Pineapple (Ananas sativus Schult. f., Ananas comosus L.) is a plant belonging to the Bromeliaceae family with about 50 slightly different types of leaves, height and fruits. It grows in tropical and subtropical areas.

Phytochemical analysis shows, per 100 grams of juice produced, a high content of vitamin C (50 mg), 10 grams of sugars. Protein and salt are found practically only in traces.  Thiamine or Vitamin B1 is present with 0.08% and niacin or Vitamin B3 with 0.1%.

What it is used for and where

Medical

In traditional medical practice, it is used to treat digestive disorders and to prevent and treat cardiovascular disorders such as cholesterol plaques, thrombophlebitis and thrombosis. It also exerts fibrinolytic activity by limiting blood vessel obstruction. 

There is evidence of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet activity (1).

The anthelmintic activity (combating parasites in the human body) (2) of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Ananas sativus has been established.

Cosmetics

Cosmetic astringent. This ingredient exerts a direct effect on the skin by tightening dilated pores by contracting stratum corneum cells and removing superfluous oil.

Humectant. Hygroscopic compound used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis.  The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: horny, the most superficial, granular, spinous, shiny, and basal. Humectants have the ability to retain the water they attract from the air in the stratum corneum and have the function of moisturising the skin. They are best used before emollients, which are oil-based.

Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.

References________________________________________________________________________

(1) Hale LP, Greer PK, Trinh CT, Gottfried MR. Treatment with oral bromelain decreases colonic inflammation in the IL-10-deficient murine model of inflammatory bowel disease. Clin Immunol. 2005 Aug;116(2):135-42. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2005.04.011. 

(2) M.S Akhtar, Zafar Iqbal, M.N Khan, Muhammad Lateef, Anthelmintic activity of medicinal plants with particular reference to their use in animals in the Indo–Pakistan subcontinent, Small Ruminant Research, Volume 38, Issue 2, 2000, Pages 99-107, ISSN 0921-4488, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4488(00)00163-2 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921448800001632)

Abstract: Helminthiasis is one of the most important group of parasitic diseases in Indo-Pakistan subcontinent resulting in heavy production losses in livestock. A wide variety of anthelmintics is used for the treatment of helminths in animals. However, the development of resistance in helminths against commonly used anthelmintics have always been a challenge faced by the animal health care professionals. Therefore, exploitation of anthelmintic potential of plants indigenous to Indo-Pak subcontinent is an area of research interest. This paper reviews the use of some indigenous plants as anthelmintics in animals.