Bayberry - Myrica cerifera

Description
Myrica cerifera is a 1-3 tall shrub found along the eastern coast of the United States from New Jersey
to southern Florida and through the Gulf states to Texas. Often found on sandy sites along the coast, it
also inhabits a wide variety of sites from swamps to upland woods. The leaves are very fragrant when
rubbed. The bark is aromatic, taste astringent, bitter and very acrid. The wax was first introduced into
medicinal use by Alexandre in 1722. It is removed from the berries by boiling them in water. The wax
is harder and more brittle than beeswax. Candles made from it are aromatic, smokeless after snuffing,
and very brittle. It makes an aromatic and softening shaving lather. It has also been used for making
sealing-wax. Two kg of berries yield about half a kilo of wax.1 Common names include wax myrtle
and candleberry. The medicinal parts are the dried root bark and the wax extracted from the berries.

Constituents
The bark contains tannins, resin (containing myricinic acid), triterpenoids including taraxerol,
taraxerone and myricadiol, flavonoids including myricitrin, traces of volatile oil. The wax (lipid)
contains esters of palmitic, myristic and lauric acids.2

Therapeutic activities
Mineralcorticoid activity
Myricadiol has mineralcorticoid activity and could therefore cause salt retention and potassium
excretion; however the emetic action is likely to come into effect before a clinically significant
mineralcorticoid effect is seen. The resin is acrid. A methanol extract of bayberry was found to have
antithrombin activity in a bioassay system.3

Antibacterial
Myricitrin has bactericidal and spermatocidal activity.4

Lipase inhibition
The methanolic extract of bayberry bark has been shown to inhibit lipase in mouse plasma in vitro.
The extract has also been shown to depress the elevation of blood triglyceride level in olive-fed mice.
Myricetin and gallic acid were suspected to be responsible for the inhibition of the lipase activity
however, the contents of these compounds in the methanol extract is insufficient to be responsible for
anti-lipase activity in the gastrointestinal tract also seen in vivo. Myricitrin, which is present in
abundance in the methanol extract (about 61%), did not show the inhibitory activity. However,
administration of isolated myricitrin was shown to suppress the elevation of blood triglyceride level to
a slightly smaller extent compared with the methanol extract. Consequently, it likely that myricitrin
may function as a pro-drug, which becomes activated after its conversion to myricetin, the active
substance, by enterobacilli in the gastrointestinal tract. 5

Antioxidant
Myricitrin, and its alkaline degradation products had a strong inhibitory effect on the LDL oxidation
induced by radical scavenging and copper-ion chelation. Myricitrin has been shown to strongly inhibit
oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in an experimental study simulating human digestion.
Myricitrin was shown to be very stable under an acidic condition (pH 1.8) corresponding to the
gastric environment but it was easily degraded under an alkaline condition (pH 8.5) corresponding to
the intestinal environment. However, degraded myricitrin also had a strong inhibitory effect on the
oxidative degradation of alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol and apolipoprotein B-100 in low-density
lipoprotein. The study shows that degraded myricitrin still retains the antioxidant and copper-
chelating activities toward low-density lipoprotein.6

Anti-inflammatory
Myricitrin has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive (reducing sensitivity to painful stimuli) actions
Nociceptive pain is physiological pain as opposed to pathological pain and may be treated with anti-
inflammatory medication rather than medication with just analgesic activity. Myricitrin has been
shown to produce a nociceptive response in models of acute pain. The effects of myricitrin have
mainly been attributed to the inhibition of PI 3-kinase and protein kinase c activities, nitric oxide
(NO) production, nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) over-expression and NF-kB activation. More recently,
myricitrin was found to cause a potent inhibition of calcium transport in vitro and in vivo. Taken
together, these findings suggest that myricitrin may relieve both neuropathic and inflammatory pain.
Pathological (chronic) pain is an unrelenting condition that often becomes debilitating. A recent study
demonstrated that systemic (i.p.) administration of the myricitrin produced an inhibition of tactile
allodynia (a painful response to a usually non-painful stimulus) induced by two chronic pain models
(sciatic nerve partial constriction and chemically-induced inflammation) in mice. Although myricitrin
did not reduce neutrophil migration it did succeed in decreasing paw oedema in drug-induced local
inflammation, possibly because of its antioxidant activity associated with a decrease in
myeloperoxidase activity. This suggests that myricitrin may be beneficial in the treatment of
chronic pain and inflammation.7,8

