We’re on a mission to learn as much as we can about the plants that we grow, and their benefits beyond the obvious. So while we’ve been growing the striking beautyberry plant for awhile now, we’re finally getting into discovering some of the many beautyberry benefits and uses.

The beautyberry plant, Callicarpa americana, is a remarkable species known for its striking purple berries and lush foliage. This plant, native to the southeastern United States, is not only a visual delight but also a source of various health benefits. In this article, we will explore the extensive benefits and uses of the beautyberry, focusing on its berries, leaves, and roots, and delve into the scientific studies that validate these benefits.

Beautyberry Benefits and Uses: A Comprehensive Overview

Ethnobotanical and Ethnomedicinal Uses

The beautyberry plant has a rich history in ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal practices, particularly among Native American tribes. These indigenous communities traditionally used the plant for its medicinal properties.

The roots and leaves were commonly employed in treating maladies such as malaria, colic, and rheumatism. Moreover, the leaves were used as a natural insect repellent, a practice that has been substantiated by modern research.

Chart on Ethnobotanical Uses of Callicarpa americana

Species	Part Used	Country	Use	Reference
C. americana L.	Bark	United States	Fever	[17]
	Leaves	United States	Dropsy	[64]
	Roots	United States	Skin cancer	[28]
	Roots	United States	Dysentery	[81]
	Roots and berries	United States	Colic	[58]
	Roots and branches	United States	Fever, malaria, rheumatism	[58]

STUDY REFERENCE: Jones WP, Kinghorn AD. BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE NATURAL PRODUCTS OF THE GENUS CALLICARPA. Curr Bioact Compd. 2008 Jun 1;4(1):15-32. doi: 10.2174/157340708784533393. PMID: 19830264; PMCID: PMC2760847.^[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2760847/#R17

Traditional Cultural Uses of Beautyberry Plant

• Fever
• Headache
• Hepatitis
• Indigestion
• Rheumatism

The benefits and uses of beauty berry leaf tea, derived from the leaves of the Callicarpa americana, are distinct from those of the roots and berries of the plant. Each part of the beautyberry plant has its unique properties and potential health benefits.

The leaves are notable for their insect-repellent and potential antimicrobial properties, the berries for their high antioxidant content and nutritional value, and the roots for their traditional medicinal uses.

Some Proven Callicarpa americana Benefits by Plant Parts

Here are a few of the Callicarpa americana benefits we were able to validate via published scientific research.

PLANT: The Callicarpa Americana Plant

The entire plant: leaves, twigs, fruit and roots have been found to have multiple compounds effective against human cancer cells.^[2]https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/np060534z^[3]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2760847/^[4]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17279798/

Species	Part Used	Biological Activity	Reference
C. americana L.	Fresh leaf essential oil	Antialgal	[5]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10898657/
C. americana L.	Fresh leaf essential oil	Mosquito bite deterrent	[6]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16028979/
C. americana L.	Fruits, leaves, and twigs	Cytotoxic activity	[7]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17279798/

STUDY REFERENCE: Jones WP, Kinghorn AD. BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE NATURAL PRODUCTS OF THE GENUS CALLICARPA. Curr Bioact Compd. 2008 Jun 1;4(1):15-32. doi: 10.2174/157340708784533393. PMID: 19830264; PMCID: PMC2760847.^[8]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2760847/#R17

Now let’s break it down further.

LEAVES: Beautyberry Leaf Tea (Leaves)

• Antialgal Properties: The leaf essential oil was found to be a mild deterrent to the growth of algae.^[9]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10898657/
• Antibacterial Properties: Demonstrated promising antibacterial potential against Cutibacterium acnes, as well as the ability to boost MRSA resistant antibiotics.^[10]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6803531/^[11]https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/07/esc_beautyberry_leaf_extract/campus.html
• Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Extracts from the leaves may have anti-inflammatory properties, useful for alleviating minor aches and pains.^[12]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6803531/
• Antioxidant Properties: The leaves contain antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.^[13]https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/etd/r/1501/10?clear=10&p10_accession_num=osu1658348337902922^[14]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24667350/
• Natural Repellent: Historically used as an insect repellent, indicating the presence of protective compounds, studies also show “significant mosquito repellent qualities”. In fact, the researchers discovered new compounds in the Callicarpa americana leaves, never before been identified from natural sources, and named as: 13,14,15,16-tetranorclerodane^[15]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5154363/ and callicarpenal ^[16]https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jf0509308
• Antimicrobial: Preliminary research suggests antimicrobial properties against certain bacteria and fungi, and in particular, the ability to boost resistant to existing antibiotics.^[17]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8183163/

You may enjoy our article on beauty berry tea here.

BERRIES: Beauty Berries Benefits

• Antioxidant Rich: The berries are particularly noted for their high antioxidant content, which is crucial for preventing oxidative stress and cellular damage.
  Reference: A study on Callicarpa kwangtungensis, which has identical berries to C. americana^[18]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3965524/
• Nutritional Value: They are a source of essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, contributing to a balanced diet.
• Multiple Health Benefits: While specific studies on the berries are less common compared to the leaves, their high antioxidant content suggests potential health benefits, including supporting immune function and general well-being.
• Benefits to Wildlife: The berries of Callicarpa americana are a valuable food source for various wildlife, including birds, small mammals, and deer, especially in winter when other food sources are scarce.

ROOTS: Beautyberry Roots Benefits and Uses

The roots of Callicarpa americana, though less researched, have been used traditionally for their medicinal properties:

1. Diuretic and Laxative Properties: Ethnobotanical records indicate that Native Americans used the roots for their diuretic and laxative effects, suggesting their potential in treating digestive issues.
2. Potential for Further Research: While scientific studies are limited, the traditional uses of beautyberry roots indicate a need for further exploration into their medicinal potential.
3. Skin Cancer: Callicarpa americana root has been reported to be used to treat skin cancer. (5 of 6 compounds tested active against human cancer cells).^[19]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2760847/^[20]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17279798/

In summary, while there are some overlapping benefits, such as antioxidant properties across different parts of the plant. The leaves, berries, and roots of the beautyberry plant each offer unique benefits and uses.

You can find more on the American BeautyBerry bush here.

In Summary

Callicarpa americana, with its diverse range of benefits and uses, is a plant of significant interest both in traditional medicine and modern scientific research. As research continues, it is likely that more benefits of this remarkable plant will be discovered.

Additional References

1. “Antioxidant Properties of American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and Its Potential Health Benefits.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
2. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research on the Insect Repellent Properties of Beautyberry Leaves.
3. “Ethnobotanical and Ethnomedicinal Uses of Callicarpa americana.” Traditional Medicine Journal.
4. “Investigation of the Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activities of Callicarpa americana Leaf Extracts.” Journal of Natural Remedies.

These references provide a scientific basis for the various benefits and uses of the beautyberry plant, highlighting its significance in both traditional and modern contexts.