Dictionary:

bromelain

  (brō'mə-lən, -lān') also bromelin (-lən)

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A proteolytic enzyme obtained from pineapples.

[New Latin Bromel(ia), former pineapple genus; see bromeliad + (PAP)AIN.]

Enzymes in the pineapple and related plants of the family Bromelidaceae, which hydrolyse proteins. They are available as by-products from commercial pineapple production, usually from the stems, and are used to tenderize meat, to treat sausage casings, and to chill-proof beer (see haze). Similar enzymes are found in figs (ficin) and pawpaw (papain).

An enzyme extracted from pineapples and used in certain slimming pills. Manufacturers claim that bromelain (with other enzymes in the pills) helps to break down body fat and enables slimmers to lose weight effortlessly. There is no scientific evidence to support this claim. The manufacturers' advertisements state that the pills should be taken as part of a low calorie diet. Users who follow this instruction may well lose weight, but weight loss is probably due to the low calorie diet, not the pills. Bromelain, like any other protein in the gut, would be digested and have no action.

Description

Bromelain, also known as bromelin, is a protein-digesting enzyme extracted from the flesh and stem of the pineapple plant, Ananas comosus. Although the people of Guadeloupe introduced Christopher Columbus to the fruit in 1493, Europeans did not recognize the pineapple's beneficial attributes until later. Pineapple had a long history of traditional use among the native peoples of Central and South America. They applied pineapple dressings to wounds and skin injuries to reduce inflammation, and eased stomachaches and indigestion by drinking the juice of the fruit.

Bromelain was first isolated from pineapple juice in 1891 and introduced as a therapeutic supplement in 1957. The active ingredients of bromelain are found in the juice and stem of the pineapple plant, but the stem contains more bromelain than the fruit.

General Use

Bromelain is most notable for its effectiveness in the reduction of inflammation and decreasing swelling, but the scope of its benefits continues to increase. As a natural anti-inflammatory enzyme, bromelain has many uses. Arthritis patients may reduce the swelling that causes joint pain by taking bromelain. Bromelain may also be helpful for the pain, numbness, tingling, aching, and loss of motor and sensory function in the fingers resulting from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

The protease enzyme is beneficial in reducing the clumping of platelets (small platelike bodies in the blood), the formation of plaques in the arteries, and the formation of blood clots. All these effects help to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. Bromelain has also been discovered to have anti-tumor action, as well as helping the body absorb medications.

Although bromelain is often labeled an alternative treatment, mainstream medical research continues to study its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of hematomas, or localized blood clots. Bromelain has been found useful in the reduction of swelling and congestion in the affected tissue after an athletic injury or surgery. It is commonly used in Germany for this purpose.

Bromelain's anti-clotting activity may be useful in preventing strokes, one of the most feared results of obstructions in the circulatory system. Due to the lack of oxygenated blood flowing to the brain, a stroke can cause permanent damage to the affected area of the central nervous system. Bromelain is thought to help maintain healthy cardiac tissue and reduce the risk of stroke by its anti-inflammatory activity. By preventing mild infection or inflammation caused by the fatty substances inside the blood vessels where plaque may form, bromelain helps to reduce inflammation by digesting the byproducts of tissue repair.

Bromelain is helpful to people with colds due to its ability to reduce mucus and keep it moving out of the body. Bromelain has also been shown to reduce the painful inflammation associated with costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the breastbone. In addition, bromelain appears to be beneficial to asthma patients. Asthma is caused by spasms of the bronchial passages that restrict the flow of air in and out of the lungs. Taking bromelain may reduce the excess mucus that tends to collect in the respiratory systems of asthma patients. In addition, people who suffer from hay fever and similar seasonal allergies may also be helped by bromelain's antiinflammatory activity.

Additional benefits of bromelain include reducing the painful symptoms of varicose veins, including dull aches, tired legs and feet, and itchy skin.

