Juniperus Phoenicea Research Articles

Chemical profile, biological activities, and molecular docking of Algerian Juniperus phoenicea berries

The chemical composition, antioxidant activities, and α-amylase enzyme inhibitory activity of Algerian Juniperus phoenicea L berries were quantitatively and qualitatively determined in this study. Essential oil (EO) and non-polar crude extracts from cyclohexane and ethyl acetate were prepared, and the chemical profile was determined using GC-MS technique. The predominant compound in the EO was α-pinene (76.03%), while communic acid (23.66% and 22.38%) was the main compound in both non-polar crude extracts. The antioxidant potential of the samples was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid)-diammonium salt (ABTS), and phenanthroline. All samples showed weak antioxidant capacity. The antidiabetic effect was assessed in vitro using the α-amylase assay; a strong inhibitory effect against the α-amylase enzyme was detected for both cyclohexane and ethyl acetate extracts with IC50 (IC50 = 186.91 ± 5.74 mg/mL and IC50 = 351.48 ± 0.17 mg/mL, respectively). Finally, an in silico study was performed for both α-amylase and α-glucosidase proteins to enhance our outcomes.

Chemical composition and repellent effects of powders and essential oils from Juniperus oxycedrus, Juniperus phoenicea, and Juniperus thurifera against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The present study evaluated the chemical composition and the potential repellent effect of powders and essential oils (EOs) from Juniperus oxycedrus, Juniperus phoenicea, and Juniperus thurifera against T. castaneum adults. The EOs were extracted by the hydrodistillation method, and their chemical composition was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The repellent effect of powders and EOs was assessed using the area preference method. GC-MS revealed that the major components of the studied EOs were α-pinene (28.27%) and cubenol (10.75%) for J. phoenicea, β-Eudesmol (23.74%), hedycaryol (12.54%), and olopanone (10.04%) for J. oxycedrus, and oplopanone (26.84%) and α-Santanol acetate (17.28%) for J. thurifera. The powders of three Juniperus species had a repellent effect (class IV) against T. castaneum adults. Among the powders tested, J. phoenicea had the highest average repellency rate of 75.40%, followed by J. oxycedrus with 62.30%, and J. thurifera had the lowest average repellency rate of 60.30%. Moreover, J. phoenicea EO had the highest average repellency rate of 72.50%, followed by J. oxycedrus with 67.40%, while J. thurifera had the lowest average repellency rate of 61.80%.The potential of Juniperus species can be used as biopesticides to control T. castaneum infestations as an alternative to synthetic pesticides.

Essential oils application as Bacillus cereus antispore agent in food hygiene

Adherence of Bacillus cereus spores to dairy industry equipment is a serious problem, causing food spoilage and, occasionally, outbreaks of foodborne diseases. Antimicrobial essential oils (EOs) have been proposed as an alternative to synthetic disinfectants due to their environmentally friendly properties. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Cymbopogon winterianus and Juniperus phoenicea EOs on planktonic and adherent B. cereus spores to stainless steel surfaces. Eleven strains of B. cereus were used in this study. The chemical composition of the C. winterianus and J. phoenicea oils was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS). Ninety components were identified for C. winterianus, being geranial (37 %), neral (29 %), beta-myrcene (16 %) and geraniol (4 %) the most abundant constituents. Twelve components were identified for J. phoenicea, being alpha-pinene (65 %) the most abundant constituent. The results of the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration revealed that C. winterianus was the most effective EO (p < 0.05) against all eleven strains. In addition, there was a large log10 reduction (from 4.93 to 2.42; p < 0.05) between spores in planktonic form versus spores adhered to stainless steel surface. C. winterianus can be used for effective detachment of B. cereus spores capable to adhere and form biofilms on stainless steel surfaces, being a valid alternative for the development of natural disinfectant that may reduce negative effects of synthetic chemical disinfectants.

In vitro anthelmintic activity of hydroethanolic extract of Artemisia herba aba and Juniperus phoenicea on abomasal Teladorsagia circumcincta of sheep.

