Volatile Compounds of Ripe Berries (black) of Juniperus Communis L. Growing Wild in North-East Lithuania

Abstract

The ripe berries (black) of Juniperus communis L. were colected from five individual plants in five habitats. The essential oils obtained from fresh berries were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. α-Pinene dominated in all oils (21.0–46.3%). The second major constituents were myrcene (7.6–17.4%; four samples) and α-terpineol (4.6%; one sample). The monoterpenols terpinen-4-ol (9.6%; one sample), α-terpineol (2.9–6.0%; two oils) and p-mentha-1,5-dien-8-ol (4.5%), one oil) and sesquiterpenol α-cadinol (4.7%; one sample) took the third position. The sums of mono- and sesquiterpenoids were close (89.7–95.5%) in all essential oils, but the ratio of above compounds markedly differed (~2:1 in two oils and ~4:1 in three oils). One hundred twenty one identified constituent comprised (91.4–97.7%) of the juniper berry oils.