Berry Essential Oil Research Articles

Insights into Molecular Mechanisms of Anticancer Activity of Juniperus communis Essential Oil in HeLa and HCT 116 Cells.

As cancer remains a significant global health challenge, there is an increasing need for novel therapeutic approaches. We investigated the antitumor potential of Juniperus communis berry essential oil on cervical cancer HeLa and colorectal HCT 116 cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through the MTT assay, revealing concentration-dependent reductions in cell viability. A clonogenic assay demonstrated long-term cytotoxic effects. Apoptosis markers were assessed via flow cytometric analysis and showed an induction of the intrinsic pathway in both cell lines, demonstrated by the elevated levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, JC-10 monomer formation, and cytochrome C migration to the cytosol. The treatment inhibited cell-survival pathways in HCT 116 cells and arrested HeLa cells in the S phase. An extensive molecular docking screening provided insight into the binding affinity and interaction patterns of the essential oil components with NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase and superoxide dismutase enzymes, further confirming the induction of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The obtained in silico and in vitro results indicated the anticancer potential of J. communis berry essential oil as it interferes with cancer cell molecular mechanisms. Our findings highlight J. communis berry essential oil as a promising natural agent with anticancer potential.

Chemical Variability of the Berry Essential Oil of Two Subspecies of Juniperus Oxycedrus L. from Northwestern Algeria.

The chemical composition of 33 oil samples isolated from the berries of individual trees of two subspecies of Juniperus oxycedrus L., collected in four locations in Tlemcen and Aïn Temouchent provinces, was investigated by GC-FID, GC/MS and 13CNMR. In total, 83 compounds were identified, accounting for 85.9 % to 98.6 % of the total composition. Yields ranged between 0.02 and 0.40 % (w/w). All compositions were submitted to statistical analysis. Combination of hierarchical clustering dendrogram and principal component analysis suggested the existence of two groups, the second group being sub-divided into two sub-groups. Groups and sub-groups were distinguished with respect to their contents of α-pinene, germacrene D, myrcene and, to a lesser extent, of manoyl oxide. The chemical composition of the oils belonging to subsp. oxycedrus was largely dominated by monoterpenes. α-Pinene (23.7-63.2 %) and germacrene D (4.5-25.4 %) were the major components, followed by myrcene (3.1-16.7 %). Conversely, samples oils of subsp. macrocarpa were largely dominated by germacrene D (4.4-30.0 %), followed by a lower content of α-pinene (10.0-24.3 %) and myrcene (1.0-4.3 %) and a significant content of manoyl oxide (4.3-9.9 %).

Juniper berry essential oils as natural resources of biological and pharmacological high-valuable molecules

Dried juniper berries (Juniperus communis L.) as a source of nutritionally valuable essential oil (EOs) were used for their isolation by conventional hydrodistillation (HD) and modern technique - microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MWHD). The chemical composition, and biological and microbiological potential of the isolated EOs, prepared by using different microwave energy power and microwave treatment time, were investigated. The essential oil kinetic release curves were mathematically modeled. Results of the research indicate that MWHD was a more favorable technique for EO isolation with higher biological activity than HD, where lower power of microwave radiation was more suitable for realizing a higher antioxidant activity. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the composition of essential oils obtained by different distillation techniques. Reduction of the isolation time of MWHD contributes to obtaining EOs with a very pronounced ability to inhibit excessive enzyme activity, while the production of EOs with strong microbiological activity requires a long isolation time. The EO of juniper berries obtained by MWHD could be characterized as a powerful natural product for the creation and formulation of new, as well as improving the quality of already existing food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

Screening of the Acaricidal Activity of Essential Oils against Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), is an important pest of citrus in China, where pesticides are commonly used in citrus orchards. In order to reduce the use of chemical pesticides against P. citri and the development of resistance, the screening of biological control agents has attracted the attention of students. In this study, seven plant essential oils with high toxicity were selected from 40 plant essential oils by the leaf-dip bioassay, including plant essential oils of lemongrass, patchouli, juniper berry, sage, clove, frankincense, and citrus. The LC50 after 72 h treatment were 3.198 μL/mL, 8.312 μL/mL, 3.244 μL/mL, 6.701 μL/mL, 8.350 μL/mL, 21.953 μL/mL, and 8.788 μL/mL, respectively. According to the LT50, the essential oils’ acute toxicity to P. citri from high to low were lemongrass, juniper berry, patchouli, citrus, sage, vetiver, and frankincense essential oils. In general, lemongrass and juniper berry essential oils have the best acaricidal effect and have high application value for the biological control of P. citri, which provides a basis for the development of botanical acaricides.

