| BROMELAIN BENEFITS |
Introduction
Bromelain is a crude extract from the pineapple that contains various proteinases;
demonstrating antiedematous, antiinflammatory, antithrombotic and fibrinolytic activities in
some studies. [1,2] Bromelain appeared as a safe supplements with a limited side effect
reports, it has became one of the most popular supplement for various health supports.
What are the potential benefits of bromelain?
Without scientific evidence, bromelain is believed to increase libido and reverse impotence
in men. [8]
Bromelain is also described as an enzyme that relieves sinus problems like congestion and
irritation in as much as 85% of those that suffer from allergies. It has been suggested to be a
natural anti-inflammatory that reduces nasal swelling. [9] Stewart-C, bestsyndication.com,
suggests bromelain for hemorrhoids. [10] A wide range of therapeutic benefits has also been
claimed for bromelain, including reversible inhibition of platelet aggregation, benefits on
angina pectoris, surgical traumas, thrombophlebitis and pyelonephritis.[11]
Bromelain may benefit people at risk of infection, help to reduce inflammation.
Bromelain has cysteine protease activity, it exerts anti-inflammatory effects in a number of
inflammatory models. Scientists from Duke University found that bromelain can effectively
decrease neutrophil migration to sites of acute inflammation and support the specific
removal of the CD128 chemokine receptor as a potential mechanism of action. [13]
Researchers from University of Connecticut Health Center, have previously shown that Br
treatment decreased activated CD4(+) T cells and has a therapeutic role in an
ovalbumin-induced murine model of allergic airway disease.[12]
Protease supplementation has been purported to reduce the damaging effects of eccentric
exercise and accelerate recovery of muscle function, possibly by regulating inflammation.
Studies also showed its enhancement on the absorption of antibiotics. [1,2]
Bromelain may benefit people at risk of certain cardiac diseases.
It has been known that bromelain processes of antithrombotic and anticoagulant activities in
vivo study. To demonstrate these activities, researchers pre-incubate platelets with
bromelain (10 micrograms/mL). They found that Bromelain could completely prevent the
thrombin (0.2 U/mL) to induce platelet aggregation. In the study, bromelain was even more
effective than papain in preventing platelet aggregation. Another study showed that
bromelain at concentration of 0.1 microgram/mL was sufficient to reduce the adhesion of
bound, thrombin stimulated, platelets to bovine aorta endothelial cells. Finally, pre-incubation
of platelets with bromelain, prior to thrombin activation, reduced the platelet adhesion to the
endothelial cells to the low binding value of unstimulated platelets. [3]
Bromelain has been shown to improve ischemia-reperfusion injury in a skeletal muscle
model. In a study of Sprague-Dawley rats, bromelain treatment triggered an Akt-dependent
survival pathway in the heart, revealing a novel mechanism of cardioprotective action and a
potential therapeutic target against ischemia-reperfusion injury. [14]
Bromelain may have benefits of promoting digestive health.
Bromelain has been sold as a nutritional supplement to "promote digestive health". A
research group found that oral administration of bromelain improved decrease in defecation
in abdominal postoperative rats. [6] In a study, researchers found that daily treatment with
oral bromelain beginning at age 5 weeks decreased the incidence and severity of
spontaneous colitis in C57BL/6 IL-10-/- mice. Bromelain also significantly decreased the
clinical and histologic severity of colonic inflammation when administered to
piroxicam-exposed IL-10-/- mice with established colitis. [7]
Bromelain may benefit people at risk of certain cancers
Recent studies have shown that bromelain may have benefits on chemotherapy; i.e. therapy
for cancers. Bromelain acts as an immunomodulator by raising the impaired
immunocytotoxicity of monocytes against tumor cells from patients and by inducing the
production of distinct cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (Il)-1beta, Il-6, and
Il-8. [1] Studies of animals have also shown its antimetastatic efficacy and its capability to
inhibit metastasis-associated platelet aggregation as well as the growth and invasiveness of
tumor cells. [1] In a study, researchers incubated sarcoma L-1 cells with or without (as a
control) bromelain and then they subcutaneously or intravenously inoculated this mixture into
BALB/c-mice to induce local tumor growth or lung colonization. Researchers found that the
tumor growth and experimental lung metastasis were much less significantly in the presence
of bromelain. [4]
PINAPPLE SIDE EFFECTS
In general, pinapple is safe. However, there is a case of allergy after eating pinapple. 32
patients became ill shortly after they had eaten pineapples. They developed intense itching,
urticarial rashes, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. They were treated with intravenous
fluids, antihistamine, steroid or even adrenaline. All of them recovered. [5]
REFERENCES
[1] Maurer HR Bromelain: biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2001 Aug;58(9):1234-45. [2] Taussig SJ et
al, Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. An update. J Ethnopharmacol. 1988
Feb-Mar;22(2):191-203. [3] Metzig C et al, Bromelain proteases reduce human platelet aggregation in vitro, adhesion to bovine
endothelial cells and thrombus formation in rat vessels in vivo. In Vivo. 1999 Jan-Feb;13(1):7-12. [4] Beuth J et al, Modulation of
murine tumor growth and colonization by bromelaine, an extract of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosum L.). In Vivo. 2005
Mar-Apr;19(2):483-5. [5] Kabir I et al Systemic allergic reaction and diarrhoea after pineapple ingestion. Trop Geogr Med.
