Pineapple

The pineapple (Ananas comosus or Ananas sativus) is a plant species of the family Bromeliaceae. The home of the pineapple is in tropical South America. Today, numerous varieties are spread over the entire tropical region. They are usually grown in large plantations. The plant reaches a height of 50cm up to 2m. The leaves of the pineapple grow up to 1m long and form a leaf rosette with a central funnel. They are firm, curved and often have thorns.
The pineapple fruit is rich in vitamins (especially vitamin C) and minerals as well as enzymes (including bromelain and invertase). Bromelain, a mixture of endopeptidases, is obtained from the stems of harvested plants (also contained in the fruits). It is used for meat preparation in a similar way to papain (from papaya) (meat is made harder by enzymatic pre-treatment with bromelain).
Bromelain is used medicinally in systemic therapy to aid digestion. It is also used for postoperative oedema and as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is also used in local therapy to promote wound healing (data available on this is ultimately unsatisfactory).

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