Bromelain Extract Exerts Antiarthritic Effects via Chondroprotection and the Suppression of TNF-α–Induced NF-κB and MAPK Signaling
Peraphan Pothacharoen,
Rujirek Chaiwongsa,
Theerawut Chanmee,
Orapin Insuan,
Thanchanok Wongwichai,
Phornpimon Janchai,
Pilanee Vaithanomsat
Affiliations
Peraphan Pothacharoen
Thailand Excellence Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Rujirek Chaiwongsa
Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Theerawut Chanmee
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Orapin Insuan
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
Thanchanok Wongwichai
Thailand Excellence Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Phornpimon Janchai
Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Research Division, Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Pilanee Vaithanomsat
Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Research Division, Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Bromelain, a mixture of proteases in pineapple rhizome, has beneficial biological properties. Following absorption, the compound remains biologically active in mammalian blood and tissues. Bromelain has multiple clinical and therapeutic applications because of its anti-arthritic activities. Anti-inflammation is one of the putative therapeutic effects of bromelain on osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the molecular mechanisms in cartilage and synovial fibroblast has not been reported. Thus, in this study, interleukin (IL)-1β/oncostatin M-induced porcine cartilage and TNF-α–induced synovial fibroblast were used as the inflamed OA and RA models, respectively. The results demonstrated the chondroprotective effects of bromelain on cartilage degradation and the downregulation of inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8) expression in TNF-α–induced synovial fibroblasts by suppressing NF-κB and MAPK signaling. The evidence from this study supported and explained the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of bromelain on arthritis in animal models and clinical studies.
