Stanley Batkin

Bromelain, the Enzyme Complex of Pineapple ananas comosus and its Clinical Application. An Update

After a short description of the uses of pineapple as folk medicine by the natives of the tropics, the more important new pharmaceutical applications of bromelain, reported between 1975 and 1978, are presented. Although the exact chemical structure of all active components of bromelain is not fully determined, this substance has shown distinct pharmacological promise. Its properties include: (1) interference with growth of malignant cells; (2) inhibition of platelet aggregation; (3) fibrinolytic activity; (4) anti-inflammatory action; (5) skin debridement properties. These biological functions of bromelain, a non-toxic compound, have therapeutic values in modulating: (a) tumor growth; (b) blood coagulation; (c) inflammatory changes; (d) debridement of third degree burns; (e) enhancement of absorption of drugs. The mechanism of action of bromelain affecting these varied biological effects relates in part to its modulation of the arachidonate cascade.

Effects of auditory deprivation on the development of auditory sensitivity in albino rats

Abstract Twenty albino rats were confined for 8 months post-natally to a highly sound-attenuated environment and were tested subsequently for hearing sensitivity. Comparisons were made with their control littermates, reared under ordinary ambient noise conditions. Surface auditory evoked cortical potentials were summated for 45 or 75 responses at each of seven pure tone frequencies. Threshold determinations were made between 30 dB and 75 dB, SPL. Several animals were retested after subsequent ambient noise exposure for 48 h and for 3 weeks. Statistical comparisons of threshold responses between the deprived animals and their control littermates showed a significant loss of sensitivity after deprivation and some regain of sensitivity after subsequent exposure to ambient noise. Relationships between environmental stimulation and neural functioning are considered.

Antimetastatic effect of bromelain with or without its proteolytic and anticoagulant activity

SummaryBromelain, a pineapple-derived plant product, added to C57B1/6 mice laboratory chow decreased lung metastasis of Lewis lung cancer cells implanted s.c. This antimetastatic potential was demonstrated by both the active and inactive bromelain with or without proteolytic, anticoagulant properties.

A comparison of monocular visually evoked potentials in human neonates and adults

Abstract Summated visually evoked responses (VERs) to monocular and binocular light flash stimulation were obtained simultaneously from each cerebral hemisphere. A total of twenty-two newborn infants and ten young adults served as experimental subjects. Amplitude analyses and inter-hemispheric statistical comparisons showed a significantly greater amplitude of the contralateral VER in infants in response to monocular stimulation. This difference did not reach significance in adults although the trend was maintained. Left-right hemispheric comparisons of amplitude did not reach significance for any group. Inter-hemispheric correlation coefficients were computed and were found to be considerably greater for the adult group. The results were discussed in terms of their relationship to fiber counts in the ipsilateral and contralateral tracts, the respective fiber diameters and functional changes related to progressive myelinization of the developing visual system. Several indices for assessing the degrees of functional maturity of the developing human visual system have been considered.

RNA and actinomycin-D enhancement of learning in the carp

A total of 172 carp were tested in three experiments on a T-maze visual discrimination task. As compared to saline controls, carp given intracranial injections of either RNA or actinomycin-D made significantly more correct responses on a 24-hr. test. This effect may relate to the increased availability of nucleotides.

Ethanol vapour modulation of Lewis lung carcinoma, a murine pulmonary tumour.

SummaryPure ethanol in experimental animal studies, may not primarily be carcinogenic, but secondarily it can act chemically and synergistically as a co-carcinogen via its endogenous metabolites and associated dietary and exogenous factors. However, ethanol, being a small molecule and miscible with water and most lipids, can readily enter cell membranes and directly affect cell function. In an in vitro study where ethanol was added to the culture medium for Lewis lung carcinoma, a dose-dependent suppression of tumour growth occurred. In the in vivo study, sequestration of the Lewis lung carcinoma in the lungs followed tail-vein injection in C57BL/6 mice. Starting on the second day after tumour implantation, primary pulmonary exposure was carried out with inhalations of 0.4% ethanol vapour from an aerosol for 70 min daily, this was continued for 17 days. This resulted in a marked reduction of the pulmonary tumour growth. Exposure to 0.1% ethanol vapour did not significantly affect the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma tumour. The optimum ethanol aerosol applications may thus be tumoricidal. Whether any ethanol secondary metabolites are involved is as yet uncertain.