Chemopreventive
Myricitrin has been shown to prevent colon carcinogenesis in an experimental bioassay. Thirty-four
rats were divided randomly into five experimental groups. Rats in groups 1-3 were given
subcutaneous injections of a cancer-inducing compound once a week for 3 weeks. Starting 1 week
before the first injection, rats in groups 2 and 3 were fed a diet containing 500 or 1000 mg/kg
myricitrin, respectively, for 11 weeks. Rats in group 4 were fed a diet containing 1000 mg/kg
myricitrin. Rats in groups 1 and 5 were given the basal diet alone during the study. The experiment
was terminated 11 weeks after the start. The frequency of aberrant crypt foci (a precursor of colon
cancer) per colon in group 3 treated with 1000 mg/kg myricitrin was significantly lower than that in
group 1 (control group) (p<0.01). Furthermore, dietary myricitrin at both doses (groups 2 and 3)
significantly inhibited the formation of BCAC (beta-catenin-accumulated crypts –a precursor for
colonic adenocarcinoma) when compared to group 1 (p<0.05).9

Apoptosis-inducing
The mitochondrion plays a central role in cellular metabolism and apoptosis. During apoptosis, a wide
variety of cellular signals elicited from the membrane, cytosol or mitochondria are activated by
stimuli. These signals can disturb redox and energy metabolism and modulate the expression of
certain genes (Bcl-2). Mitochondria may sense the death signals and commit cells to apoptosis by
releasing death factors into the cytosol, such as cytochrome c. Myricitrin has been shown to induce
apoptosis via a mitochondrial-dependent but reactive oxygen-independent pathway involving protein
kinase C, cytochrome c and the caspases cascade.

Actions
Traditional actions: Astringent, tonic, stimulant, mild diaphoretic. Emetic in large doses,.
Possible actions (based on the myricitrin research): Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, apoptosis-
inducing, chemo-protective, lipase-inhibiting.

Traditional usage
The early American colonists used bayberry to make fragrant candles rather than medicines. Initially
bayberry was used medicinally only in the South, where the Choctaw Indians boiled the leaves and
drank the decoction as a treatment for fever. Later, Louisiana settlers adopted the plant and drank
bayberry wax in hot water for the most violent cases of dysentery. During the early 19th century,
bayberry was popularised by Samuel A. Thomson, a New England herbalist. He used it for producing
"heat within the body”. Thomson recommended bayberry for colds, flu, and other infectious diseases
in addition to diarrhoea and fever. Contemporary American herbalists recommend using the herb
externally for varicose veins and internally for diarrhoea, dysentery, colds, flu, bleeding gums, and
sore throat.10

Jethro Kloss, in his book, Back To Eden writes: Bayberry is excellent as an emetic after narcotic
poisoning of any kind. It is good to follow the bayberry with an emetic, such as lobelia. Bayberry is
also valuable when taken in the usual manner for all kinds of haemorrhages, whether from the
stomach, lungs, or excessive menstruation, and when combined with capsicum it is an unfailing
remedy for this. Very good in leucorrhoea. Has an excellent general effect on the female organs, also
has an excellent influence on the uterus during pregnancy, and makes a good douche. Excellent
results will be obtained from its use in goitre. In diarrhoea and dysentery, use the tea as an enema.
For gangrenous sores, boils, or carbuncles, use as a wash and poultice, or apply the powdered
bayberry to the infection. The tea is an excellent wash for spongy and bleeding gums. The tea taken
internally is useful in jaundice, scrofula, and canker sores in the throat and mouth. The tea taken
warm promotes perspiration, improves the whole circulation and tones up the tissues. Taken in
combination with yarrow, catnip, sage, or peppermint, it is unexcelled for colds.11

