Bromelain, a Group of Pineapple Proteolytic Complex Enzymes (Ananas comosus) and Their Possible Therapeutic and Clinical Effects. A Summary

• Published in: Foods 2021-09, Vol.10 (10), p.2249
• Main Authors: Varilla, Carolina, Marcone, Massimo, Paiva, Lisete, Baptista, Jose
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ananas comosus; anti-inflammatory effect; Antibiotics; Anticoagulants; Apoptosis; Bioavailability; bromelain; Cell death; Enzymes; Fibrin; Food science; Fruit bromelain; Fruits; In vivo methods and tests; Inflammation; Molecular weight; Oral administration; Peptidase; Peptidases; Pharmacokinetics; phytotherapeutic applications; pineapple plant; Pineapples; Platelet aggregation; proteinases; Proteins; Proteolysis; Review; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Side effects; Stem bromelain; Stems; Thrombosis
• ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods10102249

Bromelain is a complex combination of multiple endopeptidases of thiol and other compounds derived from the pineapple fruit, stem and/or root. Fruit bromelain and stem bromelain are produced completely distinctly and comprise unique compounds of enzymes, and the descriptor “Bromelain” originally referred in actuality to stem bromelain. Due to the efficacy of oral administration in the body, as a safe phytotherapeutic medication, bromelain was commonly suited for patients due to lack of compromise in its peptidase efficacy and the absence of undesired side effects. Various in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that they are anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-thrombotic, fibrinolytic, and facilitate the death of apoptotic cells. The pharmacological properties of bromelain are, in part, related to its arachidonate cascade modulation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, such as interference with malignant cell growth; anti-inflammatory action; fibrinolytic activity; skin debridement properties, and reduction of the severe effects of SARS-Cov-2. In this paper, we concentrated primarily on the potential of bromelain’s important characteristics and meditative and therapeutic effects, along with the possible mechanism of action.