Supports digestion and recovery
Bromelain, found in pineapple stems, is known for its protein-digesting abilities. It’s often used to aid digestion, promote muscle recovery, and support your immune system in managing stress. This enzyme also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine, making it useful for those concerned about histamine reactions and physical discomfort.
About Pineapple Enzyme
What Makes Bromelain Special
Bromelain isn’t just another digestive enzyme. While it excels at breaking down tough proteins after a big meal, its benefits go beyond the gut. The enzyme can help calm temporary inflammation, ease physical tension from daily activity, and manage histamine responses that cause discomfort or sensitivity.
Anti-Histamine and Anti-Inflammatory Actions
Bromelain is known for being a natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory enzyme. It helps regulate histamine release, making it appealing for those dealing with histamine intolerance or reactions to food and environment. Its role in reducing inflammation isn’t limited to joints or muscles; bromelain helps the immune system manage injury or irritation by supporting the body’s mechanisms for controlling inflammation.
Synergy with Luteolin and Rutin
Bromelain works well with plant compounds like luteolin and rutin. Luteolin stabilizes mast cells, which release histamine, while rutin supports capillary strength and a healthy inflammatory balance. Together, they complement each other: bromelain breaks down protein-based irritants, luteolin calms overactive mast cells, and rutin adds antioxidant support. This combination is favored by those seeking a layered defense against flare-ups.
Formulations Using Bromelain
At home, you might use bromelain for better digestion after protein-heavy meals or quicker post-workout recovery. On the professional side, formulators often choose stem-based extracts for their potency and pair them with other compounds like luteolin or rutin for a comprehensive approach. Look for measurable activity levels, usually shown as GDU or MCU, to ensure reliable potency per serving.
Related Products
Formulated With
Learn about other ingredients that Pineapple Enzyme is used alongside throughout the LVLUP range.
Detailed Information
Scientific Composition and Activity
Bromelain consists of thiol endopeptidases extracted mainly from Ananas comosus stems; this protease complex shows optimal activity near neutral pH (7-8). Stem-derived fractions have higher proteolytic potency compared to fruit-sourced material due to a richer enzyme composition (EC 3.4.22.32).
Mechanisms of Action
As an anti-inflammatory, bromelain modulates prostaglandin synthesis, notably through cyclooxygenase inhibition affecting PGE2/PGF2α, and promotes fibrinolysis by hydrolyzing fibrinogen aggregates in plasma. Its antihistaminic effect involves suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) and downregulating adhesion molecules like CD44/ICAM-1 on leukocytes, leading to reduced mast cell degranulation and attenuated local histaminergic response.
Formulation Considerations
Oral delivery of bromelain faces challenges due to gastric proteolysis; enteric-coating matrices are preferred for high bioavailability in gastrointestinally sensitive applications. Proteolytic activity should be standardized using GDU/MCU metrics per serving to ensure clinical relevance; typical extracts yield 1,200–3,000 GDU/g depending on processing.