1993;45(2):77-9. [6] Wen S et al, Bromelain improves decrease in defecation in postoperative rats: Modulation of colonic gene
expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Life Sci. 2005 Aug 29 [7] Hale LP et al, Treatment with oral bromelain decreases colonic
inflammation in the IL-10-deficient murine model of inflammatory bowel disease. Clin Immunol. 2005 Aug;116(2):135-42. [8] Derrick
Nelson, 11 Foods to Increase Libido AskMen.com September 23, 2009 [9] Foods and plants that may help alleviate allergy problems
morningjournal.com October 15, 2009 [10] Cure Piles at Home - 9 Natural Treatment of Hemorrhoids www.bestsyndication.com
September 30, 2009 [11] Buford TW, Cooke MB, Redd LL, Hudson GM, Shelmadine BD, Willoughby DS. Protease Supplementation
Improves Muscle Function after Eccentric Exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Sep 2. [12] Secor ER Jr, Singh A, Guernsey LA,
McNamara JT, Zhan L, Maulik N, Thrall RS.Bromelain treatment reduces CD25 expression on activated CD4+ T cells in vitro. Int
Immunopharmacol. 2009 Mar;9(3):340-6. Epub 2009 Jan 20. [13] Fitzhugh DJ, Shan S, Dewhirst MW, Hale LP. Bromelain treatment
decreases neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation.Clin Immunol. 2008 Jul;128(1):66-74. Epub 2008 May 14. [14] Juhasz B,
Thirunavukkarasu M, Pant R, Zhan L, Penumathsa SV, Secor ER Jr, Srivastava S, Raychaudhuri U, Menon VP, Otani H, Thrall RS,
Maulik N. Bromelain induces cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury through Akt/FOXO pathway in rat myocardium. Am J
Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008 Mar;294(3):H1365-70. Epub 2008 Jan 11.
Bromelain is a crude extract from the pineapple that contains various proteinases;
demonstrating antiedematous, antiinflammatory, antithrombotic and fibrinolytic activities in
some studies. [1,2] Bromelain appeared as a safe supplements with a limited side effect
reports, it has became one of the most popular supplement for various health supports.
What are the potential benefits of bromelain?
Without scientific evidence, bromelain is believed to increase libido and reverse impotence
in men. [8]
Bromelain is also described as an enzyme that relieves sinus problems like congestion and
irritation in as much as 85% of those that suffer from allergies. It has been suggested to be a
natural anti-inflammatory that reduces nasal swelling. [9] Stewart-C, bestsyndication.com,
suggests bromelain for hemorrhoids. [10] A wide range of therapeutic benefits has also been
claimed for bromelain, including reversible inhibition of platelet aggregation, benefits on
angina pectoris, surgical traumas, thrombophlebitis and pyelonephritis.[11]
Bromelain may benefit people at risk of infection, help to reduce inflammation.
Bromelain has cysteine protease activity, it exerts anti-inflammatory effects in a number of
inflammatory models. Scientists from Duke University found that bromelain can effectively
decrease neutrophil migration to sites of acute inflammation and support the specific
removal of the CD128 chemokine receptor as a potential mechanism of action. [13]
Researchers from University of Connecticut Health Center, have previously shown that Br
treatment decreased activated CD4(+) T cells and has a therapeutic role in an
ovalbumin-induced murine model of allergic airway disease.[12]
Protease supplementation has been purported to reduce the damaging effects of eccentric
exercise and accelerate recovery of muscle function, possibly by regulating inflammation.
Studies also showed its enhancement on the absorption of antibiotics. [1,2]
Bromelain may benefit people at risk of certain cardiac diseases.
It has been known that bromelain processes of antithrombotic and anticoagulant activities in
vivo study. To demonstrate these activities, researchers pre-incubate platelets with
bromelain (10 micrograms/mL). They found that Bromelain could completely prevent the
thrombin (0.2 U/mL) to induce platelet aggregation. In the study, bromelain was even more
effective than papain in preventing platelet aggregation. Another study showed that
bromelain at concentration of 0.1 microgram/mL was sufficient to reduce the adhesion of
bound, thrombin stimulated, platelets to bovine aorta endothelial cells. Finally, pre-incubation
of platelets with bromelain, prior to thrombin activation, reduced the platelet adhesion to the
endothelial cells to the low binding value of unstimulated platelets. [3]
Bromelain has been shown to improve ischemia-reperfusion injury in a skeletal muscle
model. In a study of Sprague-Dawley rats, bromelain treatment triggered an Akt-dependent
survival pathway in the heart, revealing a novel mechanism of cardioprotective action and a
potential therapeutic target against ischemia-reperfusion injury. [14]
Bromelain may have benefits of promoting digestive health.