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic activity of Juniperus phoenicea and Artemisia herba-alba against abomasal nematodes collected from naturally infected sheep. The anthelmintic activities of the extracts were assessed using egg hatch inhibition (EHIA) and adult motility assays (AMA) against Teladorsagia circumcincta. The parasites were stored in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) until the in vitro assessment began. The leaf powders of J. phoenicea and A. herba-alba were extracted using the maceration procedure. Briefly, the leaf powders were mixed with a sufficient quantity of 99% ethanol and distilled water (80%/20%). The extracts were dissolved in a 3% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution to improve water solubility. The hydroethanolic extracts were tested at concentrations of 1.562, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/ml. Adult motile worms were individually subjected to each treatment at laboratory temperature. The PBS and albendazole (25 mg/ml) were prepared and used as negative and positive controls, respectively. The test was repeated five times for each concentration. The results showed that both plant extracts exhibited anthelmintic effects. A. herba-alba extract at 25 mg/ml inhibited the motility of all T. circumcincta adult worms within 1 hour of administration, while J. phoenicea extract caused 100% mortality of adult worms after 4 hours at the same concentration. Neither of the extracts, at 1.562 mg/ml, had any inhibitory effect on motility. At 25 mg/ml, the A. herba-alba (98.67%) and J. phoenicea (96.24%) showed high activity with an inhibitory effect on hatchability compared to the other tested concentrations. The findings of the present study showed that hydroethanolic extracts of A. herba-alba and J. phoenicea leaves had in vitro anthelmintic activity on eggs and adult T. circumcincta of sheep.

Analysis of Essential Oils Extracted from Algerian Medicinal Plants and Their Aphicidal Effect Against the Melon Aphid Aphis Gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Chemical insecticides are decisive in controlling insect pests, but they harm the environment. Reducing the use of chemical insecticides has become the main goal for ensuring healthy produce. However, research focusing on plant-based compounds has recently increased. The present study was carried out to analyze essential oils extracted from Algerian medicinal plants by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the insecticidal activity of essential oils from Juniperus phoenicea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula stoechas, Mentha pulegium and Pinus sylvestris, against Aphis gossypii Glover The main components constituting each essential oil were: α-pinene, β-Pinene 1,8- cineol, Linalool, Linalyl acetate, Fenchone, Pulegone, and Camphor. The toxicity of tested essential oils against Aphis gossypii was different and dependent on the concentration used (1000, 10000, and 100000 ppm), the duration of exposure (24, 48, and 72 h), and the chemical composition of the oil. The highest toxicity was for J. phoenicea, M. pulegium, and L. stoechas which were toxic as Actara® insecticide.

Exploring Juniperus phoenicea L extract through phytochemical analysis, anti-lipase effects, and comprehensive molecular studies

Lipase inhibitors are used in the treatment of candidiasis, obesity, and acne problems. Therefore, the investigation of new natural lipase inhibitors has generated great interest. Juniperus phoenicea is a small Mediterranean tree considered an important medicinal plant. Through this work, we investigated the composition and inhibition effect of J. phoenicea extract on Candida rugosa and human lipases; and we analyzed the interactions between detected compounds and lipases using molecular docking, ADME-T, and dynamic studies. We extracted the secondary metabolites from the plant aerial parts and tested their activities against lipase. We examined major components of J. phoenicea, using Autodock vina for molecular docking, Desmond from Schrodinger suite 2021–1 for dynamics, and evaluating its drug-likeness and toxicity properties using ADMET webserver. We found that the IC50 values of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts are 1.33±0.10 and 1.731 mg/mL. Using HPLC quantitative analysis we identified in ethyl acetate extract the following phenolic compounds gallic acid, rutin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, cinnamic acid, and quercetin. The complex apigenin-7-O-glucoside-lipase is stabilized by four hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, and the binding energy equals -10 Kcal/mol, which is better than the interactions saved for orlistat. Dynamic Simulation demonstrated better stability in the ligand-protein complex apigenin-7-O-glucoside-1lpb within 100 ns than the orlistat-1lpb complex. This study is described in this work for the first time. The results indicated that apigenin-7-O-glucoside from J. phoenicea L could be a good choice to develop a new drug candidate against candidiasis, obesity, and other lipase-related diseases.

