Bromelain is an enzyme extracted from pineapples and sold as an herbal medicine for several health conditions, including inflammation and swelling. Although the preliminary evidence is promising, additional research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of bromelain in treating inflammation. Like any other health supplement, ask your doctor before taking bromelain.
Sinusitis
Bromelain was effective in reducing symptoms of sinusitis in one study of 116 children under the age of 11 in Germany, reports an article published in the March-April issue of the medical journal "In Vivo." In this study, treatment with bromelain resulted in a significantly faster recovery from sinusitis symptoms compared to other standard therapies. In Germany, bromelain is approved as an alternative medicine to reduce inflammation and swelling, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Another possible use of bromelain is in treating inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD. In laboratory studies using colon tissues obtained from people with two types of IBD known as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, treatment with bromelain reduced many of the biochemical markers of inflammation, reports a study published in the March 2008 issue of the journal "Clinical Immunology." If bromelain causes the same effect inside the human body, it may show beneficial effects for people with IBD. Additional research is needed to confirm these results in clinical trials.
Other Types of Inflammation
Bromelain may also be effective in treating inflammation occurring after a sports injury or following surgery. In particular, bromelain is often used to treat inflammation resulting from minor sprains, strains and tendonitis, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Certain types of arthritis that involve inflammation may also benefit from treatment with bromelain, especially in combination with other standard anti-inflammatory medication.
Mechanism
The mechanism of action of bromelain appears to involve inhibition of several of the biochemical reactions that cause inflammation. Treatment with bromelain down-regulates the activity of several biochemical messengers known as cytokines in the body. These cytokines are the chemicals that trigger inflammation in skin and other tissues. By inhibiting the activity of these cytokines, bromelain decreases the signals that trigger an inflammatory response, explains the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bromelain
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Bromelain; November 2010
- "Clinical Immunology"; Bromelain Treatment Decreases Secretion of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines by Colon Biopsies in Vitro; J.E. Onken et al.; March 2008
- "In Vivo"; Therapeutic Use, Efficiency and Safety of the Proteolytic Pineapple Enzyme Bromelain-POS in Children with Acute Sinusitis in Germany; J.M. Braun; March-April 2005
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Research Shows Promise of Pineapple Extract for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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