Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) berries, seeds, leaves, and essential oils: New undiscovered sources of natural compounds with promising health benefits

Food Frontiers

Danila Cianciosi¹  Tamara Y. Forbes‐Hernández²  Francesca Giampieri² 

[1] Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Specialistiche e Odontostomtologiche Università Politecnica delle Marche Ancona Italy;Nutrition and Food Science Group Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry CITACA CACTI University of Vigo ‐ Vigo Campus Vigo Spain;

关键词: antioxidants;    bioactive compounds;    disease prevention;    human health;   

DOI  :  10.1002/fft2.37

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a typical plant of the coasts of Mediterranean area, which grows spontaneously as a shrub or a small tree. Myrtle berries, leaves, seeds, and essential oils are natural sources of several nutrients and bioactive compounds with marked health effects. In the ancient medicine, it has been indeed used for treating several common diseases, including gastrointestinal, urinary, and skin disorders, whereas currently it is widely employed in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. This review aims to describe the nutritional and the phytochemical compositions of different parts of myrtle plant, as well as their antioxidant activities. In addition, several in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo studies are also presented to give a general overview of the potential effects of myrtle on human health. Finally, a critical analysis of the limitations related to the current research on myrtle is given.

【 授权许可】

Unknown