Nattokinase(NK for short), also known as subtilisin protease, is a serine protease produced by Bacillus subtilisl natto during natto fermentation. Nattokinase has the functions of dissolving thrombus, reducing blood viscosity, improving blood circulation, softening and increasing blood vessel elasticity.
In 1980, nattokinase was discovered in natto. Nattokinase is composed of 275 amino acids in a fixed arrangement, with a molecular weight of 27724. It has the unique function of decomposing thrombus, and its active effect is expressed by the inherent unit FU.
From a medical point of view, the thrombolytic mechanism of nattokinase is: nattokinase stimulates vascular endothelial cells to produce tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and t-PA activates plasminogen to plasmin , dissolve fibrin, dissolve thrombus directly; at the same time, activate urokinase in human body to urokinase, and urokinase and t-PA together activate plasminogen to dissolve thrombus.
It can be seen that nattokinase can directly dissolve the formed thrombus without hydrolyzing plasma fibrinogen, and can also activate and enhance the body's own thrombolytic ability, thus playing a lasting, stable, safe and effective thrombolytic effect.