In colonial America, a pineapple in a fruit bowl on the table was indicative of warmth and welcome, as it was considered a rare and exotic fruit. Today, pineapples are commonly found in the produce section at the local grocer, but it is the major medicinal compound within the pineapple that is shown to be of great worth. Bromelain, an extract from the stem and juice of the pineapple fruit, has been found to have numerous health benefits. You would have to eat a significant amount of pineapple to reap these benefits, so bromelain is also available as a dietary supplement as a capsule or tablet.
Anti-inflammatory Benefits
Bromelain's best known benefit is its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is a natural protective response of the body, defending it against viruses, bacteria and injury. When the body is in a chronic state of inflammation, it can lead to several diseases, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and even Alzheimer's, according to a report from the February 23, 2004 issue of "Time" magazine. One of the primary inflammatory reactions of the body is to excrete chemicals called pro-inflammatory cytokines. In a study conducted at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, bromelain was found to decrease the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby reducing the degree of inflammation. The study, published in the March 2008 issue of "Clinical Immunology," primarily tested bromelain against IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and concluded that it would be adequate treatment for IBD. The conditions previously listed would also benefit from a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Wound Healing Benefits
You can experience the anti-inflammatory benefits of bromelain by applying it topically or taking it internally. When you apply it to burns and wounds, bromelain is effective at removing dead skin tissue, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. While its chemical action helps with the debridement of skin tissue, its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling and inflammation at the wound site. You can also use it to bring down the swelling caused by insect bites and stings. While topical application of bromelain works to accelerate wound healing, internal consumption also has outer benefits. When Thorne Research, Inc., in Idaho listed the top nutritional compounds for wound healing, bromelain made the cut. The list, published in the November 2003 issue of "Alternative Medicine Review," states that bromelain can reduce pain, swelling and bruising associated with surgical procedures, and even shorten the healing time of surgical wounds.
Anti-cancer Benefits
While there are few research studies on bromelain's effects on cancer, the studies that are available show evidence of bromelain's ability to protect the body from cancer and to reduce the size of cancerous tumors. Bromelain's anti-inflammatory properties are believed to play a role in cancer protection, as inflammation is directly associated with the development of cancer, according to the October 2007 issue of "Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine." Bromelain has also been found effective at reducing the size and volume of cancerous tumors. The September 18, 2009 issue of "Cancer Letters" reports that researchers at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research tested the chemoprevention effect of bromelain on mice with stage 2 skin tumors. They found that mice that were pretreated with bromelain had fewer tumors, and the tumors were 65 percent smaller than those in the mice that were not pretreated.
References
- Health and Energy: TIME Magazine: Inflammation is a Secret Killer
- PubMed: Abstract: Clinical Immunology: Bromelain Treatment Decreases Secretion of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines
- Northwestern University: Definition: Pro-inflammatory Cytokines
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bromelain
- PubMed: Abstract: Alternative Medicine Review: Nutritional Support for Wound Healing