Therapeutic potentials associated with biological properties of Juniper berry oil (Juniperus communis L.) and its therapeutic use in several diseases – A Review

Juniperus communis L. is a plant that belongs to the Cupressaceae family. It grows as either a shrub or small tree and is widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, including northern Europe, Asia, and America. The berries are an efficient source of several bioactive structures. This review article will focus on the current status of the therapeutic use of juniper berry essential oil, which is presently indicated as a herbal medicinal treatment for dyspepsia. Interest in plant-based medicinal products is growing, and therefore it is important that accessible, up-to-date research is available to patients. Many plants are a natural source of therapeutic structures and can therefore often provide an alternative to synthetic pharmacology. A main constituent of juniper berry oil is α-pinene, a highly active structure which has been shown in in vitro and in vivo studies to possess several biological activities. This review sums up the available reports and indications which describe the function and value of juniper berry essential oil and especially, the constituent α-pinene as a potential candidate in several disorders and inflammatory conditions.Keywords: Juniperus communis, dyspepsia, juniper berry oil, Antioxidant activity, Antibacterial activity, Anti-inflammatory activity

Application of the vacuum distillation in isolation of juniper berry (Juniperus communis L.) essential oil

Plants and plant products, including essential oils, are globally recognized for their medicinal and therapeutic values. Various methods have been used to obtain essential oils efficient isolation from the plant material. In this research, vacuum hydrodistillation (VHD) was used to isolate oil from juniper berry (Juniperus communis L). Using GC-MS analysis, the chemical composition of the obtained oil was examined, which was compared with commercial ones. In the composition of VHD essential oil monoterpene fraction was dominant, with a significant percent of the sesquiterpene fraction, while the ?-pinene was the most abundant compound (21.7%). The analysis of the biological and pharmacological potential revealed that the oil obtained by VHD was a better antioxidant agent then commercial oil when it comes to scavenger activity against the ABTS radical (VHD oil 77.23 mg TE/g; commercial oil 8.31 mg TE/g) and reduction potential according to Cu2+ ion (VHD oil 107.13 mg TE/g). On the other hand, the enzyme inhibitory potential resulted in a stronger ability of the commercial oil to reduce excessive enzyme activity. The conducted research indicates that J. communis oil has shown significant biopotential and its use in food production and as a source of potent herbal medicines should be considered.

Microencapsulation of juniper berry essential oil (Juniperus communis L.) by spray drying: microcapsule characterization and release kinetics of the oil

Microencapsulation of juniper berry essential oil (JBEO) has been used for protection of essential oil volatiles, giving the possibility of their implementation as a food flavouring agent and preservative. The objective of this study was to encapsulate JBEO by spray drying and to evaluate the influence of different wall materials [gum arabic (GA), maltodextrin (MD), sodium alginate (ALG) and whey protein concentrate (WPC)] on microcapsule properties. Oil retention efficiency, encapsulation efficiency, moisture content, hygroscopicity, dissolution time, solubility, density properties, flowability, porosity, particle size, thermal behaviour and release properties were analysed. Best results were obtained when JBEO was encapsulated using GA/MD (1:1) as a carrier producing microcapsule with the highest encapsulation efficiency (70.07%) and the best results in density properties, porosity, dissolution time and thermal properties. GA as a carrier formed the microcapsules with the highest oil retention efficiency (84.67%), but due to the high surface oil content had reduced encapsulation efficiency. WPC may be preferable for moisture and hygroscopicity decreasing. The GA/MD formulation had achieved the complete and prolonged release of the JBEO from microcapsules in oily food system. The release profiles were fitted with different mathematical models.

