Health
Using Pineapple To Heal (ll)
Anti-inflammatory benefits: Inflammation is one’s body’s natural response to infection or stress. Over time, it can compromise the integrity of one’s immune system and increase the risk of certain diseases, including cancer. In one mouse study, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, bromelain, and other compounds extracted from pineapple leaves demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties. Specifically, they stopped the action of inflammatory substances in the body produced by white blood cells, like macrophages.
Antioxidant properties: Pineapple fruit and leaves are rich in antioxidants called phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and ascorbic acid which can improve conditions associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.
Improved digestion: The digestive enzyme bromelain is found in the fruit and leaves of pineapple. Used widely as a meat tenderiser, it is an enzyme that breaks down proteins and it may aid digestion too.
I always use the peels to sweeten my Zobo drink. It can be used for animal feed (pellets and animal feed block), production of paper and fertilisers because of the high-fiber and cellulose content. Composting transforms it into nutrient-rich material that can be used in the garden to improve soil texture and fertilise plants.
Let us see some of its benefits
The peel has bromelain which is a powerful enzyme. It is anti-inflammatory in nature. It can be used to reduce swellings.
It is also believed to help with digestion. It is said that the peels can fight intestinal parasites and help with constipation.
If you are looking to boost immunity, you must consider the pineapple peel. Like the fruit, the peel is rich in vitamin C which can build the overall immunity of the body, fight bacteria and help with coughing.
It can also be a teeth and bone strengthener since it is rich in manganese. It is great for oral health, because vitamin C can keep the gums healthy.
The enzyme bromelain can prevent the clotting of blood too. In fact, it can even make the blood healthier, by helping with the formation of more red blood cells.
Scientific studies
In a study titled, “Evaluation of acute anti-inflammatory effect of Ananas comosus leaf extracts in rats,’’ by Mondal et al, the study assessed the chloroform and methanol extracts of A. comosus leaf for their acute anti-inflammatory potential by carrageenan induced paw oedema in Wistar albino rats. All of the test extracts exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity. The methanol extract was found to be the most potent followed by the chloroform extract.
In a study titled, “Pineapple peel wastes (PPW) as a potential source of antioxidant compounds by Saraswaty et al, the results showed PPW contained phenolic compound, ferulic acid, vitamins A and C as antioxidants. Both dried and fresh PPW were extracted using mixtures of ethanol and water with various concentrations and the highest antioxidant activity was in the water extract.
In a study titled, “Ameliorating hyperglycemia by Ananas comosus leaves extract,’’ by Atiq Ur Rahman, study was carried out on 20 male rats. Rats were provided with A. comosus leaves extract for 35 days. Serum samples were collected to check the level of serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, AST, ALP, ALT, uric acid, urea and creatinine. Results indicated that A. comosus leaves have anti-diabetic properties and do not possess any harmful effect on kidney and liver.
To make pineapple peel tea, put the peels in a pot. You can also add cloves, ginger and cinnamon sticks. Add some water and allow it to brew for some 15 minutes on low flame. Turn it off and let it steep for another 15 minutes. Your peel tea is ready. Another way is to boil the peels, let it cool down. Blend it, sieve and drink. To make pineapple leaf tea, just boil it and then drink the water. If you are able to get a large amount of pineapple leaves, spread somewhere in the house, it will dry on its own. Then, you can take it to boil from time to time. Make sure you wash your pineapples well before peeling.
By: Kevin Nengia
Culled from the Punch online
Two United States scientists who unraveled the human micro RNA have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the coveted prize for their work on microRNA as their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues.
MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including humans.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function.
The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell, which filters urea out of the blood.
The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
So much variety can arise from the same starting material because of gene expression.
The US scientists were the first to discover microRNAs and how they exerted control on how genes are expressed differently in different tissues.
The medicine and physiology prize winners are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
They said: “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
“It is now known that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun acting to curb effects of antibiotic pollution.
The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.
The emergence and spread of AMR caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites responsible for the pollution.
Despite high antibiotic pollution levels being widely documented, the issue is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. In addition, once distributed, there is a lack of information provided to consumers on how to dispose of antibiotics when they are not used, for example, when they expire or when a course is finished but there is still antibiotic left over.
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic manufacturing can facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria, which can spread globally and threaten our health. Controlling pollution from antibiotic production contributes to keeping these life-saving medicines effective for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Globally, there is a lack of accessible information on the environmental damage caused by manufacturing of medicines.
“The guidance provides an independent and impartial scientific basis for regulators, procurers, inspectors, and industry themselves to include robust antibiotic pollution control in their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO. “Critically, the strong focus on transparency will equip buyers, investors and the general public to make decisions that account for manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic pollution.”
In a concerted effort to curb brain drain, the Kebbi State Government has harmonised medical doctors’ salaries to be at par with their colleagues in the federal government’s tertiary health facilities.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Musa Inusa-Isma’il, disclosed this at the handing over of ambulances to the state-owned health facilities at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
Inusa Isma’il, according to a statement by Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the essence of the harmonisation was to retain the existing medical doctors and attract more to the services of the state.
According to him, the doctors across the state had already started enjoying the new salaries from August 2024.
He said the release of the vehicles was in fulfilment of Governor Nasir Idris’ promise to uplift health care services in the state.
“His Excellency said I should inform you, the beneficiaries of this gesture, that the vehicle should be strictly used for the intended purpose. It should not be used for anything else.
“If there is no referral case, each of the vehicles must be parked at the hospital by 6 pm. The governor said you should warn your drivers against reckless driving as well as violating the instructions.
“We should also do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture by working according to the terms and conditions attached,” he advised.
The benefiting health facilities included Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo; General Hospital, Argungu; General Hospital, Yauri; General Hospital, Zuru; and General Hospital, Bunza.
In his speech, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shehu Koko, recalled that the ambulances were handed over to the ministry last Friday by the governor for the onward handover to the benefiting hospitals.
He observed that the ambulances would go a long way in improving the referral system in the state, adding that delays in reaching the secondary and tertiary facilities would be eliminated.
The permanent secretary attributed the high rate of maternal mortality in the country to delays in getting to the health facilities for proper medical care.
“We believe with the provision of these ambulances, part of the gaps we have in our referral system will be addressed, whereby patients who require secondary healthcare could be easily transported to secondary and tertiary health centres, where they can get such help,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed expressed gratitude to the governor for the support he has given to the ministry to excel.
While advising the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously, the commissioner advised that services and maintenance of the vehicles must be prompt to derive the maximum benefits from the vehicles.
The commissioner also highlighted some achievements recorded by the government in the last year, including beautification of the state capital, completion of a multimillion-naira ultramodern state secretariat, road construction, construction and renovation of classrooms and upgrading of some health facilities, among others.