The Therapeutic Properties of Juniperus Communis L.: Antioxidant Capacity, Bacterial growth Inhibition, Anticancer Activity and Toxicity

Abstract

Introduction: J. communis berry is a high antioxidant fruit which is used in several traditional medicinal systems to treat a variety of diseases including rheumatism, arthritis and gout.This study was undertaken to examine the inhibitory activity of J. communis berry extracts on the growth of several bacteria associated with autoimmune inflammatory disease, and to test their ability to block CaCo 2 and HeLa cancer cell proliferation. Methods: J. Communis solvent extracts were prepared using solvents of varying polarity. The extracts were investigated by disc diffusion assay for the ability to inhibit the growth of a panel of pathogenic bacteria associated with autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Their MIC values were determined to quantify and compare their efficacies. Inhibitory activity against CaCo 2 and HeLa human carcinoma cell lines was evaluated using an MTS colorimetric cell proliferation assay. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: The methanol, water and ethyl acetate J. communis berry extracts displayed moderate to potent growth inhibitory activity against bacterial triggers of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis. The methanol and water extracts displayed the broadest specificity, inhibiting the growth of all bacteria tested. The ethyl acetate extract also displayed antibacterial activity, inhibiting the growth of 9 of the 13 bacterial strains (69%). The ethyl acetate extract displayed the greatest potency, with MIC values substantially below 2000 µg/mL for all bacteria which it inhibited. It was most effective at inhibiting the growth of P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris and S. aureus, each with MIC's ≤ 500 µg/mL. The

Cytotoxic effects of different aromatic plants essential oils on oral squamous cell carcinoma: An in vitro study

“…In accordance with the present study, Juniperus communis showed the capacity to inhibit cancer cell growth in two cancer cell lines-colorectal carcinoma cell line (CaCo 2 ) and cervical cancer cells line (HeLa) 18 .…”

“…Juniperus communis belongs to the Cupressaceae family and has been used as therapeutic agent in traditional medicine. Recent studies have reported strong antioxidant 16 , antibacterial 17 , antiinflammatory, as well as anticancer effects in colorectal and cervical cancer 18 .…”

Potential of Juniperus communis L as a nutraceutical in human and veterinary medicine

“…The polar J. communis with MIC values less than 1000 μg/ml i.e. 10 μg impregnated on the disc (Fernandez and Edwin, 2016). All the organic crude leaf extracts (methanol, ethanol, ethanol, hexane and chloroform) except aqueous extract have been reported to possess a good antibacterial activity against five pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria viz.…”

“…Many of these terpenoids are known to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and may be contributing to the growth inhibitory activity of the oil on pathogenic bacteria reported in various studies. Various junipers extracts like methanolic, aqueous and ether having potent or moderate growth inhibitory activities, were found to have high levels of phenolic compounds, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins (Fernandez and Edwin, 2016). Many studies have reported potent antibacterial activities for a wide variety of flavonoids (Narayana et al., 2001).…”

“…Such anti-proliferative effect of aqueous berry extract of juniper may be due to inhibition of growth rather than induction of apoptosis. The methanol and aqueous juniper berry extract also proved effective in blocking the proliferation of colorectal cancer cell line (Caco-2) and Hela cervical cancer growth with IC 50 values for Caco-2 and Hela carcinoma cells approximately 500 μg/ml and 2000–2500 μg/ml, respectively (Fernandez and Edwin, 2016). However, the test sample used was crude extract and it is possible that more than one anti-proliferative compound was present making the extract to function via pluripotent mechanisms.…”