Anxiolytic effects of essential oils may involve anti-oxidant regulation of the pro-oxidant effects of ascorbate in the brain

Essential oils (EOs) absorbed via inhalation are consistently reported to produce anxiolytic effects. The underlying neurochemical mechanisms, however, are not well understood. High concentrations of ascorbate in the human brain (~10 mM in neurons) implicates this compound as a key signaling molecule and regulator of oxidative stress. In this study, we demonstrate the significant in vitro capacity of ascorbate to produce H2O2 in the presence of oxygen at physiological pH values, peaking at ~400 μM for ascorbate levels of 1.0 mg/mL (5.6 mM). In comparison, individual EOs and selected neurotransmitters at similar concentrations produced <100 μM H2O2. Systematic studies with binary and ternary mixtures containing ascorbate indicated that EOs and neurotransmitters could variably enhance (pro-oxidant, POX) or suppress (anti-oxidant, AOX) the production of H2O2 versus the ascorbate control, depending on the concentration ratios of the components in the mixture. Moreover, the AOX/POX chemistry observed with binary mixtures did not necessarily predict effects with ternary mixtures, where the POX ascorbate chemistry tended to dominate. A model is proposed to account for the ability of compounds with electron-donating capacity to catalytically regenerate ascorbate from intermediate oxidized forms of ascorbate, thus driving H2O2 production and exerting a net POX effect; whilst compounds that irreversibly reacted with oxidized forms of ascorbate suppressed the production of H2O2 and produced an overall AOX effect. Since the anxiolytic effects of different EOs, including extracts of Lavendula angustifolia (lavender) and Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary), were associated with AOX regulation of H2O2 production by ascorbate, it can be concluded that these anxiolytic effects are potentially related to the AOX properties of EOs. In contrast, EOs driving POX effects (eg, Junipenus communis (Juniper) berry EO) are proposed to be more useful for their potential anti-microbial or cancer cytotoxic applications.

Exposure of Corynebacterium striatum to juniper berry oil results in a reduced-susceptibility population

Abstract The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms is a threat to global health and food security. As antibiotics become unable to eliminate disease-causing organisms, new compounds will need to be utilized. The use of essential oils as antimicrobials has been practiced for centuries, yet very little information about the ability of microorganisms to acquire resistance to these oils is available. In this study, we report on the generation of a juniper berry essential oil reduced-susceptibility population in Corynebacterium striatum.

Determination of optimal ultrasound conditions for preparation of O/W emulsions with encapsulated juniper berry essential oil (Juniperus communis L.)

The microencapsulation of essential oils can provide their evaporation and oxidation protection, flavor retention or/and masking of unpleasant taste. The microencapsulation process involves emulsions preparation and drying of the obtained emulsion droplets. The aim of this study is the determination of optimal conditions for preparation of the stable O/W emulsions containing juniper berry essential oil with minimal droplet size, as a preparatory stage for microcapsule formation. As the first step for pre-emulsions preparation, homogenization at 10000 rpm for 5 min. was chosen, which gave emulsions with droplet size between 1.82 and 2.51?m, depending on concentrations of the surfactant (Tween 20) and encapsulated essential oil. The second step was ultrasound emulsification during 5 minutes at a frequency of 99%, using pulsed 10:10 s (ON/OFF) ultrasound treatment, which was chosen as an optimal, creating emulsions of droplet sizes of 320 nm in diameter (for 5% essential oil and 1% Tween 20). The addition of wall material changed the size and stability of emulsions, which depends on type of biopolymer and its surface competition with used surfactant. The maltodextrin (MD), gum arabic (GA) and their mixture in equal ratio were used. GA emulsions can be singled out as the most stable without used surfactant, with D4,3 = 1.11 ? 0.003 ?m. Using MD as a wall material requires addition of surfactant (1% w/v) to form stable emulsions. The mixture of MD/GA can be used with or without surfactant. The addition of Tween 20 (1% w/v) decreases droplet size from 14.86 to 0.99 ?m, while utilization of the ultrasound contributes to the droplet size decrease and emulsions stability.

