Bromelain

Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes found in pineapples (Ananas comosus) that digest protein (proteolytic). Pineapple has been used for centuries in Central and South America to treat indigestion and reduce inflammation. It works by selectively inhibiting the biosynthesis of proinflammatory prostaglandins 1 and also has analgesic properties, as well as anticancerous and pro-apoptotic effects. Despite the presence of additional proteolytic enzymes in the pineapple plant, such as comosain and ananain [8], bromelain is the most studied [9]. It belongs to the Bromeliaceae family [10]. This proteolytic enzyme (protease) catalyzes the breakdown of proteins into amino acids [10-13].