Final week I discussed that I as soon as noticed Dr Abosede Olowofoyeku, a phytotherapist, researcher in Phyto-chemistry and the Chief Govt Officer of The Helpful Herbs Naturopathy Restricted collect a considerable amount of pineapple leaves for a consumer who needed to go for IVF. She selected the leaves as a result of it has a robust anti- inflammatory impact and doesn’t intervene with the medication used throughout IVF. She additionally stated it’s for bettering egg high quality which is normally broken by the excessive ranges of irritation the process (IVF) itself produces.
This week I shall be discussing pineapple leaves and peels. I can’t be doing justice to this dialogue if I don’t let you recognize what Bromelain is. Pineapple, botanically known as Ananas comosus, comprises an enzyme known as Bromelain which is derived from the stems, though it exists in all components of the contemporary fruit. The medicinal qualities of pineapples are attributed to bromelain. It (Bromelain) is a protein-digesting enzyme. Individuals use it topically to take away lifeless pores and skin from burns and orally to cut back irritation and swelling — significantly of the nasal passages. It’s utilized in cosmetics and it’s also used as a meat tenderiser. Its potential well being advantages have been studied extensively in a number of areas. These embrace: Osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diabetes, bronchial asthma, persistent sinusitis colitis, burns and most cancers. In reality, a number of research confirmed that bromelain can inhibit cell progress and induce cell apoptosis (cell demise) in several cancers.
Now that we all know what bromelain is, allow us to discuss pineapple leaves. It produces a white silky fiber that some cultures use to weave material. The extracts are wealthy in phenols that are compounds that in accordance with animal research might have potent well being advantages. Different compounds of medicinal curiosity present in pineapple leaves embrace p-coumaric acid (CA), flavonoids, tannins, bromelain, glycosides, proteins and ascorbic acid. Wooden is used as the foremost uncooked materials in paper manufacturing world wide and this has resulted in extreme deforestation. This has led to the necessity of discovering various uncooked supplies for paper manufacturing, pineapple leaves come to the rescue right here. Allow us to see some extra advantages of the leaves:
Improved blood sugar management: Sure chemical extracts from pineapple leaves are wealthy in phenols and should exert hypoglycemic or blood sugar decreasing exercise. In two research in mice with diabetes, these phenols decreased blood sugar ranges by lowering insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when your physique’s cells are much less conscious of the impact of the blood sugar-lowering hormone known as insulin.
Lowered blood ldl cholesterol: The liver is among the predominant organs liable for regulating levels of cholesterol in a single’s physique.
Promisingly, phenols extracted from pineapple leaves have proven potential for lowering blood ldl cholesterol and hindering the event of NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver illness) in mice. They’ve additionally been proven to stop the rise of triglycerides in mice after a meal. By working like statin medication, phenolic compounds from pineapple leaves might probably assist scale back blood ldl cholesterol.
Anti-inflammatory advantages: Irritation is one’s physique’s pure response to an infection or stress. Over time, it could compromise the integrity of 1’s immune system and improve the chance of sure illnesses, together with most cancers. In a single mouse research, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, bromelain, and different compounds extracted from pineapple leaves demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties. Particularly, they stopped the motion of inflammatory substances within the physique produced by white blood cells, like macrophages.
Antioxidant properties: Pineapple fruit and leaves are wealthy in antioxidants known as phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and ascorbic acid which may enhance circumstances related to oxidative stress and irritation.
Improved digestion: The digestive enzyme bromelain is discovered within the fruit and leaves of pineapple. Used extensively as a meat tenderiser, it’s an enzyme that breaks down proteins and it might assist digestion too.
I all the time use the peels to sweeten my Zobo drink. It may be used for animal feed (pellets and animal feed block), manufacturing of paper and fertilisers due to the high fiber and cellulose content material. Composting transforms it into nutrient-rich materials that can be utilized within the backyard to enhance soil texture and fertilise crops.
Allow us to see a few of its advantages
- The peel has bromelain which is a strong enzyme. It’s anti-inflammatory in nature. It may be used to cut back swellings.
- Additionally it is believed to assist with digestion. It’s stated that the peels can combat intestinal parasites and assist with constipation.
- In case you are trying to increase immunity, you have to contemplate the pineapple peel. Just like the fruit, the peel is wealthy in vitamin C which may construct the general immunity of the physique, combat micro organism and assist with coughing.
- It can be a tooth and bone strengthener since it’s wealthy in manganese. It’s nice for oral well being, as a result of vitamin C can hold the gums wholesome.
- The enzyme bromelain can forestall the clotting of blood too. In reality, it could even make the blood more healthy, by serving to with the formation of extra purple blood cells.
Scientific research
In a research titled, “Analysis of acute anti-inflammatory impact of Ananas comosus leaf extracts in rats,’’ by Mondal et al, the research assessed the chloroform and methanol extracts of A. comosus leaf for his or her acute anti-inflammatory potential by carrageenan induced paw oedema in Wistar albino rats. The entire check extracts exhibited vital anti-inflammatory exercise. The methanol extract was discovered to be essentially the most potent adopted by the chloroform extract.
In a research titled, “Pineapple peel wastes (PPW) as a possible supply of antioxidant compounds by Saraswaty et al, the outcomes confirmed PPW contained phenolic compound, ferulic acid, vitamin A and C as antioxidants. Each dried and contemporary PPW have been extracted utilizing mixtures of ethanol and water with numerous concentrations and the best antioxidant exercise was within the water extract.
In a research titled, “Ameliorating hyperglycemia by Ananas comosus leaves extract,’’ by Atiq Ur Rahman, research was carried out on 20 male rats. Rats have been supplied with A. comosus leaves extract for 35 days. Serum samples have been collected to examine the extent of serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, AST, ALP, ALT, uric acid, urea and creatinine. Outcomes indicated that A. comosus leaves have anti-diabetic properties and don’t possess any dangerous impact on kidney and liver.
To make pineapple peel tea, put the peels in a pot. It’s also possible to add cloves, ginger and cinnamon sticks. Add some water and permit it to brew for some quarter-hour on low flame. Flip it off and let it steep for an additional quarter-hour. Your peel tea is prepared. One other means is to boil the peels, let it quiet down. Mix it, sieve and drink. To make pineapple leaf tea, simply boil it after which drink the water. If you’ll be able to get a considerable amount of pineapple leaves, unfold someplace in the home, it’ll dry by itself. Then, you’ll be able to take it to boil every now and then. Be sure to wash your pineapples effectively earlier than peeling.
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