Dictionary of Allergies .. Bromelain

Bromelain is a plant-derived enzyme, of the family of the Bromeliaceae, included in the group of proteolytic enzymes, which, because of their catalytic activity, are generally used by the drug and food industries, and in diagnostics. Together with papain, bromelain is used in the industrial preparation of meat and in brewing [1] Bromelain,  is a pharmacologically active compound, present in stems and fruits of pineapple (Ananas cosmosus), endowed with anti-inflammatory, anti-invasive and anti-metastatic properties [6]. it is also used as an anti-inflammatory drug. Bromelain (EC 3.4.22.4) is a thiol protease isolated from pineapple stem that possesses a single asparagine-linked oligosaccharide that is highly immunogenic mainly because it contains a β1 2 xylose (on the β-linked mannose of the core) and α1 3 fucose (on the proximal GlcNAc residue) not found in mammalian glycoproteins [4]. There are adverse reactions to bromelain reported in the literature, characterized mainly by allergic asthma after inhalation of the substance. Bromelain is a powerful sensitizing substance and sensitization usually follows its inhalation, and not its ingestion [2].

The positive prick and/or RAST for celery, papain, carrot, fennel and cypress pollen, grass pollen, and Compositae may confirm cross-reactivity between bromelain and these foods or pollens [2], particularly between bromelain and papain; furthermore, it has been shown that celery-allergic and cypress pollen-allergic patients present IgE directed against carbohydrate epitopes which seem to be shared by bromelain [3] . Therefore, the administration of drugs containing bromelain should be carefully evaluated in patients presenting allergic reactions to foods which may cross-react with such enzymes. Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) from plants is a very common phenomenon as potentially irritant plants and plant products are commonly found in the everyday environment, including the home, garden, workplace, and recreational setting. It is therefore essential to have a basic understanding of the various plant-derived physical and chemical irritants. Many chemical irritants have yet to be elucidated, but known culprits include calcium oxalate, protoanemonin, isothiocyanates, bromelain, diterpene esters, alkaloids, and other chemical irritants such as naphthoquinone and acids [5].

Bhui K, et al (2009) reported the anti tumor-initiating effects of bromelain in 2-stage mouse skin tumorigenesis model. Pre-treatment of bromelain resulted in reduction in cumulative number of tumors (CNT) and average number of tumors per mouse. Preventive effect was also comprehended in terms of reduction in tumor volume up to a tune of approximately 65%. Components of the cell signaling pathways, connecting proteins involved in cell death were targeted. Bromelain treatment resulted in upregulation of p53 and Bax and subsequent activation of caspase 3 and caspase 9 with concomitant decrease in Bcl-2. A marked inhibition in cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression and inactivation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) was recorded, as phosphorylation and consequent degradation of I kappa B alpha was blocked by bromelain. Also, bromelain treatment curtailed extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt activity. The basis of anti tumor-initiating activity of bromelain was revealed by its time dependent reduction in DNA nick formation and increase in percentage prevention. Thus, modulation of inappropriate cell signaling cascades driven by bromelain is a coherent approach in achieving chemoprevention[6].

References

4. Faye L, Gomord V, Fichette-Lainé AC, Chrispeels MJ. Affinity purification of antibodies specific for Asn-linked glycans containing 1 (r) 2 xylose or 1 (r) 3 fucose. Anal Biochem, 1993;209:104-108.

1. Zentner A, et al: Multiple IgE-mediated sensitizations to enzymes after occupational exposure: evaluation by skin prick test, RAST, and immunoblot. Allergy 1997;52:928 934.

2. Gailhofer G,et al: Asthma caused by bromelain: an occupational allergy. Clin Allergy 1988;18:445 450.

3. Batanero E, et al: Cross reactivity between the major allergen from olive pollen and unrelated glycoproteins: evidence of an epitope in the glycan moiety of the allergen. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996;97:1264 1271.

5. Modi GM, Doherty CB, Katta R, Orengo IF. Irritant contact dermatitis from plants. Dermatitis. 2009 Mar-Apr;20(2):63-78.

6. Bhui K, Prasad S, George J, Shukla Y. Bromelain inhibits COX-2 expression by blocking the activation of MAPK regulated NF-kappa B against skin tumor-initiation triggering mitochondrial death pathway. Cancer Lett. 2009 Sep 18;282(2):167-76. Epub 2009 Mar 31