Antioxidant and anti-aging potential of Juniper berry (Juniperus communis L.) essential oil in Caenorhabditis elegans model system

Plant and plant products including essential oils are globally acclaimed for their medicinal and therapeutic values. It’s an age-old practice, owing to their safety and protective effects against reactive oxygen species (ROS)/oxidative stresses. Aging is a global challenge and needs proper attention to check on its causative factors. The increased ROS production/oxidative stress is one of the major contributing factors endorses aging and age-related disorders. To this end, the present study was designed to explore the in vivo-antioxidant and anti-aging potentials of Juniper berry essential oil (JBEO) by using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. Present work investigated the impact of different doses (0, 10, 50, 100 ppm) on lifespan and healthspan of C. elegans. The present study revealed that lower dose (10 ppm) was highly effective and enhanced the lifespan of C. elegans by 18.54% as compared to the control. Similarly, same concentration, i.e. 10 ppm was also showing potential against various oxidative and thermal stresses. The JBEO treated worms showed 30.40% more survival under thermal stress as compared to control. Besides the increased survival percent of worms, the elevated expression of SOD-3 (39.49%) and GST-4 (25.13%) was also observed, indicating oxidative stress resistance in worms. The screening studies on mutants of C. elegans for prediction of mechanism demonstrated the involvement of major conserved transcription factors (DAF-16, SKN-1, and HSF-1) which coordinates in the stress-induced transcription and extends longevity. Overall, here we unrevealed potentials of JBEO in anti-stressor activities and lifespan extension in C. elegans. Thus, in future, more studies on JBEO will pave paths for commercialization of essential oils in the formulations of antiaging products.

Antimycobacterial potential of the juniper berry essential oil in tap water.

Mycobacterium avium complex-related diseases are often associated with poorly maintained hot water systems. This calls for the development of new control strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of essential oils (EOs) from the Mediterranean plants, common juniper, immortelle, sage, lavandin, laurel, and white cedar against Mycobacterium avium ssp. avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium gordonae in culturing broth and freshwater as their most common habitat. To do that, we developed a new method of water microdilution to determine their minimal effective concentrations (MEC). The most active EO was the one from the common juniper with the MEC of 1.6 mg mL-1. Gas chromatography / mass spectrometry the juniper EO identified monoterpenes (70.54 %) and sesquiterpenes (25.9 %) as dominant component groups. The main monoterpene hydrocarbons were α-pinene, sabinene, and β-pinene. The juniper EO significantly reduced the cell viability of M. intracellulare and M. gordonae at MEC, and of M. avium at 2xMEC. Microscopic analysis confirmed its inhibitory effect by revealing significant morphological changes in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of all three bacteria. The mode of action of the juniper EO on the cell membrane was confirmed by a marked leakage of intracellular material. Juniper EO has a great practical potential as a complementary or alternative water disinfectant in hot water systems such as baths, swimming pools, spa pools, hot tubs, or even foot baths/whirlpools.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Juniper (Juniperus communis) berry essential oil in human dermal fibroblasts

Although juniper (Juniperus communis) berry essential oil (JEO) has been used in skin care products, research on its biological activity in human skin cells is scarce. In the current study, we explored the biological activity of JEO (with alpha-pinene as the major active component) in pre-inflamed human dermal fibroblasts, which were designed to mimic the disease biology of chronic inflammation and fibrosis. We analyzed the levels of 17 important protein biomarkers pertinent to inflammation and tissue remodeling. JEO exhibited robust antiproliferative activity and significantly inhibited the increased production of the proinflammatory chemokines interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) and interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC). Additionally, JEO significantly inhibited tissue remodeling biomarkers, namely collagen I, collagen III, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-I). Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), an immunomodulatory protein molecule, was also significantly downregulated by JEO. Moreover, we found that JEO robustly modulated global gene expression. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis also showed that JEO affected many important signaling pathways that are closely related to metabolism, inflammation, immune response, wound healing, and cancer biology. This study provides the first evidence of the biological activity of JEO in human dermal fibroblasts. Thus, JEO is a promising therapeutic candidate for inflammatory conditions in the skin.

