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].

Curcuma longa, a bitter taste tropical plant that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family cultivated extensively in Asia, India, China and many other countries [1], has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat multiple symptoms and as a natural remedy for many other ailments and affections. Curcuma longa resembles a lot other Zingiberaceae family plants as Zingiber officinale (Ginger), and as this one has many known properties and health benefits. The powder obtained from the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric), known as curry, is used in many traditional Indian dishes and is part of the Indian diet since centuries ago.

Almost everyone is familiar with the yellow color of curry, but not everyone knows that this color is the effect of a polyphenol found in Curcuma longa rhizome, a polyphenol known as Curcumin.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), one of the most active chemical constituents found in Turmeric or Curcuma longa, is a pungent, bitter and astringent Turmeric constituent that has been traditionally used in herbal preparations and as a dye and flavoring agent, a polyphenol compound from the group of curcuminoids. Now scientists from Ludwig-Maximilans University in Munich (LMU) led by PD Dr. Beatrice Bachmeier, have discovered that Curcumin suppresses metastases of certain cancers. Image: Turmeric root by Shu Tu under Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0).

CURCUMA LONGA

Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Common name: Turmeric, Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica Valeton.

Active constituents found in the aqueous extract of a flower native to Spanish coasts, locally known as Manto de la Virgen (English: Virgin's mantle), botanical name Fagonia cretica, showed cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, causing p53 associated growth arrest within 5 hours of extract treatment and apoptosis within 24 hours, showing how the aqueous extract of Fagonia cretica can induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via p53-dependent and independent mechanisms, with activation of the DNA damage response [5].  Image: Fagonia cretica by Silversyrpher under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

The results of the study indicate that Fagonia cretica aqueous extract contains potential anti-cancer agents acting either singly or in combination against breast cancer cell proliferation via DNA damage-induced FOXO3a and p53 expression [5].

FAGONIA CRETICA

Family: Zygophyllaceae
Genus: Fagonia
Common name: Virgin's mantle, Manto de la virgen.

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane), the phytochemical extracted from Curcuma longa root and the turmeric isoflavone exerting antioxidant, anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects used since centuries ago in Ayurvedic medicinal treatments and as a spice in many traditional Indian and also European dishes, has shown promising results on the treatment of tumor growth castration-resistant on androgen deprivation prostate cancer patients, as a study from Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center shows [1].

CURCUMA LONGA

Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Common name: Turmeric