Dear Editor – I was focusing my thoughts on the development needs of Malaita Province and thinking in particular of the long promised but still awaiting Bina Harbour projects, especially the fisheries project and the processing factory for canning locally grown pineapples.
In the process of researching the health benefits of pineapples, I came across an article which, although a little technical, I have decided to share, and I quote it.
Results of a recent research endeavor from the United States indicate that bromelain or bromelain rich pineapple stem may be utilized as an antiviral agent against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but also for potential future coronavirus outbreaks. This exciting paper is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is already well-known for its rapid human-to-human transmission, responsible for the relentless pandemic spread of dangerous COVID-19.
But every day, we learn a bit more about SARS-CoV-2 immunology,
The pertinent question is, could we maybe use bromelain – a dietary supplement isolated from pineapple stem used to treat patients with pain, inflammation, and thrombosis – for COVID-19 patients as well?
This hypothesis was tackled by researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) in Silver Spring in the United States, with rather exciting findings.
“We demonstrated that bromelain (isolated from pineapple stem and used as a dietary supplement) treatment diminishes the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 in VeroE6 cells and dramatically lowers the expression of S-Ectodomain”, say study authors.
Important was the finding that the bromelain treatment was able to significantly diminishing the SARS-CoV-2 infection. End of quote.
My comment
I conclude that not only is pineapple a beneficial and healthy fruit worthy of being exported from the Solomon Islands, but pineapple has dietary supplement possibilities that could be investigated and in the right hands marketed to further benefit exports and make the development of Bina Harbour all the more important to the Malaita province but to the national economy as well.
Frank Short
Thailand
