Title: Bromelain
CAS Registry Number: 9001-00-7
Trademarks: Bromelin; Ananase (Rorer); Extranase (Rorer); Inflamen (Hokuriku); Traumanase (Rorer)
Literature References: Protein-digesting and milk-clotting enzymes found in pineapple fruit juice and stem tissue. Enzymes from the two sources are distinguished as fruit bromelain and stem bromelain. First isolns of fruit bromelain: Marcano,
Bull. Pharm. 5, 77 (1891); Chittenden,
Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci. 8, 281 (1892). From pineapple juice by precipitation with acetone and also with ammonium sulfide: Heinicke,
US 3002891 (1961 to Pineapple Res. Inst.). Discovery in stem tissue:
idem, Science 118, 753 (1953). Stem bromelain has mol wt of about 33,000 and is probably the first proteolytic enzyme of plant origin to be established as a glycoprotein: Murachi
et al., Biochemistry 3, 48 (1964); Ota
et al., ibid. 180. Purification of crude prepns: Gibian, Bratfisch,
US 2950227 (1960 to Schering AG).
Reviews: Balls
et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. 33, 950 (1941); of stem bromelain: Murachi, "Structure and Function of Stem Bromelain," in
Proteins, Structure and Function vol. 2, M. Funatsu
et al., Eds. (Kodansha, Tokyo, Wiley, New York, 1972) pp 47-101.
Properties: Unlike papain, fruit bromelain does not disappear as the fruit ripens. Fruit and stem bromelains are acidic and basic proteins, resp. uv max (stem): 280 nm (A1%1cm 20.1).
Absorption maximum: uv max (stem): 280 nm (A1%1cm 20.1)
Use: Tenderizing meat, chill-proofing beer, production of protein hydrolyzates.
Therap-Cat: Anti-inflammatory.
