In a paper published in the 2010 Jul-Dec edition of the Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics, researchers compared the anti-inflammatory activity of serrapeptase (also called serratiopeptidase) and diclofenac sodium in albino rats.

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug marketed under a number of names including Voltarol, Fenac, Zolterol and many others.  See Wikipedia for a more complete list.

In the study, the researchers induced acute inflammation in the rats by injecting formalin in both hind paws.

Paw volume was measured after the injection.  The rats were orally treated with either serrapeptase, diclofenac or given distilled water (control group).

Serrapeptase was found to significantly inhibit acute inflammation.  It was comparable in it’s effects to the diclofenac.  In addition, higher doses of serrapeptase were more effective in the inhibition of inflammation.

The fact that the serrapeptase was administered orally is good news for anyone taking serrapeptase as a supplement.  Many people have argued that it would be broken up and rendered useless in the gut, but this study shows that oral serrapeptase is effective.

The biggest problem with this study is the small sample size.  However, the results are still impressive.

Read the paper here.