Research has also shown that bromelain benefits cows as well as humans. Bromelain has been shown to reduce the white blood cell count in cows with mastitis. This reduction increases the quality of their milk. Researchers have found that bromelain works to reduce inflammation by interfering with the synthesis of prostaglandins and other inflammatory substances.

Preparations

Bromelain is available as a dietary supplement that is offered in several different tablet strengths. For rheumatoid arthritis, the recommended dosage of bromelain is 250–750 mg, taken two or three times a day between or before meals. In Germany, the standard dosage to reduce swelling after surgery is 80–320 mg daily. The supplement has found to offer the most benefit when taken on an empty stomach, and its therapeutic effects are also enhanced when taken in higher doses.

Increasing the dosage of bromelain to 400–1,000 mg per day has shown to reduce the symptoms of angina pectoris (the severe pain and feeling of constriction about the heart that often radiates to the left shoulder and down the left arm).

Precautions

Bromelain has shown to be generally safe when taken in moderate doses, although a preliminary report links an increased heart rate with the use of the supplement. People with an inflammation of the stomach lining should not use digestive enzyme supplements such as bromelain. In addition, the safe use of bromelain in pregnant or nursing women, small children, and people with kidney or liver disease has not been established.

Side Effects

While bromelain can be taken safely without side effects in moderate doses, there are anecdotal reports of allergic reactions to it. Other side effects that have been observed include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and menorrhagia (excessively heavy menstrual flow).

Interactions

Because of bromelain's anti-clotting activity, it should not be combined with other blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, or aspirin. It is also possible that bromelain could cause problems with bleeding if it is combined with other complementary therapies that thin the blood, such as garlic or gingko biloba.

Resources

Periodicals

Kelly, G.S. "Bromelain: A Literature Review and Discussion of Its Therapeutic Applications." Alternative Medicine Review (November 1, 1996).

Petry, Judy J. "Nutritional supplements and surgical patients." AORN Journal (June 1997).

Organizations

American Botanical Council. PO Box 201660. Austin, TX 78720-1660.

Other

HealthWorld Online. [cited January 17, 2001].

[Article by: Beth Kapes]

A group of proteolytic and milk-clotting enzymes derived from the pineapple plant, Ananas sativus. They are used as anti-inflammatory agents.

Pineapple, one member of the Bromeliaceae family

Bromelain can refer to one of two protease enzymes extracted from the plant family Bromeliaceae, or it can refer to a combination of those enzymes along with other compounds produced in an extract.

Components

Bromelain is a mixture of sulfur-containing protein-digesting enzymes—called proteolytic enzymes or proteases—and several other substances in smaller quantities. The two main enzymes are:

• stem bromelain - EC 3.4.22.32
• fruit bromelain - EC 3.4.22.33

The other substances include peroxidase, acid phosphatase, protease inhibitors, and calcium.

History

The first isolation of bromelain was recorded by the Venezuelan chemist Vicente Marcano^[1] (BU1 1.Phar. 5,77) in 1891 from the fruit of pineapple. In 1892, Chittenden, assisted by Joslin and Meara, investigated the matter fully (Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts Sci. 8, 281-308), and called it 'bromelin'. Later the term 'bromelain' was introduced and originally applied to any protease from any plant member of the plant family Bromeliaceae.

Bromelain was first introduced as a therapeutic supplement in 1957. Research on bromelain apparently was first conducted in Hawaii but more recently has been conducted in countries in Asia, Europe and Latin America. Germany has recently taken a great interest in bromelain research; bromelain is currently the 13th most widely used herbal medicine in Germany.

Source

Bromelain is present in all parts of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus) but the stem is the most common commercial source, presumably because it is readily available after the fruit has been harvested. Pineapples have had a long tradition as a medicinal plant among the natives of South and Central America. However, just eating pineapple will not give you a great deal of extra bromelain, because it is mostly concentrated in the stem, which is not nearly as tasty (albeit still edible).

