Enzymes found in the stems and roots of pineapples are believed to help against drug-resistant superbugs. The findings came about as more scientists try to find alternative treatments to antibiotic-resistant bugs.
Australian scientists have found that the enzymes inside pineapples can cure diarrhea in piglets. The three enzymes are known as bromelain and were first known in the 1930s. However, their antibiotic qualities were only discovered about three decades ago.
Findings of the study proved to be crucial since pigs and humans are quite similar in terms of anatomy and physiology. The enzymes used to treat piglets have a high probability to work well in people, according to Rob Pike, a biochemist from LaTrobe University located in Melbourne, Australia. Pike explains that the indiscriminate use of antibiotics has resulted to the resistance of bacteria and the rise of superbugs.
The enzymes found in pineapples offer an alterative to antibiotics, according to Daily Mail. Unlike antibiotics that typically target bacteria, the three enzymes found in pineapples take into effect in the piglet's gut.
Once this happens, the bacteria will have difficulty sticking to cells along the gut. Targeting gut cells will also kill the bacteria's chance to evolve. Consequently, this will stop diarrhea from occurring which is the same result scientists hope to take into effect in humans.
Since antibiotic-resistant bugs could kill nearly 10 million people every year by 2050, finding new forms of killing the bacteria proved to be a challenge to the science and research community. Superbugs are predicted to kill more than cancer kills today if not enough attention is given to them.
There are growing signs that bacteria could already resist colistin, which is the "last-resort" doctors typically, use when no other medications really work. In addition, doctors should be encouraged to stop treating antibiotics loosely in order to protect the remaining effective antibiotics while discovering new ones, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Researchers are hoping that the new study of enzymes from pineapples could add an extra weapon in the battle against bacteria in humans. Professor Pike along with his colleague Lakshmi Wijeyewickrema is currently developing the alternative treatment to antibiotics along with Anatara Life Science, which also conducted the animal trials.
