Chemical Composition of Volatile Extract and Biological Activities of Volatile and Less-Volatile Extracts of Juniper Berry (Juniperus drupacea L.) Fruit

Abstract

Volatile chemicals in a dichloromethane extract from a steam distillate of juniper berry fruit (Juniperus drupacea L.) and its two column chromatographic fractions (eluted with hexane and ethyl ether) were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The major compounds in the dichloromethane extract were alpha-pinene (23.73%), thymol methyl ether (17.32%), and camphor (10.12%). A fraction eluted with hexane contained alpha-pinene (44.24%) as the major constituent. A fraction eluted with ethyl ether had thymol methyl ether (22.27%) and camphor (19.65%) as the main components. Three samples prepared from the distillate and two additional samples prepared by petroleum ether and ethanol extraction directly from juniper berry fruits exhibited clear antioxidant activities with dose response in both 1,2-diphenyl picrylhydrazyl and beta-carotene assays. All samples except the hexane fraction showed comparable activities to that of the synthetic antioxidant t-butyl hydroquinone at a level of 200 microg/mL in the two testing systems. The extracts of dichloromethane, petroleum ether, and ethanol exhibited appreciable antimicrobial activities against six microorganisms with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.5 mg/mL (volatile extract against Candida albicans ) to 1.2 mg/mL (ethanol extract against Aspergillus niger ). The results of the present study suggest that this fruit could be a natural antioxidant supplement for foods and beverages.

In vitro analysis of radioprotective effect of monoterpenes

“…They have a wide variety of bioactivities, such as antioxidant activity [8]. Antioxidant activities of essential oils extracted from coriander, eucalyptus, juniper, cumin, basil, and thyme have been reported [8][9][10].…”

Neuroprotective and Anti-Aging Potentials of Essential Oils from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

“…For instance, EOs from thyme, clove, eucalyptus, cinnamon leaf, juniper, basil, chamomile, coriander, cumin are reported to possess considerable antioxidant potentials (Tomaino et al, 2005; El-Ghorab et al, 2008; Wei and Shibamoto, 2010). Thymus spathulifolius is reported with strong anti-radicals activity owing to the presence of active constituents thymol and carvacrol at high concentrations of 36.5% and 29.8%, respectively (Tepe et al, 2004).…”

“…Thymus spathulifolius is reported with strong anti-radicals activity owing to the presence of active constituents thymol and carvacrol at high concentrations of 36.5% and 29.8%, respectively (Tepe et al, 2004). Likewise, the antioxidant capability of Egyptian corn silk was attributed to the presence of high concentrations of carvacrol (58.1%) and thymol (20.5%) (El-Ghorab et al, 2008). Dietary intake of oregano oil has been reported to significantly delay lipid oxidation in animal models (Botsoglou et al, 2004).…”

Himalayan Aromatic Medicinal Plants: A Review of their Ethnopharmacology, Volatile Phytochemistry, and Biological Activities

“…Important medicinal species include J. communis , the common juniper used to flavor gin [398], J. drupacea from the eastern Mediterranean [399], J. monosperma from southwestern North America [400], J. oxycedrus , the heartwood from which oil of cade is prepared [401], and J. virginiana , used in traditional medicine by Native Americans in eastern North America [402]. …”