studies	24 people
Studies that measured mucus production Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placeboJ Int Med Res · PMID 2257960 Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase in patients with chronic airway diseaseRespirology · PMID 12911824 Effect of expectorants on relaxation behavior of sputum viscoelasticity in vivoBiorheology · PMID 6375756 The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucusArch Otorhinolaryngol · PMID 3279939

Chronic Bronchitis

Mucus Production: improves

Chronic Bronchitis: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Mucus Production	Improves (the measure goes up)		4 studies	29 people
Studies that measured mucus production Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placeboJ Int Med Res · PMID 2257960 Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase in patients with chronic airway diseaseRespirology · PMID 12911824 Effect of expectorants on relaxation behavior of sputum viscoelasticity in vivoBiorheology · PMID 6375756 The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucusArch Otorhinolaryngol · PMID 3279939

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Symptoms: improves

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: outcomes studied for Serrapeptase
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Carpal Tunnel Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	20 people
Studies that measured carpal tunnel symptoms A preliminary trial of serratiopeptidase in patients with carpal tunnel syndromeJ Assoc Physicians India · PMID 11225219

Key findings

InflammationSurgical RecoveryImproves (the measure goes down)
Leg EdemaSurgical RecoveryImproves (the measure goes down)
Mucus ProductionAllergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)Improves (the measure goes up)

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Third-party tested Serrapeptase products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.

Grade B

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Studies cited

11 studies from PubMed

The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of paracetamol, serratiopeptidase, ibuprofen and betamethasone using the dental impaction pain modelInt J Oral Maxillofac Surg · PMID 19168326
A multi-centre, double-blind study of serrapeptase versus placebo in post-antrotomy buccal swellingPharmatherapeutica · PMID 6366808
[Reduction of postoperative swelling. Objective measurement of swelling of the upper ankle joint in treatment with serrapeptase-- a prospective study]Fortschr Med · PMID 2647603
Comparison of the roles of serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone in the control of inflammation and trismus following impacted third molar surgeryIndian J Dent Res · PMID 23649050
Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placeboJ Int Med Res · PMID 2257960
[Clinical study of the efficacy of and tolerance to seaprose S in inflammatory venous disease. Controlled study versus serratio-peptidase]Minerva Cardioangiol · PMID 9091835
Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase in patients with chronic airway diseaseRespirology · PMID 12911824
A preliminary trial of serratiopeptidase in patients with carpal tunnel syndromeJ Assoc Physicians India · PMID 11225219
Effect of expectorants on relaxation behavior of sputum viscoelasticity in vivoBiorheology · PMID 6375756
The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucusArch Otorhinolaryngol · PMID 3279939

Evidence by condition

Key findings

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

Related supplements

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