Pineapple Plant Extract Found to Reduce Asthma in Mice

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Description

New systematic research results demonstrates that bromelain, derived from

pineapple plant stem, is effective in reducing inflammation associated with

asthma, an inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by reversible (in

most cases) airway obstruction.

 

 

Newswise — The pineapple, first encountered by Christopher Columbus on his

second voyage to the New World, was for centuries so rare that it was

considered the treat of kings. Over time, it came to symbolize hospitality

and wealth.

Bromelain: The Pineapple Stem’s By-Product is an Anti-Inflammatory

Today, fruit is accessible to everyone – explorers, kings and the rest of us

But few know that the pineapple plant also contains an extract -- bromelain

-- that is a natural blood thinner and anti-inflammatory agent, which

translates into beneficial effects for the body.

Precisely the way that bromelain works is unknown, but preliminary studies

have shown effects of breaking down fibrin, a blood-clotting protein that

can impede circulation and prevent tissues from draining properly. Bromelain

also alters the production of compounds that can cause swelling and pain.

When inflammation is reduced, blood can move more easily to a traumatized

area, reducing pain and speeding healing. Bromelain is a powerful

protein-digesting (or proteolytic) enzyme. Consequently, a number of

over-the counter supplements are made from this enzyme.

A New Study

Eric R. Secor, Jr., ND, MS, LAc., MPH Candidate, of the University of

Connecticut, Farmington, CT, is the primary researcher for the study

entitled “The Anti-inflammatory Effects of Bromelain.” Dr. Secor, a

naturopathic physician, and NIH Post Doctoral Fellow, will present his

findings at the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) 19th

Annual Convention & Exposition, being held September 8-11, 2004, at the

Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle, WA.

His study offers a systematic research result which demonstrates that

bromelain is effective in reducing inflammation associated with asthma, an

inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by reversible (in most

cases) airway obstruction. According to the National Institutes of Health

(NIH), some 17 million Americans have the disease.

Methodology

Dr. Secor’s animal study encompassed three distinct phases. The first phase

was to select a high quality bromelain product; phase two consisted of

creating a suitable dose response, and determining the amount of bromelain

necessary to cause a physiological reaction in an experimental model of

acute asthma; the final phase of the experiment was to induce asthma into

the test animals (mice), and then analyze the anti-inflammatory effects of

bromelain in this asthma model.

Three groups of mice were included in the study. All were induced with acute

(seven day) asthma; the control group was treated with saline; the two other

groups were treated with two different doses of bromelain, (2mg/Kg) and

(6mg/Kg). All mice received eight days of treatment to test bromelain’s

effect on reducing inflammation normally found in acute, seven-day asthma.

Results

Blood, lung tissue, and lung lavage samples from all three groups were

examined. The key findings from the research were:

* Compared to the control group: bromelain treatment significantly reduced

the total white blood cell count, which increases with the onset of asthma.

 

* The cell markers for inflammatory asthma, eosinophils, were reduced over

50 percent following treatment with bromelain.

* The effectiveness of the enzyme treatment corresponded with the dose

response; in other words, increased doses of bromelain produced more

effective results.

* No change was noted in the control group.

Conclusions

This study could offer a significant breakthrough in the treatment of a

pulmonary disorder that has reduced the quality of life for millions of

Americans. Further research will indicate whether bromelain supplements

could be a useful treatment regimen for asthma and many other acute and

chronic inflammatory diseases.

About Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is based upon a holistic philosophy, an approach to

medical care that emphasizes the study of all aspects of a person's health,

with an emphasis on finding the underlying cause of the patient’s condition

rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. This delivery of

healthcare encompasses safe and effective traditional therapies with the

most current advances in modern medicine. Naturopathic medicine is

appropriate for the management of a broad range of health conditions

affecting people of all ages.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the American Association of Naturopathic

Physicians (AANP) was founded in 1985 to provide alternative methods for

healing human diseases and disorders than have been traditionally offered in

the United States. Members must have graduated from one of the country’s six

graduate schools of naturopathic medicine and

served a clinical residency.

For more information about naturopathic medicine, go to

http://www.naturopathic.org.