M. Grieve writes in A Modern Herbal that bayberry is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, jaundice and
scrofula. Externally, the powdered bark is used as a stimulant to indolent ulcers, though in poultices it
should be combined with elm. The decoction is good as a gargle and injection in chronic
inflammation of the throat, leucorrhoea and uterine haemorrhage. It is an excellent wash for the gums.
The powder is strongly sternutatory and excites coughing.1

The specific indication according to the Eclectics were as a stimulating astringent indicated when
there is excessive mucous discharge, where catarrhal conditions exist in any locality, especially in the
gastro-intestinal tract. Also where atonic diarrhoea, or persistent diarrhoea, accompanies prostrating
disease; also where there is feeble capillary circulation of the mucous membranes, accompanied with
phlegmenous ulceration. Locally and internally for sore mouth, with spongy, bleeding gums.

It was a remedy for those conditions where the vital powers are at low ebb. It aids the nutrition,
stimulating the absorption of food, and promotes the restoration of depraved blood. It is considered a
valuable alterative and a mucous membrane tonic where it was used in any condition where the
mucous surfaces have lost tone, and are throwing out a profuse discharge. Bayberry was given with
capsicum for its stimulating and tonic properties. It was combined with pleurisy root for breaking up
recent severe colds. Bayberry was also used in chronic stomatitis, where the breath is bad, and there is
slow ulceration, the mucous membranes. It was combined with Hydrastis and applied to the mucous
surfaces in chronic nasal catarrh. Bayberry is described as combining stimulating and astringing
powers in about equal proportions. The entire circulation is slowly but steadily elevated by it, and a
good outward flow of blood secured.12
Priest and Priest describe bayberry as a positive diffusive stimulant that arouses circulation and
eliminative organs. Indicated for a soft, compressible pulse and peripheral laxity. For heavy catarrhal
states of mucous membranes where it removes thick, viscid secretions from gastro-intestinal tract.
Babyberry was also recommended for its positive influence upon the uterus and the venous system.13

The great Eclectic Scudder claimed that the agent was a stimulant to the essential processes of
digestion, blood-making and nutrition. The remedy may be given to advantage to those patients who
are afflicted with chronic malarial symptoms and jaundice, with imperfect liver action, who are
troubled with headaches, which are worse in the morning. The tongue is coated yellow, there is
weakness and the patient complains of muscular soreness and aching in the limbs. The pulse is slow
and the temperature is inclined to be subnormal. There is dull pain in the right side. No appetite,
unrefreshing sleep, or where there are catarrhal conditions of the bile ducts resulting, in jaundice.12

Bayberry was also used as a warm infusion (in small doses so as to not cause vomiting) to induce
perspiration in colds or to relieve cramping diarrhoea (but not dysentery), uterine haemorrhage, and
haemorrhage from the bowels and lungs. Bayberry was used with capsicum in flooding and excessive
lochia (post-natal bleeding) where is exerts a direct stimulating influence on the uterus leading to its
firm contraction in cases of labour where the circulation is sluggish and the parts flaccid; whence it
is a valuable parturient under such circumstances, and at the same time anticipates flooding. 14

Used in cold preparations (such as alcohol extracts), bayberry was used in chronic menorrhagia, and
leucorrhoea with prolapse. For such purposes, it is combined with relaxing tonics; and it is noticeable
that the bayberry then is scarcely liable to cause constipation, its influence seeming to be spent wholly
on the vaginal and uterine membranes. In these conditions bayberry was given in frequent, small
doses. Bayberry wax was used externally as an ointment for ringworm, tinea capitis, and other dry and
excoriated sores.14

Indications
• Fevers, colds

• Diarrhoea, mucous colitis – bayberry is having a relaxing effect on the bowels, reducing, but
not suppressing, the potentially debilitating eliminations of diarrhoea.15, 16

• Poor appetite, poor digestion (stimulates the flow of bile)

• Leucorrhoea (douche), sore throat (gargle), sores and indolent ulcers (poultice)

• Stomatitis, bad breath and mouth ulcers (gargle)

Use in pregnancy
Not recommended during pregnancy.

