Valorization of Bayberry (Morella rubra) Leaf By-Products: Impact of Growth Stage and Drying Method on Phytochemical Profile and Potential as Functional Food Ingredients

Bayberry (<i>Morella rubra</i> Lour.; syn. <i>Myrica rubra</i> (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc.) leaves are rich in bioactive compounds but remain underutilized. This study investigated the optimal harvest stage and processing methods to develop high-quality functional powder. We first compared three growth stages: red buds (RB), new leaves (NL), and old leaves (OL). RB exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity and unique volatile profile; however, NL was selected for processing optimization due to the balance between quality and biomass availability. Subsequently, NL was subjected to freeze-drying (FD), mechanical drying (MD), steaming followed by MD (S-MD), and shade drying (SD). Results showed that FD preserved the vibrant green color, glandular trichome structure, ascorbic acid, and fresh volatiles (monoterpenes). Conversely, thermal drying (MD and S-MD) disrupted cellular barriers, which facilitated the extraction of minerals and robust polyphenols like myricitrin, yielding the highest extraction of flavonoids and corresponding antioxidant activity, measured by hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORAC), in hot water extracts than FD. SD significantly degraded quality due to prolonged enzymatic oxidation. While FD is ideal for preserving aesthetics and heat-sensitive nutrients, low-cost MD and S-MD are recommended for producing antioxidant-rich powders for functional food applications where extraction efficiency is prioritized.