Bromelain and liver health: A comprehensive systematic review of preclinical studies

Abstract

Background: Liver diseases pose a significant challenge to the well-being of the public, given their high prevalence and the potential to escalate to liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. The efficacy of current therapies is rather limited, resulting in the manifestation of severe side effects. Bromelain, derived from the pineapple plant, exhibits promising prospects for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, cancer, and wound healing, although its impact on liver functionality remains largely unexplored.

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of bromelain in liver injuries, we performed a systematic review of preclinical studies.

Method: Our search was conducted in August 2020 on PubMed and Scopus, employing the search terms "Liver disease," "Liver injury," and "Bromelain," with subsequent updates in December 2023.

Results: Out of the 329 articles that were examined, only 7 fulfilled the criteria for inclusion.

Conclusion: Our research suggests that bromelain possesses both prophylactic and curative qualities in terms of liver damage, as supported by its ability to decrease enzyme levels, enhance liver structure, reduce oxidative stress markers, and regulate lipid metabolism. In summary, bromelain demonstrates a capacity to enhance liver function across a range of injury types.

Keywords: Animal model; Bromelain; Enzyme therapy; Liver injury.