Similar climate–growth relationships but divergent drought resilience strategies in coexisting Mediterranean shrubs

Abstract Anticipating future impacts of climate warming and aridification on drylands requires understanding how coexisting woody plant species respond to climate variability. However, we lack knowledge of the growth resilience capacity of Mediterranean shrubs. Do coexisting trees and shrubs differ in their response to climate? Do coexisting shrub species have comparable post‐drought growth resilience? This study was conducted in two Mediterranean shrublands with sparse trees in semi‐arid north‐eastern Spain. We selected sites situated in formerly agricultural or grassland areas in two regions subjected to semi‐arid Mediterranean climate conditions. We sampled six shrubs' species (Juniperus phoenicea, Juniperus oxycedrus, Pistacia lentiscus, Pistacia terebinthus, Rhamnus lycioides and Rhamnus alaternus) and one tree species (Pinus halepensis) to measure their radial growth and to reconstruct their past growth patterns using dendrochronology. We quantified climate–growth relationships of trees and shrubs, as well as the growth resilience capacity after drought events of the six shrubs. Growth patterns differed between species but a prevalent trade‐off between growth and longevity was found. Growth responses to climate were comparable between species but differed between sites. Most species responded positively to precipitation and negatively to temperature. The most negative correlations of growth with drought severity were found at the driest Valcuerna site. Shrubs differed in their resilience capacity. Across sites, species were more resistant and resilient in Alcubierre, the wettest site. The shrubs P. terebinthus and R. lycioides were more resistant and resilient than the rest of species, which required longer growth recovery times and accumulated stronger growth reductions, particularly J. phoenicea. Synthesis. These results highlight the importance of drought as a driver of growth in Mediterranean scrublands. Growth resilience strategies differed between species with junipers being less resilient to drought than other coexisting shrubs. Further research should investigate how this difference in post‐drought resilience is related to functional traits, particularly those related with plant water‐use strategies.

Comparison of photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrate contents in fungus-infected juniper plant (Juniperus phoenicea L.) and the uninfected plant

This study aimed to compare the physiological characteristics of a fungus-infected juniper plant with another healthy plant, these characteristics include photosynthetic pigment content, soluble sugars and sucrose content. The present study revealed the presence of 4 genera of fungi belonging to Ascomycetae and Deuteromycetes isolated from the leaves of Juniperus phoenicea L. and identified by morphological and microscopic characteristics. The species of fungi isolated from the juniper plant are Alternaria alternate, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium crustaceum. The affected juniper plant contained 0.306, 0.296 and 0.351 mg g -1 FW chlorophyll a and b and a carotenoid, respectively. The observed decrease in photosynthetic pigment content in the affected plant compared to the healthy plant was 0.713, 0.695 and 0.874 mg g -1 FW, respectively. The content of soluble sugars in juniper plants was measured and found to be 2.26 mg g -1 FW in healthy plants and 1.937 mg g -1 FW in infected plants. The sucrose content was 2.938 mg g -1 FW in the pathogen infected plant and 3.28 mg g -1 FW in the healthy plant. There was a very significant decrease because the sugars are attached to photosynthetic pigments, and as the amount of pigments decreases, the amount of sugars decreases.

