Bayberry
Myrica cerifera
“As the first non-peptide endothelin receptor antagonist from a higher plant, a new triterpenoid, myriceric acid A (50-235) (1) was isolated from the bayberry, Myrica cerifera. Myriceric acid A (1) inhibited not only an endothelin-1-induced increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration (IC50 = 11 +/- 2 nM) but [125I]endothelin-1 binding in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (Ki = 66 +/- 15 nM). Two new related triterpenoids, myriceric acid C (6), and myriceric acid D (8), were also isolated. Furthermore, the chemical modification of these natural products led to the synthesis of sulfated derivatives (13, 14, 15) which showed 1.5 to 20 times higher affinity for endothelin receptors. The structure activity relationships of myriceric acids and their derivatives are discussed.”
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8998841
“Orally, bayberry is used for head colds, mucous colitis, diarrhea, as an antipyretic, a circulatory stimulant, and an emetic in large doses. Topically, bayberry is used as a gargle for sore throat, as a douche for leukorrhea (vaginal discharge), for indolent ulcers, and wound healing.”
- http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=NONMP&s=ND&pt=100&id=162&fs=ND&searchid=53545781
a.k.a.
candleberry, Southern bayberry, tallow shrub, waxberry, wax myrtle