Abstract
Methanolic extracts from Juniperus communis L. berries collected from five different localities in the Republic of Macedonia were evaluated for their cytotoxicity by Brine shrimp lethality assay. The obtained cytotoxic activity is descending as follows: Pelister (128 μg/ mL) > Jakupica (221 μg/mL) > Prilep (662 μg/mL) > Demir Hisar (863 μg/mL) > Makedonski Brod (969 μg/mL). Berries collected from mountain areas (Pelister and Jakupica) demonstrated prominent cytotoxic effects, while berries collected from localities near urban areas exhibited lower cytotoxicity. Variations in their bioactivity are probably due to their complex phytochemical composition, which may vary with different ecological and geographical conditions.
Highlights
Juniperus communis L. is an evergreen shrub belonging to the family Cupresaceae and is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from cool temperate to polar regions
Methanolic extracts from Juniperus communis L. berries collected from five different localities in the Republic of Macedonia were evaluated for their cytotoxicity by Brine shrimp lethality assay
Most prominent cytotoxic effect was observed for the berries collected from Pelister (128 μg/mL) and the lowest cytotoxic activity was demonstrated by the berries collected from Makedonski Brod (969 μg/mL)
Summary
Juniperus communis L. (common juniper) is an evergreen shrub belonging to the family Cupresaceae and is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from cool temperate to polar regions. (common juniper) is an evergreen shrub belonging to the family Cupresaceae and is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from cool temperate to polar regions. Common juniper shrubs grow natively in all parts of the Republic of Macedonia (Micevski, 1998). Indigenous people from the East were using the juniper berries as herbal tea to treat urinary tract infections and as tonic against flu, muscle aches and kidney problems, while the needles were mainly used as remedy for acute and chronic cystitis, albuminuria, renal suppression, Materials and methods Plant materials. The plant material was harvested in the year 2010 and 2011 from five different localities: Pelister (JCP), Jakupica. Dried plant material was milled to fine powder and stored in airtight containers until use
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