REVIEW ON VARIOUS ACTIVITIES EXHIBITED BY ANANAS COMOSUS CROWN

Mathew George*, Lincy Joseph, Aswin K. Nair, Ayisha Safna P., Christeena V. R., Malavika E. S., Vrindha C. V.

Ananas comosus (L.) Merr., or the pineapple, is a South American native belonging to the Bromeliaceae family. The fruit is an rich source of Vitamin C, minerals, dietary fiber, and various bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and carotenoids. Beyond the edible fruit, industrial by-products such as the leaves and peel are increasingly utilized for their high cellulose content and in functional food development. An initial study showed that an A.comosus ethanolic extract exhibited potent anthelmintic properties, achieving 100% ovicidal activity against liver fluke eggs (Fasciolosis) at a 20% concentration. Further research focused on the proteases from the peel and crown, demonstrating a toxic effect against agricultural pests like Tenebrio molitor larvae and reducing Panagrellus species nematodes, suggesting a role in sustainable pest control. In traditional medicine, pineapple crown extract was tested in vitro for its ability to dissolve calcium oxalate kidney stones. While solubility effects were non-significant, the study validated its folk use by confirming high phytochemical content and establishing an optimal concentration (0.0625 M). Finally, an investigation into the anti-cancer potential of Bromelain (BR) on oral cancer cells showed that BR significantly reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, induced apoptosis, and increased the sub-G1 population, strongly indicating BR’s potential as a natural anti-carcinogenic agent.