The Pineapple Crown (Ananas comosus): From Agro-Waste to Functional Ingredient and Material

Abstract

Million metric tons of pineapples are processed annually, with crowns alone accounting for 10% of byproducts. This review is the first to investigate the potential of pineapple crown by discussing its chemical composition, cytotoxicity, and safety, providing a unique and thorough resource on this underexplored and valuable byproduct, and presenting bibliometric data. The extraction of bioactive compounds and applications in biotechnology, packaging, and functional foods were explored, addressing the opportunities and challenges for industrial use. The pineapple crown was mainly used to produce cellulose nanocrystals and activated carbon and as feedstock for enzyme extraction. Rich in insoluble fiber, minerals, and bound phenolics, pineapple crown usually requires hydrolysis and fermentation to release bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Despite gaps in data on toxicity, mutagenicity, and bioavailability, this review identifies pineapple crowns as a promising source of value-added compounds and urges targeted research to optimize processing methods and verify safety.