title: Myrica faya: a new source of antioxidant phytochemicals.
abstract: Myrica faya is a fruit tree endemic of the Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira, and Canary Island), and its edible fruits are known as "amorinhos" (little loves), bright red to purple berries, used fresh and in jams and liquors. The phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of leaves and berries from M. faya are presented here for the first time. The screening of phytochemical compounds was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography with online UV and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS(n)). There were 55 compounds characterized, mostly galloyl esters of flavonoids and phenolic acids; 26 of the identified compounds (anthocyanins, isoflavonoids, lignans, terpenes, fatty acids, and phenylethanoids) have not been reported in Myrica genus so far. From the data presented here, it can be concluded that faya berries represent a rich source of cyanidin-3-glucoside, flavonoids, and vitamin C. In fact, higher antioxidant activity than that of the well-known Myrica rubra berries (Chinese bayberry) has been observed.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Química da Madeira (CQM) , Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9000-390 Funchal, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vítor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spínola
authors.forename: Eulogio J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Llorent-Martínez
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.forename: Paula C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Castilho
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D005504:Food Analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D031641:Myrica / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D064209:Phytochemicals
keywords: HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn; Myrica faya; antioxidant activity; phenolic compounds; vitamin C