Bromelain

Ananas comusus

Pineapple has been used as a medicinal plant in several native cultures and bromelain has been known chemically since 1876. In 1957, bromelain was introduced as a therapeutic compound when Heinicke found it in high concentrations in pineapple stems. Bromelain is one of a group of sulphur-containing proteolytic enzymes (enzymes capable of digesting protein). Bromelain is known for its anti-inflammatory effects and its efficacy in alleviating upper respiratory tract infections.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY - Bromelain is helpful in healing injuries, particularly sprains and strains, bruising, muscle injuries, and the pain, swelling, and tenderness that accompany sports injuries. Bromelain has also been found to dramatically reduce postoperative swelling in controlled human research. Much of bromelain's anti-swelling effect is due to activating compounds that break down fibrin. Fibrin forms a matrix that walls off the area of inflammation, resulting in blockage of blood vessels, inadequate tissue drainage, and edema.
SINUSITIS / BRONCHITIS - The anti-inflammatory effect of bromelain is the probable reason this enzyme has been found effective for people suffering from sinusitis. Research has shown that good to excellent results were obtained in 87 per cent of bromelain-treated patients. In patients with bronchitis, bromelain has been shown to have an ANTI-TUSSIVE effect (suppress cough) and to reduce the viscosity of sputum (mucolytic). Improvements have been noted in lung capacity and function due to bromelain's ability to fluidify and decrease bronchial secretions.
DIGESTIVE AID - Bromelain has been used successfully as a digestive enzyme following pancreatectomy, in cases of pancreas insufficiency, and in other intestinal disorders. Because of its wide pH range, bromelain has activity in the stomach as well as the small intestine. It has also been shown to be an adequate replacement for pepsin and trypsin in cases of deficiency. Bromelain has also been reported to heal gastric ulcers. In an extensive study of the effect of bromelain on the gastric mucosa, it was found that bromelain increased the uptake of radioactive sulphur by 50% and glucosamine by 30-90%. Increased uptake of these substances may allow the gastric mucosa to heal more rapidly under the influence of bromelain.
ANTIBIOTIC - Bromelain appears to exert potent antibiotic effects as well as potentiating the actions of conventional antibiotic medication.
CELLULAR PROTECTION - The first documented use of oral bromelain on cancer patients was in 1972. Twelve patients with ovarian and breast tumours were given 600 mg of bromelain daily for from 6 months to several years, with reported resolution of some of the cancerous masses and a decrease in metastasis. Bromelain in doses of over 1000 mg daily has been combined with chemotherapeutic agents such as vincristine, and has been reported to result in tumour regression.
CARDIOVASCULAR SUPPORT - Bromelain is a natural blood thinner because it prevents excessive blood platelet stickiness. This may explain, in part, the positive reports in a few clinical trials of bromelain to decrease symptoms of angina and thrombophlebitis. Bromelain has been shown to dissolve arteriosclerotic plaque. It is likely that bromelain also increases vessel wall permeability to oxygen and nutrients while increasing blood fluidity, both of which aid in these conditions.

Dosage

500mg one to three times daily. When taken shortly before meals, bromelain can be beneficial as a digestive aid. For other benefits it may be best taken away from food.

A variety of designations have been used to indicate the activity of bromelain; with published research varying in the designation utilized. Rorer units (R.U.), gelatin dissolving units (G.D.U.), and milk clotting units (M.C.U.) are the most commonly used measures of activity. One gram of bromelain standardized to 2000 M.C.U. would be approximately equal to 1 gram with 1200 G.D.U. of activity or 8 grams with 100,000 R.U. of activity.

Bromelain is considered to be non-toxic and lacking in side effects, so it can be used without concern in doses from 200 to 2000 mg daily for prolonged periods of time.

Bromelain has been shown to exert a beneficial effect at doses as low as 160 mg/day, however, there is a general consensus among researchers that the best results occur when bromelain is given in doses above 500 mg per day and that results improve in a dose-dependent manner with higher levels of bromelain supplementation.

In human clinical tests, side effects have not been observed. However, one preliminary report indicates increased heart rate with the use of bromelain.

Potential applications

Inflammatory conditions, gout, bruising, inflammation, sports injuries, trauma, pain relief, digestive support, carpal tunnel syndrome, infection (antibiotic), arthritis, bursitis, sinusitis, tendonitis, bronchitis, asthma, and excessive mucous production. Bromelain may be useful in reducing cancerous tumours. The fibrinolytic effects of bromelain prove beneficial in treating varicose veins and other circulatory disorders involving excess fibrin accumulation.

Known contraindications

As with other food substances, a small segment of the population, particularly those with sensitivity to pineapple, may be sensitive to oral supplementation with bromelain.

Interactions

Because bromelain acts as a blood thinner and little is known about how bromelain interacts with blood-thinning drugs, people should avoid combining such drugs with bromelain in order to reduce the theoretical risk of excessive bleeding.

Use in conjunction with

Sinusitis - Oregon grape root, quercetin complex, ester-C, garlic

REFERENCES

Walker AF, Bundy R, Hicks SM, Middleton RW. Bromelain reduces mild acute knee pain and improves well-being in a dose-dependent fashion in an open study of otherwise healthy adults. Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, The University of Reading, UK. Phytomedicine 2002 Dec;9(8):681-6
Taussig SJ, Batkin S. Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. An update. J Ethnopharmacol 1988;22:191-203.
Felton GE. Fibrinolytic and antithrombotic action of bromelain may eliminate thrombosis in heart patients. Med Hypotheses 1980;6:1123-1133.
Gerard G. Anti-cancer therapy with bromelain. Agress 1972;3:261-274.
Batkin S, Taussig SJ, Szekerezes J. Antimetastatic effect of bromelain with or without its proteolytic and anticoagulant activity. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 1988;114:507.
Neubauer RA. A plant protease for potentiation of and possible replacement of antibiotics. Exp Med Surg 1961;19:143-160Ryan RE. A double-blind clinical evaluation of bromelains in the treatment of acute sinusitis. Headache 1967;7:13-17.
Tassman GC, Zafran JN, Zayon GM. Evaluation of a plant proteolytic enzyme for the control of inflammation and pain. J Dent Med 1964;19:73-77.
Giacca S. Clinical experiments with bromelain in peripheral venous diseases and chronic bronchitic states. Minerva Med 1965;56:Suppl.104.

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