Ethnobotanical, Pharmacological and phytochemical assessment of Myrica rubra: a review

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the historical cultivation, traditional usage, morphology, and various biological activities of the Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra). Cultivated for more than two millennia, the Chinese bayberry is a subtropical fruit tree that has both culinary and commercial value. Conventional therapies have utilized their diverse components.  This stone fruit is abundant in vitamins and yields a diverse range of products. The plant has a variety of biological functions, and its extracts have encouraging effects on heart health, cancer cell prevention, and metabolic issues linked to obesity. The fruit has a wonderful taste and several health advantages, such as demonstrating considerable antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-cancer capabilities. The chemical composition of bayberry was thoroughly assessed in this study, including its anthocyanins, flavonoids, diarylheptanoids, organic acids, amino acids, peptides, and sugar. To comprehensively understand the mechanisms and structure-activity relationships of these natural compounds and to underscore their potential therapeutic applications for human health, further investigations are required.