Pineapple (ananas comosus) Extract Bromelain Monograph

Bromelain from PIneapple is available in these products:

• Brett Elliott’s Ultimate Herbal DETOX program
• Digezaid (100 capsules)
• BodiTune Detox n Slim Protein drink

Description
The Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant with edible multiple fruits consisting of coalesced berries, also called Pineapples, and the most economically significant plant in the Bromeliaceae family. (4)

Traditional Uses
Chunks of Pineapple are used in desserts such as fruit salad, as well as in some savory dishes, including pizza toppings and a grilled ring on a hamburger. Crushed Pineapple is used in yogurt, jam, sweets, and ice cream. The juice of the Pineapple is served as a beverage, and it is also the main ingredient in cocktails such as the piña colada. (4)

Active Constituents
The crude aqueous extract from stem and fruit of Pineapple is known as Bromelain. It is a mixture of different thiol endopeptidases and other components like phosphatases, glucosidase, peroxidases, cellulases, glycoproteins, carbohydrates, and several protease inhibitors (5)

Plant-based enzymes, such as Bromelain from Pineapple, serve as effective digestive aids in the breakdown of proteins. (6)

Clinical Studies
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All the evidence in one comprehensive review suggests that Bromelain can be used as an effective health supplement to prevent Cancer, Diabetes, and various Cardiovascular diseases. (5)

Bromelain is considerably absorbable in the body without losing its proteolytic activity and without producing any major side effects. Bromelain accounts for many therapeutic benefits like the treatment of angina pectoris, bronchitis, sinusitis, surgical trauma, and thrombophlebitis, debridement of wounds, and enhanced absorption of drugs, particularly antibiotics. It also relieves osteoarthritis, diarrhea, and various cardiovascular disorders. Bromelain also possesses some anticancerous activities and promotes apoptotic cell death. (5)

Digestive Support
Bromelain aids digestion by enhancing the effects of the digestive enzymes trypsin and pepsin. It can also help to prevent heartburn and ease diarrhea if either is caused by a deficiency of digestive enzymes. Plant enzymes (such as Papain, Bromelain, and Ficin) have been extensively investigated as meat tenderizers. (7)

Anti-Inflammatory
Bromelain is of interest to plastic surgeons because of its apparent ability to reduce pain, edema, inflammation, and platelet aggregation (1)

Bromelain has analgesic properties which are thought to be the result of its direct influence on pain mediators such as bradykinin. The earliest reported studies investigating Bromelain were a series of case reports on 28 patients, with moderate or severe rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. (5)

Anti-Thrombosis
Results suggested that Bromelain could be used for treating acute thrombophlebitis, as it decreases aggregation of blood platelets, has a cardioprotective effect, ameliorates rejection-induced arterial wall remodeling, prevents thrombin-induced human platelet aggregation as well as reduces thrombus formation. (2)

Bromelain therapy leads to the formation of platelets with increased resistance to aggregation  – the combination of fibrinolytic and antithrombic properties appear to be effective. Two large scale tests on heart patients have shown a practically complete elimination of thrombosis. (3)

Bromelain has been effective in the treatment of CVDs as it is an inhibitor of blood platelet aggregation, thus minimizing the risk of arterial thrombosis and embolism (5)

Heart Attack Reduced
Bromelain prevents or minimizes the severity of angina pectoris and transient ischemic attack (TIA). It is useful in the prevention and treatment of thrombophlebitis. (5)

Cholesterol Reduced
Bromelain may also break down Cholesterol plaques and exerts a potent fibrinolytic activity. (5)

Conclusion

Pineapple smoothie anybody?

Bromelain from PIneapple is available in these products:

• Brett Elliott’s Ultimate Herbal DETOX program
• Digezaid (100 capsules)
• BodiTune Detox n Slim Protein drink