Evaluation of dissolution of purified bromelain from pineapple core extract (Ananas comosus [L.] Merr) in the form of chitosan-coated microspheres

The aim of this study is to coat the bromelain from pineapple's core into chitosan microspheres crosslinked by glutaraldehyde to maintain its activity until it reaches the intestines. The crude enzyme was first purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation method, followed by the dialysis. The bromelain fraction of the dialysis has a specific activity of 294.44 U/mg with a purity level of 15.68 fold compared to the crude enzyme. Coating bromelain using glutaraldehyde crosslinked microsphere showed an efficiency of 87.14 %. The dissolution test results showed the release rate of bromelain in artificial gastric fluid is 9.35 % and in artificial intestinal environment is 79.92 %. The result of this study indicates that chitosan-coated microspheres are good enough as bromelain coatings for slow-release matrices.