Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme mixture derived from stem, fruit and juice of the pineapple plant. It has a centuries-long history of being used to treat medical ailments, primarily throughout Central and South America. It is a well-known proteolytic enzyme! The chemical formula of the bromelain enzyme is C₃₉H₆₆N₂O₂₉.

Source of pictures: https://perforacare.com/blogs/teeth-whitening/bromelain-uses

If we look at the chemical structure of bromelain thoroughly, there are a lot of functional groups present in the structure. Some of them are thiol group, carboxyl group (-COOH) and amino (-NH₂). Bromelain enzyme exits as a white to tan amorphous powder. The molecular weight of this enzyme is 1026.9 g/mol. Bromelain enzyme is polar molecule because it is soluble in water.

Bromelain enzymes in skincare products can help us to brighten the skin, even out skin tone, reduce redness and swelling, slough away dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of blackheads.

Source of pictures: https://essentiallabs.com/blogs/essential-labs/bromelain-in-skincare

Bromelain enzymes in skincare products will act like an army of little Pacman eating up the glue that holds together dead skin cells. It goes through and exfoliates the skin. Then, it will be breaking the protein bond between dead skin cells. Epidermis will work to bring out newer skin layers. Then, the skin becomes blotchy while losing collagen.

For your information, only 2% of bromelain needed with percent stability results of 34.41% and 32.06% in bromelain cream preparation. Example of skincare products that contains bromelain are Amalia Refreshing Gel Cleanser, Herbivore Botanicals Brighten Pineapple + Gemstone Mask and Kate Somerville Exfolilate Intensive Exfoliating Treament and many more.

Source of pictures: https://www.ubuy.com.my/en/product/37E7MGO-amalia-refreshing-gel-cleanser-for-women-and-men-daily-gentle-face-wash-for-sensitive-skin-with-green-tea-pineapple-enzyme-and-acai

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/94997873384976531/

https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Somerville-ExfoliKate-Intensive-Exfoliating-Treatment-Salicylic/dp/B0753531MB?th=1

Article by,

Nur Syafiqah Idris

Chemistry Unit, ASPUTRA

 

References:

1. Masbagusdanta, K., Setiasih, S., Handayani, S., & Hudiyono, S. (2020). Partial purification and evaluation of bromelain from pineapple stem (Ananas comosus) in cream based preparation and its in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2243, 030012. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0001345
2. Varilla, C., Marcone, M., Paiva, L., & Baptista, J. (2021). Bromelain, a Group of Pineapple Proteolytic Complex Enzymes (Ananas comosus) and Their Possible Therapeutic and Clinical Effects. A Summary. Foods, 10(10), 2249. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10102249

        https://www.heydayskincare.com/blogs/skin-deep/pineapple-bromelain?srsltid=AfmBOoqwRJE-ONNePFPTT29p93PbBfaGUEfJd9HoXmzKFcC1fYSyV53T

 

 

Date of Input: 19/06/2025 | Updated: 19/06/2025 | hasniah