From all types of treatments used to improve meat tenderness (mechanical, chemical, enzymatic
tenderization), has been studied the enzymatic tenderization with papain a tropical plant enzyme derived
from papaya. In this research has been evaluated papain influence on adult beef because pork, mutton and
chicken meat are enough tender. Papain was added in injection brine and than the beef cuts was injected
with a specific percent of brine. Experimental data indicate that papain weaken beef meat structure
produced improvement of functional properties of adult beef. Papain attacks connective tissue and
myofibril proteins determinate increase of hydroxiproline and free amino acids content in boiled beef
cuts. A significant increase in tenderness by rigidity index measurement was observed in the meats
treated with papain as compared with the control. The sensorial tests of beef treated with papain were
bigger than control. This experiment confirms that papain is a proteolytic enzyme that causes
improvement of meat quality.