Bromelain

Nature’s Premier Anti-Inflammatory Herb

>Bromelain is a mixture of sulfur-containing, protein-digesting enzymes from the stem of Anansus cosmosis (pineapple). Since it was introduced as a medicinal agent in 1957, more than 200 scientific papers on bromelain’s medicinal uses have appeared in the medical literature.

Bromelain is one of the most well-studied anti-inflammatory herbs known. Unless an individual is allergic to pineapple (in which case, don’t use bromelain!) the safety profile of this herb is excellent.(2) Of all the anti-inflammatory substances available (including drugs), bromelain is the one I turn to first.

Bromelain has no direct immune or antimicrobial effects. Instead, it acts to increase the effect of other immune cells by dissolving the mucous coat that bacteria use to “shield” themselves from the immune system. Some studies have shown it to be as effective as antibiotics for treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis and dental, skin and kidney infection.

Bromelain’s actions include:

• Antiinflammatory (1,2,7,8,10,11)
• Antiedematous (reduces swelling) (1,2,11)
• Antitumoral (13,20)
• Antimetastatic (1,2,7,13)
• Antithrombotic (1,2,4,5,11)
• Fibrinolytic (1,2,3,4,7,11)
• Immunomodulator (2)
• Enhanced drug absorption (especially antibiotics) (2)
• Decreased platelet aggregation (2,5,6,7)
• Increase activity of the body’s defense system (2)

Based on it’s actions, bromelain may be useful in:

• Thrombosis (1,2,4,5)
• Cardiovascular disease (1-7,11)
• Cancer (1,2,7,11,13,17,18,19,20)
• All types of infection (sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, sepsis) (2,8,23)
• Osteo Arthritis (8,15,16)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (19,21,22)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (8,10,12,15)

Suggested Dose: Begin with 2 capsules, 3 to 4 times per day between meals for acute infection or severe inflammation. Decrease dose  to 1 capsule, 3 to 4 times daily as symptoms improve.

Each (1) capsule contains: 400 mg of 2,400 mcu-strength bromelain.

This is one of the highest potencies of bromelain available. Don’t be fooled! It’s not just the “milligrams per capsule,” but the POTENCY of the enzyme (the “mcu”or GDU) that determines OVERALL potency. Our  Wellness Club brand of bromelain offers the highest potency and purityavailable!

Bromelain – Product # 183 (120 Caps) $32.00

References

 1.) Tysnes BB, Maurer HR, Porwol T, Probst B, Bjerkvig R, Hoover F. Bromelain reversibly inhibits invasive properties of glioma cells. Neoplasia. 2001 Nov-Dec;3(6):469-79.
2.) Maurer HR. Bromelain: biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2001 Aug;58(9):1234-45.
3.) Ako H, Cheung AH, Matsuura PK. Isolation of a fibrinolysis enzyme activator from commercial bromelain. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1981 Nov;254(1):157-67.
4.) Felton GE. Fibrinolytic and antithrombotic action of bromelain may eliminate thrombosis in heart patients. Med Hypotheses. 1980 Nov;6(11):1123-33.
5.) Metzig C, Grabowska E, Eckert K, Rehse K, Maurer HR. Bromelain proteases reduce human platelet aggregation in vitro, adhesion to bovine endothelial cells and thrombus formation in rat vessels in vivo. In Vivo. 1999 Jan-Feb;13(1):7-12.
6.) Gläser D, Hilberg T. The influence of bromelain on platelet count and platelet activity in vitro. Platelets. 2006 Feb;17(1):37-41.
7.) Taussig SJ, Batkin S.Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. An update. J Ethnopharmacol. 1988 Feb-Mar;22(2):191-203.
8.) Hale LP, Greer PK, Trinh CT, James CL. Proteinase activity and stability of natural bromelain preparations. Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 Apr;5(4):783-93.
9.) Braun JM, Schneider B, Beuth HJ.Therapeutic use, efficiency and safety of the proteolytic pineapple enzyme Bromelain-POS in children with acute sinusitis in Germany.In Vivo. 2005 Mar-Apr;19(2):417-21.
10.) Hale LP.Proteolytic activity and immunogenicity of oral bromelain within the gastrointestinal tract of mice. Int Immunopharmacol. 2004 Feb;4(2):255-64.
11.) Lotz-Winter H. On the pharmacology of bromelain: an update with special regard to animal studies on dose-dependent effects. Planta Med. 1990 Jun;56(3):249-53.
12.) Hale LP, Greer PK, Trinh CT, Gottfried MR. Treatment with oral bromelain decreases colonic inflammation in the IL-10-deficient murine model of inflammatory bowel disease. Clin Immunol. 2005 Aug;116(2):135-42.
13.) Báez R, Lopes MT, Salas CE, Hernández M. In vivo antitumoral activity of stem pineapple (Ananas comosus) bromelain.Planta Med. 2007 Oct;73(13):1377-83. Epub 2007 Sep 24.
14.) Onken JE, Greer PK, Calingaert B, Hale LP.Bromelain treatment decreases secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by colon biopsies in vitro. Clin Immunol. 2008 Mar;126(3):345-52. Epub 2007 Dec 21.
15.) Akhtar NM, Naseer R, Farooqi AZ, Aziz W, Nazir M. Oral enzyme combination versus diclofenac in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee–a double-blind prospective randomized study. Clin Rheumatol. 2004 Oct;23(5):410-5. Epub 2004 Jul 24.
16.)  Walker AF, Bundy R, Hicks SM, Middleton RW.Phytomedicine. 2002 Dec;9(8):681-6.Bromelain reduces mild acute knee pain and improves well-being in a dose-dependent fashion in an open study of otherwise healthy adults.
17.) Beuth J. Proteolytic enzyme therapy in evidence-based complementary oncology: fact or fiction? Integr Cancer Ther. 2008 Dec;7(4):311-6.
18.) Stopper H, Schinzel R, Sebekova K, Heidland A. Genotoxicity of advanced glycation end products in mammalian cells. Cancer Lett. 2003 Feb 20;190(2):151-6.
19.) Desser L, Holomanova D, Zavadova E, Pavelka K, Mohr T, Herbacek I. Oral therapy with proteolytic enzymes decreases excessive TGF-beta levels in human blood. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001 Jul;47 Suppl:S10-5.
20.) Eckert K, Grabowska E, Stange R, Schneider U, Eschmann K, Maurer HR. Effects of oral bromelain administration on the impaired immunocytotoxicity of mononuclear cells from mammary tumor patients. Oncol Rep. 1999 Nov-Dec;6(6):1191-9.
21.) Rovenská E, Svík K, Stancíková M, Rovenský J. Inhibitory effect of enzyme therapy and combination therapy with cyclosporin A on collagen-induced arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2001 May-Jun;19(3):303-9.
22.) Leipner J, Iten F, Saller R. Therapy with proteolytic enzymes in rheumatic disorders. BioDrugs. 2001;15(12):779-89.
23.) Shahid SK, Turakhia NH, Kundra M, Shanbag P, Daftary GV, Schiess W. Efficacy and safety of phlogenzym–a protease formulation, in sepsis in children. J Assoc Physicians India. 2002 Apr;50:527-31.