GC-MS analysis of the essential oils of Juniperus communis L. berries growing wild in the Molise region: Seasonal variability and in vitro antifungal activity

Juniperus communis L., also known as the common juniper, is a dioecious aromatic evergreen shrub and has been traditionally used in many countries as a diuretic, antiseptic, and digestive and as a flavor to aromatize certain alcoholic beverages. We analyzed the chemical variability in the volatile profiles from berries of J. communis, harvested in one of the oldest European parks, the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise (PNALM, Central Italy). We examined the berries in different phases of the biological cycle for 1 year (at six ripening stages). Hydrodistilled essential oils from the fresh berries were analyzed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 90 components were detected, and remarkable qualitative and quantitative differences were observed in the chemical components during the ripening stages, from the green unripe berries to the bluish-black berries harvested at full maturity. The essential oils were an α-pinene (13.43–32.34%) chemotype. The monoterpene hydrocarbons decreased during the ripening with a progressive increase in sesquiterpenes such as germacrene D (12.29–17.59%) and β-caryophyllene (7.71–8.51%), which are the major components in ripe berry essential oils. The sesquiterpene hydrocarbon fraction (65.3–47.9%) also contained α-humulene, germacrene B, δ-cadinene, bicyclogermacrene, and eudesma 4(14),11 diene. Germacrene D and β-caryophyllene in high concentrations may be considered as marker components of the genus Juniperus from the Molise region. This particular chemical composition has been reported for the first time. It is interesting to note the presence of β-caryophyllene (7–11%), whose inhalation has been reported to affect anxiety and depression in a rat model. An in vitro antifungal assay showed that the essential oil from green and ripe berries inhibits the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, a phytopathogen fungus that causes post-harvest diseases in many fruits and vegetables.

Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Analysis of the Essential Oil of Algerian Juniperus phoenicea

The essential oils of Juniperus phoenicea L. from Algeria were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Concerning their chemical composition, 74, 61 and 72 volatile compounds were identified from fresh leaves, dried leaves and berries, representing 88.8%, 91.3% and 94.7% of the total composition, respectively. The main monoterpene in the oils of fresh leaves, dried leaves and berries was a-pinene (29.6% / 55.9% / 56.6%), accompanied by lesser amounts of the sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene (2.6% / 1.6% /1.2%) and germacrene D (2.01% / 1.7% / 1.5%), respectively. Antibacterial activity of J. phoenicea essential oils was tested against one Gram-negative and four Gram-positive bacterial strains and the yeast Candida albicans, responsible for nosocomial infections. As references, 14 antibiotics and 5 antifungal agents were evaluated. The berry essential oil was ineffective against all but two of the strains tested, whereas the essential oil of dried leaves significantly inhibited all strains but Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which turned out to be the most resistant strain overall. However, Escherichia coli was the most susceptible to the essential oils tested. The essential oil of dry leaves was highly active against Candida albicans, outclassing even the standard antifungal substances. These promising results could substantiate the use of essential oils in the treatment of hospital-acquired infections.

Effects of Feeding Garlic and Juniper Berry Essential Oils on Milk Fatty Acid Composition of Dairy Cows.

Essential oils (EOs) from plant extracts have been reported to have an antibacterial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Several of the gram-positive bacteria are involved in ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids (FAs), thus suggesting that feeding EOs could lower biohydrogenation of FA because of a decrease in the number of bacteria involved in that process. As a result, milk FA profiles are expected to be modified. In addition, monensin was approved as an antibiotic to be fed in dairy cattle, and it was reported that dairy cows supplemented with monensin produced milk containing higher concentration of 18:1 t10 and 18:1 t11. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two EOs (garlic and juniper berry oils) and monensin on FA profiles of milk fat. Four ruminally fistulated Holstein dairy cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. Cows were fed for ad libitum intake a total mixed ration without supplementation (control), or supplemented with monensin (330 mg/head per day), garlic oil (5 g/head per day), or juniper berry oil (2 g/head per day). The FA composition of saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated was not affected by supplementation of EO and monensin. However, proportion of conjugated linoleic acid trans 10, cis 12 (CLA t10, c12) was higher (P < 0.05) for cows fed EO or monensin than for control cows. Supplementation of monensin increased (P < 0.05) the proportion of total trans FA compared with the control. These results indicate that supplementation of the dairy cow diet with garlic or juniper berry EO or monensin had the potential to increase the proportion of CLA t10, c12 in milk fat with minimal overall effects on FA of milk fat. The results also confirm the increase of 18:1 t10 in milk fat by feeding monensin to dairy cows.

