The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites

Abstract

Background: Plants and their derived natural compounds possess various biological and therapeutic properties, which turns them into an increasing topic of interest and research. Juniperus genus is diverse in species, with several traditional medicines reported, and rich in natural compounds with potential for development of new drugs. Methods: The research for this review were based in the Scopus and Web of Science databases using terms combining Juniperus, secondary metabolites names, and biological activities. This is not an exhaustive review of Juniperus compounds with biological activities, but rather a critical selection taking into account the following criteria: (i) studies involving the most recent methodologies for quantitative evaluation of biological activities; and (ii) the compounds with the highest number of studies published in the last four years. Results: From Juniperus species, several diterpenes, flavonoids, and one lignan were emphasized taking into account their level of activity against several targets. Antitumor activity is by far the most studied, being followed by antibacterial and antiviral activities. Deoxypodophyllotoxin and one dehydroabietic acid derivative appears to be the most promising lead compounds. Conclusions: This review demonstrates the Juniperus species value as a source of secondary metabolites with relevant pharmaceutical potential.

New Lectins from Mediterranean Flora. Activity against HT29 Colon Cancer Cells

“…badia protein extracts, and to a far greater extent ( p < 0.05) of Joba extract. Recent studies showed that phenolic compounds from Juniperus could induce apoptosis in HT29 cells [22,23]. In this work, no cytotoxic effects were detected with protein extracts, but the significant reduction in cancer cell invasion and the results obtained in Figure 3 suggest that these results could be related to MMP-9 inhibition abilities observed in Joba.…”

Juniperus Communis Extract Exerts Antitumor Effects in Human Glioblastomas Through Blood-Brain Barrier

“…Some alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, phenolic compounds, and steroids from JCo berries and leaves can be extracted using chloroform and methanol [23]. The pharmacological activities of these chemical constituents include anti-inflammatory [24,25], antifungal [26], analgesic [27], hepatoprotective [23], antimicrobial, anti-mycobacterial [28,29], and neuroprotective [22] effects. In a recent study, Benzina et al demonstrated that deoxypodophyllotoxin extracted from JCo induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells [30].…”

Biological and therapeutic activities of thymoquinone: Focus on the Nrf2 signaling pathway

“…Application of J. communis is used in the treatment of urinary tract problems, migraine headaches, diabetes, gonorrhea, and skin irascibility. Reports of other studies have elucidated the feasibility of Juniperus species to be used as anti‐atopic, anticancer (lung, liver, bladder, and breast carcinomas), anxiolytic, antifungal, antimicrobial, pharmaceutical preservatives, and spices (Tavares & Seca, 2018).…”