Stem bromelain (SBM) (
EC 3.4.22.32), a
proteolytic enzyme
A protease (also called a peptidase, proteinase, or proteolytic enzyme) is an enzyme that catalyzes (increases reaction rate or "speeds up") proteolysis, breaking down proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids, and spurring the for ...
, is a widely accepted
phytotherapeutical drug member of the
bromelain
Bromelain is an enzyme extract derived from the stems of pineapples, although it exists in all parts of the fresh pineapple. The extract has a history of folk medicine use. As an ingredient, it is used in cosmetics, as a topical medication, and as ...
family of proteolytic enzymes obtained from
''Ananas comosus''.
Some of the therapeutic uses of SBM are reversible inhibition of
platelet aggregation,
angina pectoris,
bronchitis,
sinusitis, surgical traumas,
thrombophlebitis
Thrombophlebitis is a phlebitis (inflammation of a vein) related to a thrombus (blood clot). When it occurs repeatedly in different locations, it is known as thrombophlebitis migrans (migratory thrombophlebitis).
Signs and symptoms
The following s ...
,
pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis is inflammation of the kidney, typically due to a bacterial infection. Symptoms most often include fever and flank tenderness. Other symptoms may include nausea, burning with urination, and frequent urination. Complications may ...
and enhanced
absorption of drugs, particularly of
antibiotic
An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of ...
s. Its anti-
metastasis
Metastasis is a pathogenic agent's spread from an initial or primary site to a different or secondary site within the host's body; the term is typically used when referring to metastasis by a cancerous tumor. The newly pathological sites, then, ...
and
anti-inflammatory activities are apparently independent of its proteolytic activity. Although poorly understood, the diverse
pleiotrophic effects of SBM seem to depend on its ability to traverse the membrane barrier, a very unusual property of this protein.
References
External links
*
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EC 3.4.22