The in Situ Effect of Phoenician Juniper Leaves on the Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of Fermented Goat’s Milk Stored at Room Temperature

The in Situ Effect of Phoenician Juniper Leaves on the Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of Fermented Goat’s Milk Stored at Room Temperature

Chemical Composition and Phytochemical Screening of Juniperus Phoenicea L.: Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity, Minerals, and Bioactive Compounds

The purpose of the research was to determine Juniperus phoenicea L.'s elemental content, antioxidant activity, and phytochemical composition. Phytochemical screening was performed on four plant extracts (water, ethanol, chloroform, and ether). The aqueous and ethanol extracts were also analyzed for their total phenols, total flavonoids, and total antioxidant contents. The levels of macroelements (Na, Mg, Ca) and microelements (Fe, Cu, Zn) in the plant were determined by flame photometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. Moisture, ash, total protein, and total alkaloids were also determined. The results showed that the aqueous and ethanol extracts contained various phytochemicals, such as carbohydrates, proteins, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, anthocyanins, saponins, and glycosides. The ethanol extract had higher concentrations of most phytochemicals than the aqueous extract, except for carbohydrates and proteins. The chloroform and ether extracts had lower concentrations of phytochemicals than the aqueous and ethanol extracts. The moisture, ash, total protein, and total alkaloid contents of the plant were 13%, 5.52%, 10.78%, and 1.84%, respectively. The total phenol contents, total flavonoid contents, and total antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract were 49.36±5.24 mg/g, 20.61±2.08 mg/g, and 34.82±2.44 mg/g, respectively. The corresponding values for the aqueous extract were 46.26±2.47 mg/g, 14.80±1.12 mg/g, and 37.32±3.29 mg/g, respectively. The order of abundance for macroelements was Ca (26860±950 mg/kg) &amp;gt; Na (1705.4±85 mg/kg) &amp;gt; Mg (944.4±38 mg/kg), whereas for microelements it was Fe (315.4±18 mg/kg) &amp;gt; Cu (55.52±3 mg/kg) &amp;gt; Zn (35.66±2 mg/kg). These results indicate that Juniperus phoenicea L. is a rich source of phytochemicals and elements that may have potential health benefits.

Biological Potential and Therapeutic Effectiveness of Hinokiflavone in Medicine: The Effective Components of Herbal Medicines for Treatment of Cancers and Associated Complications

Background: Plants have been providing us medicines and food material for centuries. Traditional system of medicine, including Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese medicines have been playing important role in health sectors for the treatment of human disorders since very early age. Plant secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, and tannins have significant therapeutic potential in medicine. Biflavonoids are dimers of flavonoids, linked by a C–O–C or C–C bond. Hinokiflavone is an important class of biflavonoids found to be present in Toxicodendron succedaneum, Isophysis tasmanica, Juniperus rigida, Juniperus phoenicea, Platycladi cacumen, Rhus succedanea, Selaginella tamariscina, Platycladus orientalis, Selaginella bryopteris, and Metasequoia glyptostroboides. Methods: Biological potential of hinokiflavone in medicine have been analyzed in the present work through scientific data analysis of various literature work. Scientific database, including Google, Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed were searched to collect all the scientific information of the present work using terms flavonoid, biflavonoid, herbal medicine, and hinokiflavone. Pharmacological activities of hinokiflavone were analyzed in the present work in very detailed manner. Analytical data of hinokiflavone were collected and analyzed in present work in order to know the biological source of hinokiflavone. Results: Present work signified the biological importance of hinokiflavone against various types of cancerous disorders, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal squamous cancer, adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, myeloid leukemia, and melanoma. Further, its antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant potential were also discussed in the present work. Moreover, its biological potential against COVID-19 and hair loss, and procoagulant activity were also summarized in this paper. Analytical data on hinokiflavone signified the importance of various analytical techniques in the extraction, separation, and identification of hinokiflavone with their pharmacokinetic parameters. Conclusion: Present work signified the biological importance and therapeutic potential of hinokiflavone in medicine.

