Bromelein - Origin

The pineapple (Ananas comosus) comes from the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae). The pineapple has its origins in South America and is now cultivated in tropical areas worldwide (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 trunks are crushed, skinned and pressed. The bromelain is then extracted from the resulting juice. It is important to note that fresh pineapple contains bromelain, but not canned pineapple, 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 referred to 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 split proteins. Due to its ability to break down proteins, bromelain is not only used in natural medicine, but also, for example, in the food industry to make meat more tender or in the beverage industry to avoid protein-related cloudiness.

Use and mode of action

The therapeutic purpose of bromelain lies in its ability to break down proteins: most injuries caused by trauma are accompanied by painful swelling, which in turn can be attributed to an increased accumulation of protein within the injured tissue. In the case of injuries, the protein components enter the injured tissue from the blood and form the swelling there. At this point, the bromelain intervenes and prevents the swelling by breaking down the protein components. In addition, bromelain counteracts inflammation and improves blood circulation in the inflamed tissue, so that healing is accelerated.

Also the following statement in the Deutsche Apotheker-Zeitung:
"Bromelain is suitable for the treatment of swelling after operations and injuries, such as sports injuries that are associated with swelling. Bromelain supports the crushing and removal of swelling-causing proteins. Bromelain has a decongestant effect, thereby relieving pain by reducing pressure in the injured area. In addition, it reduces bruising much faster." 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 study. It was shown for the first time that bromelain modulates the cellular reactions of lymphocytes after oral administration. The immunomodulating effects of bromelain observed in this study are believed to be part of its known anti-inflammatory activities. Further research is needed to verify the relevance of these findings to a diseased immune system. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22517542/

The pineapple is one of the most alkaline fruits right after the papaya and thus contributes to a regulation of our acid-base balance.Bromelain has a anticoagulant effect by helping to break down a protein in the blood that can reduce blood circulation (fibrin)

"According to studies, bromelain has various effects: It has an inhibiting effect on swelling after injury or surgery (oedema) and influences blood clotting by, among other things, prolonging the bleeding time and aggregating the blood platelets ( platelet aggregation). In addition, the enzyme mixture has anti-inflammatory properties and can support digestion due to its protein-splitting abilities (e.g. in diseases of the pancreas, which normally provides digestive enzymes). Furthermore, the bromelain effect on various types of cancer and inflammatory changes in the rectum, which represent possible precancerous stages, was examined, with a positive effect being able to be determined. However, the pineapple active ingredient is not suitable as the sole therapy for cancer." Source: https://www.netdoktor.de/medikamente/bromelain/

papain - origin

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

At the end of the 20th century, he succeeded for the first time in extracting the most important enzyme from the papaya tree from its milky sap: papain. Papin are peptidases that are composed of more than 200 amino acids and can split the peptides. It serves the papaya tree as a defense against microorganisms.

It should be noted that green, unripe papayas contain about 5000% more papaya 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 felting and shrinking.

Benefit and mode of action

Due to the above-described property of breaking peptide bonds, papain facilitates the conversion processes from dietary proteins to amino acids and promotes digestion.

Papain is mainly used for inflammation, sports injuries and insect bites, as it activates the wound healing and regeneration processes and strengthens them.

Papain could contribute to the 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 the 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 development of thrombosis and vascular diseases.

Papain can promote oral bioavailability of curcumin and is only 6 to 10% absorbed by healthy adult intestinal mucosa, so intake should be regular.

Legal consumer information:

German and European case law wants to protect the consumer from allegedly misleading claims. The statements made here refer to the original Ayurvedic and TCM texts. This knowledge, which has been handed down for thousands of years, is based on experiences that are passed on from generation to generation.It is not intended to imply that the products described herein have any effect as defined by Western medicine. All products are dietary supplements; they are not medicines and have no medicinal effect. If you are ill and require medical attention, please contact your doctor or pharmacist.

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