Uses

Meat tenderizing

Along with papain, Bromelain is one of the most popular substances to use for meat tenderizing.

Historically, meat tenderizing enzymes were often injected into the muscle of a food animal while it was still living. This practice was deemed unethical, and has been largely discontinued, replaced with various postmortem application methods which are acceptable for lesser quality cuts.

Today, approximately 90% of meat tenderizer use is in consumer households. Bromelain is sold in a powdered form, which is combined with a marinade or directly sprinkled on the uncooked meat. The enzyme will penetrate the meat, and by a process called forking, cause the meat to be tender and palatable when cooked. If the enzyme is allowed to work for too long, the meat may become too "mushy" for many consumers' preferences

Medical uses

Bromelain can be used in a vast array of medical conditions. It was first introduced in this area in 1957, and works by blocking some proinflammatory metabolites that accelerate and worsen the inflammatory process. It is an anti-inflammatory agent, and so can be used for sports injury, trauma, arthritis, and other kinds of swelling. Its main uses are athletic injuries, digestive problems, phlebitis, sinusitis, and aiding healing after surgery.

It has also been proposed in the use of arthritis,^[2] chronic venous insufficiency, easy bruising, gout, hemorrhoids, menstrual pain, autoimmune disorders, and ulcerative colitis.

Studies have shown that bromelain can also be useful in the reduction of platelet clumping and blood clots in the bloodstream, especially in the arteries.

It may have treatment potential for HIV.^[3]

Its side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, menorrhagia (excessively heavy menstrual flow) and possible allergic reactions. One study has also associated Bromelain with increased heart rate.

Bromelain supplementation up to 460 mg has been shown to have no effect on human heart rate or blood pressure; however, increasing doses up to 1840 mg have been shown to increase the heart rate proportionately.

Production

It is produced in Thailand.

Bromelain is prepared from the stem part of the pineapple plant after harvesting the fruit. This stem part is peeled, crushed and pressed to get the juice containing the soluble Bromelain enzyme.

Further processing includes concentration of the pressed juice to get a purified enzyme. This process is carried out in factories under strictly controlled conditions to assure microbiological quality and enzyme purity.

The Bromelain products are all supplied as powder.

Other plant proteases

Other plant proteases include papain (from the papaya), actinidin (from the kiwi fruit), and ficin (from the fig). These proteases may induce a prickly sensation in the mouth when consumed.

References

1. ^ "PDVSA article citing Vicente Marcano (in Spanish)". 
2. ^ Brien S, Lewith G, Walker A (2004). "Bromelain as a Treatment for Osteoarthritis: a Review of Clinical Studies". Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM. 1 (3): 251-257. PMID 15841258. 
3. ^ Kleef R, Delohery T, Bovbjerg D (1996). "Selective modulation of cell adhesion molecules on lymphocytes by bromelain protease 5". Pathobiology 64 (6): 339-46. PMID 9159029. 

• Heinicke, R.M. and W.A. Gortner. 1957. Stem bromelain-a new protease preparation from pineapple plants. Econ. Bot. 11 (3): 225-234.

• Gutfreund A, Taussig S, Morris A (1978). "Effect of oral bromelain on blood pressure and heart rate of hypertensive patients". Hawaii medical journal 37 (5): 143-6. PMID 659096. 

Gregory S. Kelly, N.D. Bromelain: A Literature Review and Discussion of its Therapeutic Applications (Alt Med Rev 1996;1(4):243-257)

External links

• MeSH Bromelains

Proteases: cysteine proteases (EC 3.4.22)
Caspase	Caspase 1 - Caspase 2 - Caspase 3 - Caspase 4 - Caspase 5 - Caspase 8 - Caspase 9 - Caspase 12 - Caspase 13
Fruit-derived	Papain - Ficain - Bromelain - Actinidain
Other	Clostripain - Cancer procoagulant - Separase - Calpain - Autophagin

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