Bromelein - Origin

The pineapple (Ananas comosus) comes from the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae). The pineapple originates from South America and is now grown in tropical areas around the world (it requires temperatures of at least 20°C).

Bromelain is an extract from pineapples, which is mainly obtained from the stems, as it has a higher enzymatic activity there than the bromelain contained in the fruit. The fresh stems are chopped, skinned and pressed. The bromelain is then extracted from the resulting juice. It is important to note that bromelain is contained in fresh pineapples, but not in canned pineapples, because enzymes are destroyed by heating above 50° C.

Bromelain is an enzyme mixture whose most important component is a proteolytic thiol fraction. Other components are a peroxidase, acid phosphatase, several protease inhibitors and calcium.

Both papin and bromelain are enzymes. Enzymes consist of protein chains (amino acids) and are also known as biocatalysts because they stimulate many important biochemical reactions within the organism. Bromelain and papain are among the so-called proteases, whose job it is to break down proteins. Due to its ability to break down proteins, bromelain is not only used in natural medicine, but also in the food industry, for example, to tenderize meat or in the beverage industry to prevent clouding caused by proteins.

Use and Mode of Action

The therapeutic use of bromelain is also based on its ability to break down proteins: Most injuries caused by trauma are accompanied by painful swelling, which in turn is due to an increased amount of protein within the injured tissue. When there is an injury, the protein components pass from the blood into the injured tissue and form the swelling there. This is where bromelain intervenes and prevents swelling by breaking down the protein components. Bromelain also has a inflammation and improves blood circulation in the inflamed tissue, so that the accelerated healing becomes.

See also the following statement in the Deutsche Apotheker-Zeitung:
"Bromelain is suitable for treating swelling after operations and injuries, such as sports injuries that are accompanied by swelling. Bromelain supports the breakdown and removal of proteins that cause swelling. Bromelain has a decongestant effect and thus relieves pain because it reduces the pressure in the injured area. It also allows bruises to subside much more quickly." Source: https://www.deutsche-apotheker-zeitung.de/news/artikel/2014/05/06/bromelain-wirkstoff-aus-der-ananas

A study by German scientists from 2012 also suggests a positive effect of bromelain on our immune system In this study, the effects of two doses of bromelain on inflammatory cytokines were tested in a placebo-controlled 3 × crossover randomized single dose clinical trial. Bromelain was shown for the first time to modulate the cellular responses of lymphocytes following oral administration. It is believed that the immunomodulatory effect of bromelain observed in this study is part of its known anti-inflammatory activities Further studies are needed to verify the relevance of these results to a diseased immune system. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22517542/

The pineapple is one of the most alkaline fruits after the papaya and therefore contributes to a regulation of our acid-base balance at.Bromelain works anticoagulantby helping to break down a protein in the blood that can reduce blood circulation (fibrin).

"According to studies, bromelain different effects: It inhibits swelling after injuries or operations (edema) and influences blood clotting by, among other things, prolonging the bleeding time and preventing the blood platelets from clumping together (platelet aggregation). The enzyme mixture also has anti-inflammatory properties and can support digestion due to its protein-splitting abilities (for example in diseases of the pancreas, which normally provides digestive enzymes). Furthermore, the effect of bromelain on various types of cancer and inflammatory changes in the rectum, which are possible precancerous stages, has been investigated, and a positive effect was found. However, the pineapple ingredient cannot be used as a sole therapy for cancer." Source: https://www.netdoktor.de/medikamente/bromelain/

Papain - Origin

The papaya (Carica papaya) belongs to the genus of melon trees. It originally comes from the American tropics, its name comes from the language of the Arawak Indians, who have always used the papaya as a medicinal plant. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Spanish began to relocate the papaya and also plant it in the Antilles and the Philippines.

At the end of the 20th century, he was the first to succeed in extracting the most important enzyme of the papaya tree from its latex: papain. Papin is a peptidase that consists of more than 200 amino acids and can break down peptides. It serves as a defense against microorganisms in the papaya tree.

It should be noted that green, unripe papayas contain about 5000% more papain than ripe papayas.

Like bromelain, papain is used in the food industry to make meat more tender: Papain breaks down the bonds between proteins that hold the connective tissue fibers of the meat together. Papain is also used in the textile industry to prevent wool and silk from matting and shrinking.

Benefits and Effects

Due to the above-described property of breaking down peptide bonds, papain facilitates the conversion of food proteins into amino acids and promotes digestion.

Papain is used mainly for inflammations, sports injuries and insect bites, as it wound healing and regeneration processes activated and reinforced.

Papain could Prevention and Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases because, in combination with other proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain, it stimulates the formation of interleukins (the body's own messenger substances of the cells of the immune system) and tumor necrosis factor (regulates the activity of various immune cells).

Since papain contributes to the dissolution of fibrin and fibrinogen in the blood, it prevents the clumping of blood platelets and thus counteracts the formation of thrombosis and vascular diseases in contrast to.

Papain can promote the oral bioavailability of curcumin and is only 6 to 10% absorbed by the healthy intestinal mucosa of an adult, so it should be taken regularly.

Legal consumer information:

German and European law aims to protect consumers from allegedly misleading claims about effectiveness. The statements made here refer to the original Ayurvedic and TCM texts.This knowledge, which has been passed down for thousands of years, is based on experience that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is not intended to claim that the products described here have an effect in the sense of Western medicine. All products are food supplements; they are not medicines and have no medical effect. If you are ill and require medical care, please contact your doctor or pharmacist.