Pineapple and Bamboo in Traditional Medicine and Potential Applications in Modern Medicine

Experimental research at the Center for Clinical Pharmacology - Hanoi Medical University recorded the potential safety and biological effects of pineapple combined with bamboo leaves in supporting circulation and blood pressure.

Folk medicine with the foundation of traditional medicine and modern medicine

In traditional Vietnamese medicine, pineapple is noted to have a sweet taste, neutral properties, diuretic effects, anti-edema, and digestive support. Bamboo leaves have a bland taste, cold properties, and are often used to clear heat, detoxify, reduce fever, and stop bleeding in cases of nosebleeds. These records appear in ancient documents such as Nam Duoc Than Hieu , Ban Thao Cuong Muc , and Vietnamese Medicinal Plants and Medicinal Herbs (Medical Publishing House, 2004).

Nowadays, modern research has explained the pharmacological mechanism of the above traditional experiences. The bromelain component in pineapple has been proven to have anti-inflammatory effects, reduce edema and support blood circulation improvement thanks to its ability to break down proteins and regulate inflammatory responses. Some clinical trials have also noted that bromelain can improve vascular endothelial function, contributing to circulatory stability.

Meanwhile, bamboo leaves contain many flavonoids and polyphenols - compounds with strong antioxidant activity, which help protect vascular endothelial cells and limit damage caused by oxidative stress. Preclinical studies show that flavonoid extracts from bamboo leaves have the ability to regulate blood lipids, reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase HDL.

The combination of pineapple and bamboo in the same liquid preparation is considered a reasonable inheritance between folk knowledge and modern medicine, aiming at the goal of researching a product that supports improving circulation, reducing edema and stabilizing blood pressure naturally and safely.

Results of domestic experimental research

In Vietnam, in 2023, the Center for Clinical Pharmacology - Hanoi Medical University conducted an experimental study to evaluate the safety and biological effects of a concentrated preparation extracted from pineapple and bamboo of a domestic traditional medicine unit.

The results showed that the product has the effect of supporting the reduction of varicose veins, regulating blood lipid disorders and preventing atherosclerosis in experimental models.

At a dose of 1.2 g/kg/day, the product helps reduce total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and tends to increase HDL-cholesterol. In addition, the trial also recorded the effect of reducing liver enzyme activity, reducing oxidative stress and vascular inflammation - factors directly related to cardiovascular disease and blood pressure.

Regarding safety, acute toxicity studies showed that the product did not exhibit any toxicity at a dose of 100 ml/kg, equivalent to 50 g/kg, 41.6 times the expected human dose. In a subchronic toxicity study, continuous use of the product for 8–12 weeks at doses of 0.6–1.8 g/kg/day did not cause adverse changes in biochemical and hematological indices; the ALT index increased slightly but was not clinically significant (increased less than 3 times the mean value).

These results open up potential applications of the pineapple-bamboo combination in supporting circulation and blood pressure, and contribute to affirming the value of Vietnamese medicinal resources in modern research.

New direction for Vietnamese medicinal herbs

From folk experience to scientific experiments, pineapple and bamboo have shown their lasting medicinal value. The development of extracts of these two medicinal herbs represents an effort to "scientify" traditional medicine, bringing Vietnamese medicinal herbs closer to modern research standards and clinical applications.

The combination of traditional knowledge and scientific evidence opens up the potential for developing products of natural origin that will contribute to the care and improvement of public health.

Vi Dieu Nam Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/dua-va-tre-trong-y-hoc-co-truyen-va-tiem-nang-ung-dung-trong-y-hoc-hien-dai-169251113173923251.htm