Contraindications and cautions

In large doses, bayberry root bark may cause stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting. Those with
chronic gastrointestinal conditions, such as colitis should use it cautiously.
Administration and Dosage
Powdered herb: 0.6-2 g by infusion or decoction.16

Bayberry (Bark) 1:1 45% alc: 0.6 to 2.0 ml 3 times daily.16

References
1
Grieve M. A Modern Herbal 1931 http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bayber20.html Accessed 15/09/2008
2
Van Wyk BE, Wink M Medicinal Plants of the World 2004; Arcadia: Briza. 209
3
Chistokhodova N, Nguyen C, Calvino T, Kachirskaia I, Cunningham G, Howard Miles D. Antithrombin activity of
medicinal plants from central Florida.J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jul;81(2):277-80.
4
Taguri T, Tnaka T, Kounob I.Antibacterial Spectrum of Plant Polyphenols and Extracts Depending upon Hydroxyphenyl
Structure. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 29(11) 2226—2235 (2006)
5
Kobayashi K, Ihara S, Kobata A, Itoh K, Kusunoki N, Yoshizaki F. Inhibitory effect of Myrica bark on lipase activity in
mouse plasma and gastrointestinal tract. J Med Food. 2008 Jun;11(2):289-93
6
Yokomizo A, Moriwaki M.Myricitrin degraded by simulated digestion inhibits oxidation of human low-density
lipoprotein. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2005 Apr;69(4):693-9.
7
Meotti FC, Missau FC, Ferreira J, Pizzolatti MG, Mizuzaki C, Nogueira CW, Santos ARAnti-allodynic property of
flavonoid myricitrin in models of persistent inflammatory and neuropathic pain in mice. Biochem Pharmacol. 2006 Dec
15;72(12):1707-13.
8
Meotti FC, Senthilmohan R, Harwood DT, Missau FC, Pizzolatti MG, Kettle AJ. Myricitrin as a substrate and inhibitor of
myeloperoxidase: implications for the pharmacological effects of flavonoids. Free Radic Biol Med. 2008 Jan 1;44(1):109-
20
9
Asano N, Kuno T, Hirose Y, Yamada Y, Yoshida K, Tomita H, Nakamura Y, Mori H. Preventive effects of a flavonoid
myricitrin on the formation of azoxymethane-induced premalignant lesions in colons of rats. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2007
Jan-Mar;8(1):73-6.
10
Holistic Online http://holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/_Herbs/h75.htm Accessed 15/09/2008
11
Kloss J Back to Eden 1939 http://books.google.com.au/books?
id=Pjma9L3OLWwC&pg=PA90&lpg=PA90&dq=Myrica+cerifera&source=web&ots=iBIqyAWWpV&sig=UltCEuA4Dpy
v8AYaqcCnklNLr-I&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA91,M1 Accessed 15/09/2008
12
Ellingwood F The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1919
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/ellingwood/myrica.html Accessed 15/09/08
13
Priest AW, Priest LR. Herbal Medication - A clinical and dispensary handbook 1982 Romford: Fowler;66
14
Cook W The Physiomedical Dispensatory, 1869,
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/cook/MYRICA_CERIFERA.htm Accessed 18/09/08
15
Mills SY The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. 1991. London:Arkana;157
16
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 Cowling:British Herbal Medicine Association;146-147