Bromelain has been sold as a nutritional supplement to "promote digestive health". A
research group found that oral administration of bromelain improved decrease in defecation
in abdominal postoperative rats. [6] In a study, researchers found that daily treatment with
oral bromelain beginning at age 5 weeks decreased the incidence and severity of
spontaneous colitis in C57BL/6 IL-10-/- mice. Bromelain also significantly decreased the
clinical and histologic severity of colonic inflammation when administered to
piroxicam-exposed IL-10-/- mice with established colitis. [7]
Bromelain may benefit people at risk of certain cancers
Recent studies have shown that bromelain may have benefits on chemotherapy; i.e. therapy
for cancers. Bromelain acts as an immunomodulator by raising the impaired
immunocytotoxicity of monocytes against tumor cells from patients and by inducing the
production of distinct cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (Il)-1beta, Il-6, and
Il-8. [1] Studies of animals have also shown its antimetastatic efficacy and its capability to
inhibit metastasis-associated platelet aggregation as well as the growth and invasiveness of
tumor cells. [1] In a study, researchers incubated sarcoma L-1 cells with or without (as a
control) bromelain and then they subcutaneously or intravenously inoculated this mixture into
BALB/c-mice to induce local tumor growth or lung colonization. Researchers found that the
tumor growth and experimental lung metastasis were much less significantly in the presence
of bromelain. [4]
PINAPPLE SIDE EFFECTS
In general, pinapple is safe. However, there is a case of allergy after eating pinapple. 32
patients became ill shortly after they had eaten pineapples. They developed intense itching,
urticarial rashes, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. They were treated with intravenous
fluids, antihistamine, steroid or even adrenaline. All of them recovered. [5]
REFERENCES
[1] Maurer HR Bromelain: biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2001 Aug;58(9):1234-45. [2] Taussig SJ et
al, Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. An update. J Ethnopharmacol. 1988
Feb-Mar;22(2):191-203. [3] Metzig C et al, Bromelain proteases reduce human platelet aggregation in vitro, adhesion to bovine
endothelial cells and thrombus formation in rat vessels in vivo. In Vivo. 1999 Jan-Feb;13(1):7-12. [4] Beuth J et al, Modulation of
murine tumor growth and colonization by bromelaine, an extract of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosum L.). In Vivo. 2005
Mar-Apr;19(2):483-5. [5] Kabir I et al Systemic allergic reaction and diarrhoea after pineapple ingestion. Trop Geogr Med.
1993;45(2):77-9. [6] Wen S et al, Bromelain improves decrease in defecation in postoperative rats: Modulation of colonic gene
expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Life Sci. 2005 Aug 29 [7] Hale LP et al, Treatment with oral bromelain decreases colonic
inflammation in the IL-10-deficient murine model of inflammatory bowel disease. Clin Immunol. 2005 Aug;116(2):135-42. [8] Derrick
Nelson, 11 Foods to Increase Libido AskMen.com September 23, 2009 [9] Foods and plants that may help alleviate allergy problems
morningjournal.com October 15, 2009 [10] Cure Piles at Home - 9 Natural Treatment of Hemorrhoids www.bestsyndication.com
September 30, 2009 [11] Buford TW, Cooke MB, Redd LL, Hudson GM, Shelmadine BD, Willoughby DS. Protease Supplementation
Improves Muscle Function after Eccentric Exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Sep 2. [12] Secor ER Jr, Singh A, Guernsey LA,
McNamara JT, Zhan L, Maulik N, Thrall RS.Bromelain treatment reduces CD25 expression on activated CD4+ T cells in vitro. Int
Immunopharmacol. 2009 Mar;9(3):340-6. Epub 2009 Jan 20. [13] Fitzhugh DJ, Shan S, Dewhirst MW, Hale LP. Bromelain treatment
decreases neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation.Clin Immunol. 2008 Jul;128(1):66-74. Epub 2008 May 14. [14] Juhasz B,
Thirunavukkarasu M, Pant R, Zhan L, Penumathsa SV, Secor ER Jr, Srivastava S, Raychaudhuri U, Menon VP, Otani H, Thrall RS,
Maulik N. Bromelain induces cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury through Akt/FOXO pathway in rat myocardium. Am J
Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008 Mar;294(3):H1365-70. Epub 2008 Jan 11.
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THIS WEBSITE TALKS ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS AND THE POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF HERBS, SUPPLEMENTS,
PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES
AND DISEASES. ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU
SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2011. DO NOT COPY NOR
TRANSFER ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX
PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES
AND DISEASES. ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU
SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2011. DO NOT COPY NOR
TRANSFER ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX
 | |  |