Table 5.

Grades of PMP mucin with percentage absolute dissolution after treatment over 56 hours with 300 μg/ml bromelain + 250 mM N-acetyl cystein in TRIS buffer in nude rats implanted intra-peritoneal with the three grades of mucin (in vivo investigation)

Mucin grade	Total Number	Mean HI ± SD	Dissolution (%) ± SD	Residue
SOFT	3	0.5221 ± 0.0421	100 ± 0.0	NONE
SEMI HARD	3	1.0422 ± 0.1380	48.67 ± 2.40	Soft tissues
HARD	3	1.5142 ± 0.1721	28.67 ± 0.8819	solid tissues

Table 5 shows the mean hardness index (HI), mean absolute percentage dissolution for the three grades of PMP mucin. Complete dissolution took place for the soft mucin whilst it was only partial for the semi hard and hard mucin, thereby leaving residues for both the semi hard and hard mucin (in vivo investigation). HI = Hardness Index; SD = standard deviation.