Bromelain is the name of a group of endopeptidases of thiol that are found in pineapple (Ananas comosus). The pineapple produces bromelain differently in the stem and fruit and the enzyme products differ chemically, but still fall under the generic name of bromelain. Evidence from studies suggests that bromelain is more abundant in the stem, compared to the fruit. In addition to bromelain, pineapple also contains a number of other peptidase enzymes including ananain and comosain. The palm tree that produces pineapples also produces bromelain in other tissues in smaller amounts, including the roots and leaves. The optimal pH of fruit bromelain is around 6-7 which is more acidic than found in most tissues in humans. In contrast, stem bromelain has an optimal pH of 7-10, suggesting that it may be more active in most human tissues. Bromelain is high in sulphur, containing seven cysteine residues that produce three disulphide bridges. Evidence suggests that bromelain is absorbed reasonably well in humans and once absorbed can bind to two principal antiproteases in the blood called alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antichymotrypsin. Maximum blood levels of bromelain occur about 1 hour after oral administration. In one study, after 4 hours roughly 20 % of bromelain remained stable as artificial blood, suggesting that the effects of bromelain may be present for some time. However, if high blood levels are required, supplements should be taken twice per day.
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