Botanical Name
Family
Synonyms
Ananas acostae C. Commelijn, Ananas argentata J.C.Wendl. ex Schult. & Schult.f., Ananas aurata J.C.Wendl. ex Schult. & Schult.f., Ananas bracteatus Baker, Ananas coccineus Descourt., Ananas debilis Schult. & Schult.f., Ananas monstrosus (Carrière) L.B.Sm., Ananas penangensis Baker, Ananassa ananas (L.) H.Karst., Bromelia ananas Willd., Bromelia comosa L., Distiacanthus communis (Lam.) Rojas Acosta.
Regional Name
English : Crowa, Pineapple, Hindi : Ananas, Sanskrit : Anamnasam, Ananna, Anannasa, Anarasam, Urdu : Anannas, Kannada : Anaanus, Anaasu, Ananaas gida, Ananaas hannu, Ananas gida, Ananasu-hannu, Ananus hannu, Malayalam : Ananas, Kaitaccakka, Kapa-tsjakka, Kappaccakka, Marathi : Ananas, Tamil : Anashap-pazham, Anashippazham, Annasi pazham, Annasippalam, Poonthazham pazham, Telugu : Ananas poondu, Anasa-pandu, Anasapoondu, Bengali : Anarasa.
Part Used
Fruit.
Description
It is a terrestrial herb 1.0 -1.5 m high with a spread of 3 to 4 ft (.9-1.2 m), a very short, stout stem and a rosette of waxy, strap like leaves, long-pointed, 20 to 72 in (50-180cm) 1ong; usually needle tipped and generally bearing sharp, up curved spines on the margins. The leaves may be all green or variously striped with red, yellow or ivory down the middle or near the margins.
Phytoconstituents
The fruit and the stem contain an enzyme called bromelain main chemical constituents, which is proteolytic (it breaks down proteins). The fruit is also a source of vitamins A, B and C.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa : Madhura, Amla, Guna : Guru, Snigdha, Vipaka : Madhura, Virya : Sheeta, Karma : Vatapitta shamaka (reduces vitiated vata and pitta dosha).
Ayurvedic Applications
Pachana, Depana, Jwara, Sotha, Kasa, Antrasula, Prameha. Suryavarta.
Medicinal Uses
The fruit is used for dyspeptic symptoms, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, urolithiasis, arteriosclerosis, heart diseases, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, sinusitis, cystic fibrosis. It is used for the treatment of anorexia, dysmenorrhea, renal calculi, indigestion, infections of the stomach and intestinal worms, general debility, fever, thirst, jaundice and constipation. Bromelain is also used for reducing swelling (inflammation), especially of the nose and sinuses.