Biological activities and biotechnological potential of bromelain from pineapple and pineapple waste: A review
1 Department of Food Technology, School of Biotechnology, International University – Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
2 Department of Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, International University – Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
3 Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Biotechnology, International University – Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
4 Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer, International University – Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
5 Tan Phuoc Agricultural Pineapple Cooperative, Dong Thap Province.
Review
International Journal of Scholarly Research in Biology and Pharmacy, 2025, 06(02), 001-010.
Article DOI: 10.56781/ijsrbp.2025.6.2.0026
Publication history:
Received on 07 September 2025; revised on 14 October 2025; accepted on 16 October 2025
Abstract:
The aim of this review is to synthesize current knowledge on the sources, molecular characteristics, biological activities, and biotechnological applications of bromelain from pineapple and pineapple waste. Relevant peer-reviewed studies were systematically examined to provide an integrated perspective that links bromelain’s biological properties with its technological potential. Bromelain, a complex of cysteine proteases derived from Ananas comosus, has gained increasing scientific and industrial attention due to its diverse biological activities and broad biotechnological applications. Despite decades of research, its molecular characteristics, functional properties, and industrial potential remain only partially standardized and widely debated. This review systematically synthesized publications between 2012 and 2025, focusing on the molecular and biochemical properties of stem and fruit bromelain, comparative analyzing enzymatic kinetics, and the potential of bromelain from pineapple and pineapple waste in industries. Literature was identified from peer-reviewed journals and evaluated for experimental rigor, relevance, and industrial applicability. The finding is that bromelain exhibits anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antimicrobial, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and digestive activities, which underpin its wide applications in pharmaceuticals, functional foods, cosmetics, agriculture, and environmental management. Moreover, pineapple waste materials were identified as viable alternative sources of bromelain, supporting circular economy approaches. However, enzyme instability, variability in activity, and the absence of standardized extraction and purification protocols remain key barriers to large-scale applications.
Keywords:
Pineapple By-Products; Bromelain; Sustainable Utilization; Enzyme-Assisted Applications; Circular Bioeconomy
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0