Medicinal Plants

Ananas comosus var. bracteatus (Lindl.) Coppens & F.Leal

Nanas Merah

Bromeliaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Ananas comosus var. bracteatus (Nanas Merah) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Ananas comosus var. bracteatus (Nanas Merah) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Ananas comosus var. bracteatus (Nanas Merah)

Summary

Red pineapple (Ananas comosus var. bracteatus) is a herb up to 1 meter tall of the Bromeliaceae family, native to South America, spread during Columbus's voyages. Although its fruit is not very fleshy, this plant is popular as an ornamental and a source of fabric fiber. Red pineapple is traditionally believed to prevent cough, fever, and help strengthen bones.

Agroecology

This plant grows in lowlands to highlands. Prefers environmental conditions with low humidity and direct sunlight or partial shade.

Morphology

  • Leaves long, stiff, linear and curved like a ribbon. Center green in color, leaf edges reddish-cream. Leaf edges have sharp thorns (sharply serrated).
  • Flowers grow upright, thorny with a pale violet color that has red and pink tints.
  • Fruit red in color, small to medium in size, thick-skinned. The fruit flesh is yellowish-white in color, contains much water, fragrant, sweet-sour taste, and seedless.

Cultivation

  • Red pineapple can be cultivated by cuttings or using the crown (vegetative propagation).
  • Harvesting is done approximately 1 year after planting.

Chemical Content

Bromelain, citric acid, malic acid, lignin, flavonoid, phenolic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, β-carotene, coumaric acid.

Benefits

Prevents cough, flu and fever, lowers blood pressure, lowers body weight, able to strengthen bones, maintains gum health, remedy for itching and syphilis.

Simplisia

  • Wash the fruit thoroughly then peel off the skin and thorns. Cut the pineapple flesh into pieces.
  • The fruit pieces are then dried by air-drying at room temperature away from direct sunlight or with an oven at 40°C for several days, until moisture content reaches 10%.
  • Store the dried material in a clean or airtight container.

Local Names

No information found. Further research needed.

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Remedy for itching and syphilis from Nanas Merah

1. Remedy for itching and syphilis

  • Prepare 1 kg red pineapple, 1 kg red/black sugarcane, 300 g mature turmeric, 20 peppercorns, 250 g rock sugar, 15 g camphor for medicine.
  • Squeeze the sugarcane and pineapple. Grind all ingredients until evenly mixed. Strain, drink twice a day.

Reference Sources

  1. Bartolomé A P, Rupérez P, Fúster C. 1995. Pineapple fruit: morphological characteristics, chemical composition and sensory analysis of Red Spanish and Smooth Cayenne cultivars. Food Chemistry 53(1): 75-79.
  2. Ma J, Kanakala S, He Y, Zhang J, Zhong X. 2015. Transcriptome sequence analysis of an ornamental plant, Ananas comosus var. bracteatus, revealed the potential unigenes involved in terpenoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. PLoS One 10(3).
  3. Paz EY, Gil K, Rebolledo L, Rebolledo A, Uriza D, Martínez O, Simpson J. 2005. AFLP characterization of the Mexican pineapple germplasm collection. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 130(4): 575-579.
  4. Smith LB. 1939. Notes on the taxonomy of Ananas and Pseudananas. Botanical Museum Leaflets, Harvard University. 7(5): 73-81.
  5. Souza FVD, Cabral JRS, dos Santos-Serejo JA, de Matos AP, Reinhardt DH, da Cunha GAP, Pereira JA. 2005. Identification and selection of ornamental pineapple plants. International Pineapple Symposium 702: 93-97.
  6. Sun G M, Zhang X M, Soler A, Marie-Alphonsine P A. 2016. Nutritional composition of pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.). Nutritional composition of fruit cultivars: 609-637. Academic Press.