How Pineapple Peel, Malaria Herbs Kill Pain

Five researchers from the University of Ibadan -Abayomi M. Ajayi; Adekunle I. Coker; Oyetola T. Oyebanjo Iyanuoluwa Mary Adebanjo and Olusegun G. Ademowo, in the 2022 edition of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology have discovered the efficacy of pineapple peel and other malaria herbs helps in pain relief.
Pineapple, commonly called “ope oyinbo” in Yoruba and “Nkw-aba” in Ibo is a tropical fruit with an exceptionally sweet taste and health benefits whose processing into juice generates a lot of waste. The peel, crown and core are major waste in the pineapple canning industry.
Before now there have been reports of the use of pineapple peel alone or in combination with other medicinal plants in the treatment of malaria, arthritis, typhoid infections, and gastrointestinal complaints like constipation among local folks. Pineapple peel also serves the purpose of flavouring herbal decoctions in addition to its medicinal properties.
Like the fruit, the peel is rich in Vitamin C which can build the overall immunity of the body; the peel can help with digestion and constipation, fight bacteria and intestinal parasites as well as help with coughing. The practice of using different components of plant parts as a herbal remedy in the treatment of malaria in the community is commonplace. However, many tests are still required to understand the contribution of each plant to the concoction’s effectiveness as a remedy for malaria.
In a new study, pineapple peel, a component of malarial home remedy, is proven to have mild antimalarial activity but a significant pain-relieving effect in rodents. Fever, shivering, pain in the joints and headache are common symptoms of malaria.
Extracts of the pineapple peel could not significantly suppress the malaria parasite level at 7 days post-infection, but it mildly prolonged the survival of mice infected with malaria parasite up to day 21. Also, it demonstrated significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties.
The practice of using different components of plant parts as a herbal remedy in the treatment of malaria in the community is commonplace. However, many tests are still required to understand the contribution of each plant to the concoction’s effectiveness as a remedy for malaria.
In a new study, pineapple peel, a component of malarial home remedy, is proven to have mild antimalarial activity but a significant pain-relieving effect in rodents. Fever, shivering, pain in the joints and headache are common symptoms of malaria.
Extracts of the pineapple peel could not significantly suppress the malaria parasite level at 7 days post-infection, but it mildly prolonged the survival of mice infected with malaria parasite up to day 21. Also, it demonstrated significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties.
Culled from Tribune online

By Kevin Nengia