Ananas sativus, synonymous with Ananas comosus, is originated from South America and has become a popular tropical fruit with high commercial value. The juice is consumed in drinks, the fruit exported both whole and in cans as pineapple chunks. In the Philippines, traditional textile is made from leaves. The stems contain a lot of bromelain, which is used to marinate and tenderize meats, as well as being used as a dietary supplement. Bromelain supplements are used to reduce inflammation, both in joints and muscles, and as a digestive support.

Nutritional analyses proved that pineapple fruit is a rich source of manganese and vitamin C, and several phenolic compounds have been identified. Some of these compounds showed inhibitory activities against tyrosinase, a key enzyme of melanin synthesis. A number of research reports on bromelain have shown that it can inhibit the NF-κB-mediated inflammation pathway.