Bromelain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| Bromelain characteristics |
| Effective temperature 40-60 °C |
| Optimal temperature 50-60 °C |
| Deactivation temperature approx. above 65 °C |
| Effective pH 4.0-8.0 |
| Optimal pH 4.5-5.5 |
Contents |
[edit] Extract Components
Bromelain extract 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:
The other substances typically include peroxidase, acid phosphatase, protease inhibitors, and calcium.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 most highly concentrated in the stem, which is not nearly as tasty (albeit still edible).
[edit] Uses
[edit] Meat tenderizing
Along with papain, bromelain is one of the most popular substances to use for meat tenderizing.
Today, about 90% of meat tenderizer is used 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. Cooked or canned pineapple does not have a tenderizing effect, as the enzymes are heat labile.
Some prepared meat products, such as meatballs, and commercially available marinades include pineapple and/or pineapple-derived ingredients.
[edit] Medical uses
- See also article: Proteases (medical and related uses)
Bromelain has a number of medical uses. It was first introduced in this area in 1957, and works by blocking some proinflammatory metabolites that accelerate and worsen the inflammatory process. In vitro research has shown that bromelain decreases migration of neutrophils to sites of acute inflammation, and in vivo bromelain has generated a 50-85% reduction in neutrophil migration.[2] 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 treatment of athletic injuries, digestive problems, phlebitis, sinusitis, and aiding healing after surgery. Doses of 200 mg have proven to be an efficacious alternative to NSAIDS.[3]
It has also been proposed for the treatment of arthritis,[4] 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.[5]
Systemic enzyme therapy (consisting of combinations of proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain, trypsin, chemotrypsin and papain) has been investigated in Europe to evaluate the efficacy of proteolytic enzymes in the treatment of breast, colorectal, and plasmacytoma cancer patients.[6] These EBM (Good Epidemiological Practice) level II clinical studies have shown that systemic enzyme treatment significantly reduced many "tumor-induced and therapy-induced" side effects, including nausea, weight loss and fatigue.
Proprietary bromelain mixtures are being used for third degree burn treatment, and more are being approved.
Bromelain supplementation may increase heart rate; care should be used by those with heart disease.[7]
[edit] Production
It is produced in Thailand, Taiwan, and other tropical parts of the world where pineapples are grown.
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 purification and concentration of the enzyme.
[edit] Other plant proteases
Other plant proteases include papain (from the papaya), actinidin (from the kiwi fruit), and ficin (from the fig).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "PDVSA article citing Vicente Marcano (in Spanish)". http://www.pdvsa.com/lexico/pioneros/marcano.htm.
- ^ Fitzhugh DJ, Shan S, Dewhirst MW et al. (2008). Bromelain treatment decreases neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation. Clin Immunol. 128:66-74.
- ^ Heinrich, Michael, A. D. Kinghorn, and J. D. Phillipson (2004). Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy. Churchill Livingstone. pp. 265. ISBN 0-43-07132-2.
- ^ 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. doi:. PMID 15841258.
- ^ Kleef R, Delohery T, Bovbjerg D (1996). "Selective modulation of cell adhesion molecules on lymphocytes by bromelain protease 5". Pathobiology 64 (6): 339–46. doi:. PMID 9159029.
- ^ Beuth J. (2008). Proteolytic enzyme therapy in evidence-based complementary oncology: fact of fiction? Integr Cancer Ther. 7:311-316.
- ^ "Bromelain". MedlinePlus. National Institute of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-bromelain.html. Retrieved on 10-July-2009. "Bromelain may increase heart rate at higher doses and should be used cautiously in people with heart disease"
- 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)
[edit] External links
- MeSH Bromelains
- Technical information, Enzyme Univerisity
- Bromelain, University of Maryland Medical Center
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