Recent Breakthroughs in the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Morella and Myrica Species

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Bruno J. C. Silva²  Ana M. L. Seca²  Maria do Carmo Barreto²  Diana C. G. A. Pinto¹ 

[1] Department of Chemistry & Química Orgânica Produtos Naturais and Agroalimentares, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal;Department of Technological Science and Development, University of Azores, Ponta Delgada 9501-801, Portugal; E-Mails:

关键词: Morella;    Myrica;    antioxidant;    anti-inflammatory;    flavonoids;    diarylheptanoid;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms160817160

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Oxidative stress is one of the risk factors for the development of several chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Antioxidants are therefore highly sought and can be seen as a type of preventive medicine against several diseases. Myrica and Morella genus (Myricaceae) are taxonomically very close and their species are trees or shrubs with edible fruits that exhibit relevant uses in traditional medicine, for instance in Chinese or Japanese folk medicine they are used to treat diarrhea, digestive problems, headache, burns and skin diseases. Nearly 36 compounds were isolated from different morphological parts of Myrica and/or Morella species and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities evaluated. Thirteen of these compounds exhibit greater effects than the positive controls used. Adenodimerin A was the most active compound reported (in a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay EC₅₀= 7.9 ± 0.3 µM). These results are just one aspect of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory evaluations reported regarding Myrica and Morella species, so a comprehensive overview on the current status, highlighting the antioxidant health promoting effect of these species, their key antioxidant compounds as well as the compounds with protective effects against oxidative stress related diseases such as inflammation, is relevant.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.