Bromelain extraction from pineapple residues using ethanol precipitation and its application in polymeric hydrogel

Abstract

Bromelain is a set of proteolytic enzymes found in various parts such as bark, stem, leaves, and fruit of pineapple (Ananas comosus), and other species of the family Bromeliaceae. Due to its fibrinolytic, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties, it is used in treating diseases related to blood clotting, angina, indigestion, and respiratory problems. The purification of molecules is the subject of many studies being conducted to obtain bromelain. Ethanol precipitation is used in the extraction of biomolecules, due to the economic character of this solvent and the facility of isolating the target molecule. The aim of this project is to extract bromelain from the pineapple waste (bark), using the method of ethanol precipitation. For this, the determination of the solubility curves will be previously defined, changing the concentration of ethanol from 10 to 90% (v/v). Bromelain will be extracted in the best-found concentration. Another objective of this project is to incorporate the extracted bromelain in hydrogel and study its stability.(AU)