Bromelain enzyme from pineapple: in vitro activity study under different micropropagation conditions

The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of bromelain in pineapple plants (Ananas comosus var. Comosus), Pérola cultivar, produced in vitro in different culture conditions. This enzyme, besides its pharmacological effects, is also employed in food industries, such as breweries and meat processing. In this work, the enzymatic activity was evaluated in the tissues of leaves and stems of plants grown in culture medium without plant growth regulator. The most significant levels of bromelain were observed in leaf tissue after 4 months of culture in vitro in medium with a filter paper bridge, followed by medium gelled by the agar. The results of this study, regarding the different structures of the pineapple (leaves and stems) in vitro showed that the activity of bromelain varied depending on the culture conditions, the time and structure of which was quantified, ensuring a viable strategy in the production of seedlings with high levels of bromelain in subsequent phases of micropropagation.The authors thank the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA/Brazil), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/Brazil), Agency for the Improvement of Higher Education Studies (CAPES/Brazil) and Sergipe State Research and Technological Innovation Foundation (FAPITEC/SE, Brazil) for their financial support. The authors also acknowledge the valuable contributions of Dr. Sarah Brandao Santa Cruz Barbosa (in memoriam) during the execution of this study