Biomaterial Database

Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. An update. 1988

S J Taussig, and S Batkin

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Tropical Agriculture, University of Hawaii, Honolulu.

After a short description of the uses of pineapple as folk medicine by the natives of the tropics, the more important new pharmaceutical applications of bromelain, reported between 1975 and 1978, are presented. Although the exact chemical structure of all active components of bromelain is not fully determined, this substance has shown distinct pharmacological promise. Its properties include: (1) interference with growth of malignant cells; (2) inhibition of platelet aggregation; (3) fibrinolytic activity; (4) anti-inflammatory action; (5) skin debridement properties. These biological functions of bromelain, a non-toxic compound, have therapeutic values in modulating: (a) tumor growth; (b) blood coagulation; (c) inflammatory changes; (d) debridement of third degree burns; (e) enhancement of absorption of drugs. The mechanism of action of bromelain affecting these varied biological effects relates in part to its modulation of the arachidonate cascade.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009369	Neoplasms	New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms.	Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D010946	Plants, Medicinal	Plants whose roots, leaves, seeds, bark, or other constituent parts possess therapeutic, tonic, purgative, curative or other pharmacologic attributes, when administered to man or animals.	Herbs, Medicinal,Medicinal Herbs,Healing Plants,Medicinal Plants,Pharmaceutical Plants,Healing Plant,Herb, Medicinal,Medicinal Herb,Medicinal Plant,Pharmaceutical Plant,Plant, Healing,Plant, Medicinal,Plant, Pharmaceutical,Plants, Healing,Plants, Pharmaceutical
D010975	Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors	Drugs or agents which antagonize or impair any mechanism leading to blood platelet aggregation, whether during the phases of activation and shape change or following the dense-granule release reaction and stimulation of the prostaglandin-thromboxane system.	Antiaggregants, Platelet,Antiplatelet Agent,Antiplatelet Agents,Antiplatelet Drug,Blood Platelet Aggregation Inhibitor,Blood Platelet Antagonist,Blood Platelet Antiaggregant,PAR-1 Antagonists,Platelet Aggregation Inhibitor,Platelet Antagonist,Platelet Antagonists,Platelet Antiaggregant,Platelet Antiaggregants,Platelet Inhibitor,Protease-Activated Receptor-1 Antagonists,Antiplatelet Drugs,Blood Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors,Blood Platelet Antagonists,Blood Platelet Antiaggregants,Platelet Inhibitors,Agent, Antiplatelet,Aggregation Inhibitor, Platelet,Antagonist, Blood Platelet,Antagonist, Platelet,Antiaggregant, Blood Platelet,Antiaggregant, Platelet,Drug, Antiplatelet,Inhibitor, Platelet,Inhibitor, Platelet Aggregation,PAR 1 Antagonists,Platelet Antagonist, Blood,Platelet Antiaggregant, Blood,Protease Activated Receptor 1 Antagonists
D001775	Blood Circulation	The movement of the BLOOD as it is pumped through the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.	Blood Flow,Circulation, Blood,Blood Flows,Flow, Blood
D001963	Bromelains	Protein-digesting and milk-clotting enzymes found in PINEAPPLE fruit juice and stem tissue. Enzymes from the two sources are distinguished as fruit bromelain and stem bromelain. This enzyme was formerly listed as EC 3.4.22.4.	Bromelins,Ananase,Bromelain,Bromelain-POS,Bromelin,Dayto Anase,Debrase,Dontisanin,Extranase,Mucozym,Proteozym,Traumanase,Bromelain POS,BromelainPOS
D002056	Burns	Injuries to tissues caused by contact with heat, steam, chemicals (BURNS, CHEMICAL), electricity (BURNS, ELECTRIC), or the like.	Burn
D002489	Central America	A region of southern NORTH AMERICA extending from the southern border of MEXICO to the northern border of COLOMBIA. It separates the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean and is linked to SOUTH AMERICA by the Isthmus of Panama.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000893	Anti-Inflammatory Agents	Substances that reduce or suppress INFLAMMATION.	Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Antiinflammatory Agent,Agents, Anti-Inflammatory,Agents, Antiinflammatory,Anti-Inflammatories,Antiinflammatories,Antiinflammatory Agents,Agent, Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Antiinflammatory,Agents, Anti Inflammatory,Anti Inflammatories,Anti Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents
D013020	South America	The southern continent of the Western Hemisphere, extending southward from the Colombia-Panama border.