Chinese Bayberry (Myrica rubra) is a subtropical evergreen tree originating in China [1], where it has been cultivated and consumed for more than 7,000 years, becoming part of Chinese traditional medicine as part of herbal remedies for some ailments and illnesses. It is primarily cultivated in southern China for several thousand years [1], in high altitude lands and mountains, having a total annual production of over 1.1 million tons. The best known cultivars are Biqi and Dongkui, both from the Zhejiang province [1]. There are four species within the genus Myrica in China, namely Myrica rubra, esculenta, nana and adenophora.

Due to its delicious taste and the amount of health benefits exerted by Chinese bayberry, the areas in which it is cultivated has considerably extended in the last year, becoming considerably bigger in China and being introduced also in Australia [1].  Image left: Yumberry berries by Carsten Ullrich under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

MYRICA RUBRA

Family: Myricaceae
Genus: Myrica
Common name: Chinese Bayberry, Japanese Bayberry, Red Bayberry, Yumberry, Waxberry, or Chinese strawberry tree [9].

Many food supplements and herbs received great acceptance by European consumers as anti-inflammatory remedies, however the efficacy of some of them has undoubtedly been questioned many times. Several scientific studies and research show however that indeed, some of those herbal remedies and food supplements exert anti-inflammatory properties.

A research study performed by the Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano [1], has analysed 1251 publications naming some of them, namely Olea europea, Camellia sinensis, Vitis vinifera, and Matricaria recutita, which are herbal material frequently used also as food.

Among those publications one of this food supplements deserved to be highlighted, Vitis vinifera. Image left: Vitis vinifera by Soltenviva under Creative Commons license  (CC BY 2.0).

VITIS VINIFERA

Family: Vitaceae
Genus: Vitis
Common name: Common grape vine

With over 900 types, Mistletoe (Viscum album), commonly known as European mistletoe, is a semi-parasite plant that grows on different host trees [1] and has been mostly known for being part of the Christmas tradition as well as being used for decoration in most of our countries, becoming part of those traditional Christmas symbols that became part of this special celebration. Other plants as Rafflesia arnoldii, the biggest flower in the world, are also example of semi-parasitic plants.

Kissing under the mistletoe tradition dates back to Roman times, being a later synthesis of the Sexual license of Saturnalia with the Druidic sacrificial cult [18,19].

The first documented used of Mistletoe (Viscum album) for the treatment of cancer dates back to 1920, when mistletoe extracts were introduced for the first time as a cancer treatment by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925),  founder of anthroposophy [9,10], a philosophy that postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world accessible to direct experience through inner development [11]. But in Europe the use of Mistletoe is not limited to the treatment of cancer but also arthrosis, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, diabetes etc [8]. Image: The moment by Stephen Willis under Creative Common license (CC BY-SA 2.0).

VISCUM ALBUM

Family: Viscaceae
Genus: Viscum
Common name: Mistletoe, European Mistletoe, Common Mistletoe.

Cinnamon, the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree, botanically known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum, is derived from Sri Lanka´s former name, Ceylon. Cinnamon is distributed in India, Egypt, China, Srilanka and Australia [9] where it has been used extensively as spices in food or to produce essential oils  [9,10]. It has two main types, Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) and Chinese Cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum Ness) which when dried, rolls into a tubular form known as a Cinnamon quill. Cinnamon is available in either its whole quill form (cinnamon sticks) or as ground powder [2].

Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume is an important spice and aromatic crop having wide applications in flavoring, perfumery, beverages, and medicines [10]. Cinnamon is such a dietary component that has shown to have biologically active substances with insulin-mimetic properties. In vitro[5,6] and in vivo [7,8] studies have shown that Cinnamon enhances glucose uptake by activating the insulin receptor kinase activity, auto-phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, and glycogen synthase activity. Image left: Cinnamon quills by Steenbergs under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

CINNAMOMUM VERUM

Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Cinnamomum
Common name: Cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon, Common cinnamon, Sri Lanka cinnamon, cinnamon quills.