Common names  |  Bayberry, Southern wax myrtle, Southern bayberry, Candleberry 

Scientific name  |  Myrica cerifera
Used part  |  Bark

Known active compounds  |  myricitrin, myricetin
Potential benefits in cosmetics  |  anti-oxidant, skin brightening, anti-inflammatory 

Product name  |  Bayberry Bark-ANB

Plant Story 

Bayberry (Myrica cerifera, also known as Morella cerifera), also called wax myrtle, is an evergreen shrub native to North and Central America. The genus Myrica belongs to the Myricaceae family, which comprises of about 97 species. In the United States, it grows mostly in the southeastern area. Traditionally, the decoction or tincture of root bark has been used as an astringent due to its high tannin content. It has also been used to treat fever, headaches, and inflammation.

Bayberry bark contains a number of phytochemicals, such as diarylheptanoids, flavonoids, and triterpenoids. Among them, myricetin and myricitrin are considered the major bioactive compounds. Myricitrin is known to have anti-inflammatory and strong radical scavenging activities and to inhibit melanogenesis. Other compounds such as erythrodiol, 1,4-dihydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl-1-O-D-glucopyranoside and butyl quinate from bayberry bark have also shown melanogenesis-inhibitory activity.