Microwave‐assisted hydrodistillation of juniper berry essential oil: kinetic modeling and chemical composition

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDMicrowave‐assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) has widely been used to isolate essential oil from various plant materials, but it has not been applied yet to extract essential oil from juniper berries. The main goals of the present work were to establish a model describing the extraction kinetics and the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained.RESULTSA lower final essential oil yield from juniper berries was obtained by MAHD than by conventional hydrodistillation (HD). No significant differences in chemical compositions of the essential oils extracted by the two techniques were observed. The mechanism of both processes was the same and included fast (washing) and slow (diffusion) distillation of essential oil that occurred simultaneously.CONCLUSIONThe kinetic model involving simultaneous washing and diffusion of essential oil was verified for various plant materials (areal parts of savory and thyme, fennel seeds and juniper berries) for both MAHD and HD that indicated its general importance. For the first time, the kinetic models of MAHD and HD were compared. Knowledge of the juniper berry essential oil yield and the extraction kinetics is of importance from the technological and economics points of view, while the chemical composition determines its use. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis L.) Essential Oil. Action of the Essential Oil on the Antioxidant Protection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Model Organism.

The essential oil of juniper berries (Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae) is traditionally used for medicinal and flavoring purposes. As elucidated by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS methods), the juniper berry oil from Bulgaria is largely comprised of monoterpene hydrocarbons such as α-pinene (51.4%), myrcene (8.3%), sabinene (5.8%), limonene (5.1%) and β-pinene (5.0%). The antioxidant capacity of the essential oil was evaluated in vitro by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical cation scavenging, hydroxyl radical (ОН•) scavenging and chelating capacity, superoxide radical (•O2−) scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effects, hydrogen peroxide scavenging. The antioxidant activity of the oil attributable to electron transfer made juniper berry essential oil a strong antioxidant, whereas the antioxidant activity attributable to hydrogen atom transfer was lower. Lipid peroxidation inhibition by the essential oil in both stages, i.e., hydroperoxide formation and malondialdehyde formation, was less efficient than the inhibition by butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). In vivo studies confirmed these effects of the oil which created the possibility of blocking the oxidation processes in yeast cells by increasing activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).

Including essential oils in lactating dairy cow diets: effects on methane emissions

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of dietary supplementation of garlic and juniper berry essential oils on methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from lactating dairy cows. Four ruminally cannulated, lactating Holstein cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square (21-day period; 11 days of adaptation). Cows were fed a total mixed ration (60 : 40 forage : concentrate ratio) without supplementation (no additive; negative control) or supplemented with monensin (330 mg/day; positive control), garlic oil (5 g/day) or juniper berry oil (2 g/day). Methane and CO2 emissions were measured using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique. Dietary supplementation of lactating cows with juniper berry oil or garlic oil did not affect (P &gt; 0.05) CH4 or CO2 production, whether expressed as g/day, g/kg DMI, g/kg milk or as g/kg DMI/BW0.75. At the doses administered in this study, the anti-methanogenic effect of garlic and juniper berry oils previously observed in vitro were not confirmed in vivo.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of berry essential oil of Juniperus oxycedrus L. (Cupressaceae) grown wild in Republic of Macedonia

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil isolated from berries from 2 different samples of Juniperus oxycedrus L. (Cupressaceae), growing wild in Republic of Macedonia was investigated. Performing GC/FID/MS analysis, one hundred components were identified, representing 96.0-98.95% of the oil. The major components were α-pinene (22.54- 27.12%), myrcene (11.26- 15.13%) and limonene (2.78-18.06%). Antimicrobial screening of the J. oxycedrus essential oils was made by disc diffusion and broth dilution method against 16 bacterial isolates of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and one strain of Candida albicans. The most sensitive bacteria was Haemophilus influenzae (MIC = 125 ml/ml). The essential oils showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Corynebacterium spp., Escherichia coli and Campilobacter jejuni (MIC &gt; 500 ml/ml) and no activity against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Acinetobacter spp., Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella flexnery, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus and Proteus mirabilis.