Bayberry (Myrica cenifera) Research

Latin Name: Myrica cenifera

Family: Myricaceae

Bayberry, not to be confused with barberry, is a small aromatic evergreen tree that has been used in folk medicine for the common cold, congestion, and sore throat, fever and to treat wounds.

RESEARCH

GENERAL

• ACHS. (2017). Course Material: Herb502: Bayberry Monograph.  Retrieved from www.achs.edu.
• Natural Standard (2015).  Bayberry Monograph.  Retrieved from www.naturalstandard.com.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

• Myricetin from Myrica rubra (Chinese bayberry) leaves possessed a potent anti-inflammatory function on acute and chronic inflammation related to antioxidant activity.  From:  Wang, S. J., Tong, Y., Lu, S., Yang, R., Liao, X., Xu, Y. F., & Li, X. (2010). Anti-inflammatory activity of myricetin isolated from Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc. leaves. Planta medica, 76(14), 1492-1496.

​​ANALGESIC

• Myricetin (from Myrica rubra) possessed potent topical analgesic activity in rodents.  From:  Tong, Y., Zhou, X. M., Wang, S. J., Yang, Y., & Cao, Y. L. (2009). Analgesic activity of myricetin isolated from Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc. leaves. Archives of pharmacal research, 32(4), 527-533.

​​ANTI-ALLERGY

• Extract from Myrica sapida (bayberry) showed bronchodilator activity in guinea pigs, and had a potent inhibitory effect on immediate hypersensitivity reactions.  From:  Patel, K. G., Bhalodia, P. N., Patel, A. D., Patel, K. V., & Gandhi, T. R. (2008). Evaluation of bronchodilator and anti-anaphylactic activity of Myrica sapida. Iranian Biomedical Journal, 12(3), 191-196.
• Myricitrin, a flavonoid found in Myrica rubra leaf, had an anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic effect in mice. From:  Shimosaki, S., Tsurunaga, Y., Itamura, H., & Nakamura, M. (2011). Anti-allergic effect of the flavonoid myricitrin from Myrica rubra leaf extracts in vitro and in vivo. Natural product research, 25(4), 374-380.

​ANTIOXIDANT

• There was an association between phenolic content and antioxidant activity of bayberry varieties.  From:  Zhou, S. H., Fang, Z. X., Lü, Y., Chen, J. C., Liu, D. H., & Ye, X. Q. (2009). Phenolics and antioxidant properties of bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) pomace. Food Chemistry, 112(2), 394-399.
• Bayberry fruit color was and the differing constituents affected antioxidant activity.  From:  Bao, J., Cai, Y., Sun, M., Wang, G., & Corke, H. (2005). Anthocyanins, flavonols, and free radical scavenging activity of Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra) extracts and their color properties and stability. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53(6), 2327-2332.

SKIN WHITENING

• The leaves and bark of Myrica rubra and its quercetin, myricetin and myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside  constituents showed skin whitening activity.  From:  Matsuda, H., Higashino, M., Chen, W., Tosa, H., Iinuma, M., & Kubo, M. (1995).  Studies of cuticle drugs from natural sources. III. Inhibitory effect of Myrica rubra on melanin biosynthesis. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin, 18(8), 1148-1150.

CARDIAC HEALTH

• Isolates from the bayberry affected binding to rat cardiac membranes, increased intracellular free calcium concentration of fibroblasts, and induced contraction of rat aortic strips.  From:  Fujimoto, M., Mihara, S. I., Nakajima, S., Ueda, M., Nakamura, M., & Sakurai, K. S. (1992). A novel non-peptide endothelin antagonist isolated from bayberry, Myrica cerifera. FEBS letters, 305(1), 41-44.

​​WEIGHT LOSS

• Bayberry extract reduced metabolic disorders in mice with a high fat diet.  From:  Yu, L., Cai, W., Zhang, Y., Feng, L., & Huang, C. (2015). Red bayberry extract prevents high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in C57BL/6 mice. Journal of Functional Foods, 14, 278-288.

​​CHOLESTEROL LOWERING

• Blood triglyceride levels in olive oil-fed mice were improved possibly related to the myricetin and gallic acid content of Myrica bark.  From:  Kobayashi, K., Ihara, S., Kobata, A., Itoh, K., Kusunoki, N., & Yoshizaki, F. (2008). Inhibitory effect of Myrica bark on lipase activity in mouse plasma and gastrointestinal tract. Journal of medicinal food, 11(2), 289-293.

​​ANTI-PARASITE

• Myrica esculenta showed antihelmintic activity.  From:  Jain, V. K., & Jain, B. (2010). Antihelmintic activity of ethanolic extract of bark of Myrica esculenta. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 1(11), 129.

​​HORMONE EFFECT

• Myricanone, myricanol, and muricetin from Myrica rubra showed antiandrogenic activity (inhibiting testosterone expression) in an animal study.From:  Matsuda, H., Yamazaki, M., Matsuo, K., ASANUMA, Y., & KUBO, M. (2001). Anti-androgenic activity of Myricae cortex-Isolation of active constituents from bark of Myrica rubra. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin, 24(3), 259-263.

​​ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIFUNGAL  / ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIVIRAL

• Antifungal activity was demonstrated from the leaves of Myrica gale and its sesquiterpene constituents: germacrone and β-elemenone.  From:  Carlton, R. R., Waterman, P. G., Gray, A. I., & Deans, S. G. (1992). The antifungal activity of the leaf gland volatile oil of sweet gale (Myrica gale)(Myricaceae). Chemoecology, 3(1), 55-59.
• Extracts from Myrica serrata (bayberry) inhibits growth of Cladosporium cucumerinum, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli.   From:  Gafner, S., Wolfender, J. L., Mavi, S., & Hostettmann, K. (1996). Antifungal and antibacterial chalcones from Myrica serrata. Planta medica, 62(01), 67-69.
• Extracts from the bark of Myrica rubra showed antiviral activity against herpes 2.  From:  Cheng, H. Y., Lin, T. C., Ishimaru, K., Yang, C. M., Wang, K. C., & Lin, C. C. (2003). In vitro antiviral activity of prodelphinidin B-2 3, 3′-di-O-gallate from Myrica rubra. Planta medica, 69(10), 953-956.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 9/27/18