Can PINEAPPLE win the war against superbugs?

tunisante June 24, 2016 Health

Antibiotic-resistant bugs are predicted to kill millions a year by 2050
Australian scientists found enzymes in pineapples cured diarrhoea in pigs
Bromelain makes it difficult to for bacteria to stick to the walls of the gut
Hopes it will lead to development of an alternative treatment to antibiotics

Colin Fernandez Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published:
09:57 EST, 24 June 2016

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Updated:
10:08 EST, 24 June 2016

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The tropical taste of pineapple has long added an exotic touch to cocktails and puddings.

But now scientists believe enzymes found in the stems and roots of the fruit could help in the war against drug-resistant superbugs.

With antibiotic-resistant bugs predicted to kill up to 10 million people a year by 2050, the hunt for new forms of killing the bacteria is a grave challenge to the scientific community.

Now Australian scientists have found that enzymes found in pineapples can cure diarrhoea in piglets.

Enzymes in pineapples were found to stop diarrhoea in piglets, leading to hopes they could be used in the fight against antibiotic-resistant hospital superbugs

The finding could be crucial, because humans and pigs are so similar in terms of anatomy and physiology.

Doctors hope the enzymes will add an extra weapon in the depleted arsenal in the battle against bacteria in humans.

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Rob Pike, a biochemist at LaTrobe University in Melbourne, Australia, said the enzymes used to treat piglets might well work in people was well.

‘Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has resulted in resistant bacteria,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

‘And this contributes to the rise of superbugs.’

Having alternatives to antibiotics would aid the battle against multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Antibiotic-resistant bugs predicted to kill up to 10 million people a year by 2050 with scientists hunting for new forms of killing the bacteria. They hope enzymes in pineapple could be key to developing new treatments

Unlike antibiotics which target the bacteria, the three enzymes found in the pineapples take action in the pig’s gut, making it difficult for the bacteria to stick to the gut cells and stopping diarrhoea from taking hold.

Professor Pike added: ‘I believe this is a whole new way of going about the treatment of diarrhoea.

‘It means that the pig cells are no longer vulnerable to bacteria.’

The three enzymes are called bromelain and were first discovered in the 1930s.

However it was only 30 years ago that their antibiotic qualities were discovered.

‘The momentum to develop alternatives to antibiotics is there now because people believe antibiotics are on the way out and we need something to replace them,’ Professor Pike said.

Anatara Lifesciences, which has conducted animal trials, is developing the alternative treatment with Professor Pike and colleague Lakshmi Wijeyewickrema.