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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 156 KB) Summary Manoj. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 156 KB) Summary Manoj. ... Binomial name Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. ... Subfamiles Bromelioideae Pitcairnioideae Tillandsioideae Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) is a large family of flowering plants native to the tropical and warm temperate New World. ... Proteases (proteinases, peptidases, or proteolytic enzymes) are enzymes that break peptide bonds between amino acids of proteins. ... Subfamiles Bromelioideae Pitcairnioideae Tillandsioideae Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) is a large family of flowering plants native to the tropical and warm temperate New World. ...

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: Proteases (proteinases, peptidases, or proteolytic enzymes) are enzymes that break peptide bonds between amino acids of proteins. ...

• 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. The Enzyme Commission number (EC number) is a numerical classification scheme for enzymes, based on the chemical reactions they catalyze. ... The Enzyme Commission number (EC number) is a numerical classification scheme for enzymes, based on the chemical reactions they catalyze. ... Glutathione Peroxidase 1 A peroxidase (eg. ... Acid phosphatase is a phosphatase, a type of enzyme, used to free attached phosphate groups from other molecules during digestion. ... Antiretroviral drugs are medications for the treatment of infection by the retrovirus HIV. Different antiretroviral drugs act at various stages of the HIV life cycle. ... General Name, Symbol, Number calcium, Ca, 20 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 4, s Appearance silvery white Standard atomic weight 40. ...

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. Chittenden assisted by Joslin and Meara (Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts Sci. 8, 281-308) in 1892 has investigated the matter fully, 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. Binomial name Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. ... Subfamiles Bromelioideae Pitcairnioideae Tillandsioideae Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) is a large family of flowering plants native to the tropical and warm temperate New World. ...

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, where bromelain is currently the 13th most widely used herbal medicine. The term Herbalism refers to folk and traditional medicinal practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. ...

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). Binomial name Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. ...

Uses

Meat tenderizing

Along with papain, Bromelain is one of the most popular substances to use for meat tenderizing. Papain is a protease enzyme (EC 3. ... in philosophy, Substance is that element of an object without which it would not exist. ... In cooking, tenderizing is a process to break down collagens in meat to make it more palatable for consumption. ...

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. Marination, also known as marinading, is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned, often acidic, liquid before cooking. ...

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. A metabolite is the product of metabolism. ... Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. ... Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. ... Phlebitis is an inflammation of a vein, usually in the legs. ... Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may or may not be as a result of infection, from bacterial, fungal, viral, allergic or autoimmune issues. ... “Surgeon” redirects here. ...

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. Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. ... A bruise or contusion or ecchymoses is a kind of injury, usually caused by blunt impact, in which the capillaries are damaged, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Dysmenorrhea (or dysmenorrhoea), cramps or painful menstruation, involves menstrual periods that are accompanied by either sharp, intermittent pain or dull, aching pain, usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen. ... Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. ...

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. A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ... A thrombus is the final product of blood coagulation, through the aggregation of platelets and the activation of the humoral coagulation system. ...

It may even be useful in the treatment of AIDS to stop the spread of HIV.^[3] Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ...

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. For the Beck song, see Nausea (song). ... Vomiting (also throwing up or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. ... Types 5-7 on the Bristol Stool Chart are often associated with diarrhea Diarrhea (in American English) or diarrhoea (in British English) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent watery, loose bowel movements (from the Greek word διάρροια; literally meaning through-flowing). Acute infectious diarrhea is a common cause... Menorrhagia is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular intervals. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

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. Heart rate is a term used to describe the frequency of the cardiac cycle. ... A sphygmomanometer, a device used for measuring blood pressure. ...

Production

It is produced in Thailand.

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

Further processing includes concentration of the pressed juice to get 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 powders.

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. Papain is a protease enzyme (EC 3. ... Binomial name Carica papaya L. The papaya (from Carib via Spanish), is the fruit of the tree Carica papaya, in the genus Carica. ... Actinidin is a protein digesting enzyme present in kiwifruit. ... Species About 94; see text. ... Ficain (or ficin) is an enzyme which is derived from figs. ... Species About 800, including: Ficus altissima Ficus americana Ficus aurea Ficus benghalensis- Indian Banyan Ficus benjamina- Weeping Fig Ficus broadwayi Ficus carica- Common Fig Ficus citrifolia Ficus coronata Ficus drupacea Ficus elastica Ficus godeffroyi Ficus grenadensis Ficus hartii Ficus lyrata Ficus macbrideii Ficus macrophylla- Moreton Bay Fig Ficus microcarpa- Chinese...

References

• 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