Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

incompletely characterized constituents, in-
cluding glycoproteins, carbohydrates, perox-
idases, phosphatases, cellulases, and others.^1
Like papain, stem bromelain has broad
specificity, hydrolyzing various proteinaceous
substrates (e.g., proteins, amides, esters, and
small peptides).

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES

Bromelain has shown a wide variety of phar-
macological effects in clinical,in vitroand
in vivo studies. These effects include burn
debridement, anti-inflammatory activity, pre-
vention of epinephrine-induced pulmonary
edema, smooth muscle relaxation, stimulation
of muscle contractions, enhanced antibiotic
absorption, immunomodulation, cancer pre-
vention and remission, antitumor activity,
ulcer prevention, sinusitis relief, appetite in-
hibition, shortening of labor, and enhanced
excretion of fat.1,2–10The precise nature of
these effects (some of which are not produced
by other proteases such as ficin, papain, and
trypsin) is not clear.1,4,5
Indouble-blind,placebo-controlledclinical
trials, bromelain has shown superior results
versus placebo in the treatment of sinusitis,^11
inflammation, edema and pain from mediolat-
eral episiotomy,^12 postoperative tumifications
of the feet,^13 arthritis,^14 and amelioration of
ecchymoses and edema in patients with head
andfacetrauma.^15 Oralbioavailabilityhasalso
been demonstrated (randomized, double-
blind, crossover design trial).^1

TOXICOLOGY

Acute oral doses of up to 10 g/kg in mice failed
to produce lethality, and chronic oral admin-
istration of bromelain (500 mg/kg) in rats
produced no adverse effects.^16
From placebo-controlled studies, side ef-
fects of bromelain appear to be few and of low
incidence (e.g., 1.8% incidence of allergic
reactions, occasional gastric complaints,
diarrhea, and nausea).^1

Bromelain may increase plasma levels

of tetracyclines when taken concomitantly

(BLUMENTHAL1).

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Used primarily in preparations to treat

inflammation and edema associated with sur-

gical or accidental trauma, infections, and

allergies.

Bromelain is used in certain cosmetics,

such as facial cleansers and bath preparations.

Food. Due to the high cost of papain, bro-

melain is increasingly used to replace or sup-

plement papain usage. Current major uses of

bromelain are in meat tenderizing, manu-

facturing precooked cereals, modifying dough

(bread, wafers, pizza, etc.), and in chill-proof-

ing beer.

Other uses or potential uses include prepa-

ration of protein hydrolyzates, liquefying fish

protein to facilitate fish oil extraction, clarify-

ing fruit juices, and manufacture of sausage

casings as well as their removal from

sausages.

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Used

in some vitamin and herbal formulations,

mainly as a digestive aid (MARTINDALE).

Others. Used in bating hide and in desizing

fabrics.

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Available in numerous grades with different

activities that are expressed in different

enzyme units, depending on the suppliers.

Bromelain is official in F.C.C.

Regulatory Status. A German therapeutic

monographic allows use for treating acute

post-traumatic and postoperative edemas, no-

tably those of the sinuses (BLUMENTHAL 1).

Affirmed as GRAS (§184.1024).

114 Bromelain