Myrica rubra berry, also known as yumberry or Chinese bayberry, review of health benefits

Myrica rubra is known as yumberry and has been used by Chinese health practitioners for centuries.

Myrica rubra composition
Myrica rubra has tannins, polyphenols, anthocyanins, gallic acid, quercetin hexoside, quercetin deoxyhexoside, Quercetin, protocatechuic acid, cyanidin, myricetin, and ellagic acid. The bark of Myrica rubra has rubanol and prodelphinidin B-2 3, 3'-di-O-gallate.

Anti-inflammatory benefit
Anti-inflammatory Activity of Myricetin Isolated from Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc. Leaves.
Planta Med. 2010 Apr 9. Wang SJ, Tong Y, Lu S, Yang R, Liao X, Xu YF, Li X. Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China.
MYRICA RUBRA Sieb. et Zucc. leaves are commonly used in folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders in China. Present studies on the anti-inflammatory effect of myricetin from MYRICA RUBRA Sieb. et Zucc. leaves was evaluated with various IN VIVO models of both acute and chronic inflammations such as xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, carrageenan-induced paw edema, leukocyte migration assay, and cotton pellet granuloma models. Myricetin showed a significant inhibition on ear edema and hind paw edema caused by xylene and carrageenan, respectively. Furthermore, it also inhibited the increase in capillary permeability induced by the production of acetic acid in the human body. Myricetin significantly decreased the serum levels of MDA and, in turn, increased the serum levels of SOD in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model. Concurrently, myricetin also significantly decreased leukocyte count. During chronic inflammation, myricetin inhibited the formation of granuloma tissue. These results, collectively, demonstrate that myricetin possesses a potent anti-inflammatory function on acute and chronic inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory mechanisms are probably associated with the inhibition of antioxidant activity. These results also support the claims of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners about the use of MYRICA RUBRA Sieb. et Zucc. leaves in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Myrica rubra and virus infection
Anti-influenza virus activity of Myrica rubra leaf ethanol extract evaluated using Madino-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008 Nov; Mochida K. Shimane Prefectural Institute of Health and Environmental Science, Japan.
Myrica rubra leaf ethanol extract was added to culture medium of Madino-Darby canine kidney cells inoculated with influenza virus, and the inhibition of influenza virus replication was measured. Myrica rubra leaf ethanol extract showed anti-influenza virus activity irrespective of the hemagglutinin antigen type in the influenza virus type A (H1N1), its subtype (H3N2), and type B.

Varieties of Myrica rubra
Myrica rubra Sieb. and Zucc. varieties include Biqi, Dongkui, and Zaodamei.
Myrica rubra var. acuminata is a native shrub widely distributed and used as folk medicine in Taiwan for stomach disorders and diarrhea.

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