Valorization of the Sabinas Forest Waste (Juniperus phoenicea and Juniperus thurifera) as Source of Biopesticides

Objectives: The potential forestry use of Juniperus phoenicea and Juniperus thurifera pruning woods is studied by analyzing the composition of the woods and testing the biological activities of the corresponding components with the ultimate target of finding new biopesticides. Methods: The air-dried wood from each plant was crushed and subjected to hydrodistillation, and the residue was extracted with a Soxhlet apparatus using different solvents. The corresponding extracts were fractionated, and their composition were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The ixodicidal and antifungal activities of the different samples obtained were evaluated. Results: The fraction oxygenated of the essential oil from both J. thurifera (cedrol &gt;60%) and J. phoenicea shows a remarkable bioactivity as antitick with EC50 values of 3.4 μg/mg and 10 μg/mg, respectively. Cedrol and methyl hinokiate, present in the hexane extract J. thurifera, show a potent antifungal effect against Aspergillus niger with EC50 values of 45.99 and 52.23 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: Pruning woods from these species proved to be renewable and easily accessible sources of bioactive natural products such as cedrol, thujopsene, nootkatone, and totarol.

Taxonomic characterization, morphological variability, and geographic patterns of Juniperus turbinata Guss. in Algeria

A biometric study of cones, seeds, needles, and branchlets was conducted in 15 natural populations of Juniperus turbinata Guss. within its Algerian range. Each population was represented by 20-30 individuals. A total of 386 individuals were examined to evaluate inter- and intraspecific variation, and its geographic patterns, confirming the status of J. turbinata in Algerian populations. Maritime and mainland (Atlas Mountains) populations differed significantly. Cones in the seaside areas tended to be longer and more turbinate, with fewer seeds (mean 4.80) and leaves on the terminal 5-mm section of lateral branchlets (mean 27.87), compared to those from the Atlas, with 5.75 seeds and 29.00 leaves on average. The Aurès Mountain populations had more leaves than other scale-like junipers and other species of the Cupressaceae. Furthermore, maritime popula­tions stood out for having the most turbinated cones among recorded Juniperus phoenicea s.l. populations. Costal populations were more related to those located on oriental Mediterranean shores, while Atlas Mountain populations seemed to be related to Moroccan Atlas ones. A negative gradient of leaf number from east to west was identified in the Atlas group, extending into Morocco. The distinct separation between the 2 geographic patterns supports the hypothesis of migration of J. turbinata along 2 routes and relaunches the proposal of possible varieties within the group.

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal plants used for Traditional Diarrhea Treatment in North-East Algeria

The objective of this study is to aid in the identification and documentation of medicinal plants that are utilized in traditional local pharmacopeia for the treatment of diarrhea in four provinces located in the northeast region of Algeria. The ethnobotanical survey was conducted during 2019-2020. All users of medicinal plants in those regions were interviewed using a guide questionnaire. Stratified sampling was used to collect information on medicinal plants. Furthermore, the study established the relative importance of the species and estimated the informant consensus factor (ICF) for the medicinal plants included in research. The study has found a total of 52 species that are commonly employed in the treatment of diarrhea in four specific provinces of Algeria. These species are categorized into 26 families and 22 genera. The most frequently quoted plants (over 10 quotations) were Artemisia herba alba Asso. (52 quotations) with the highest (FC = 43.33%); Punica granatum L. (50 quotations, FC = 41.67%); Origanum vulgaire L. (32 quotations, FC = 26.67%); Juniperus phoenicea L. (29 quotations, FC = 24.17%), and Ceratonia siliqua L. (19 quotations, FC = 15.83%). The most common plant families were Lamiaceae and Rosaceae (10 and 6 plants, respectively). Species morphological type analyses show that herbs were most represented (46.16%). For different organs used, leaves and fruits were the most used (27.15% and 26.35%, respectively). Although the infusion (55.81%) constituted the prevailing approach to drug preparation, the results showed that many kinds of plants can be used to treat diarrhea in Algeria. The study has enhanced the collection of medicinal plants with anti-diarrheal properties and has contributed to the advancement of knowledge in traditional medicine while also preserving local indigenous knowledge.

Insecticidal Activity, GC/MS Analysis, and in silico Studies of Juniperus phoenicea Essentail Oil against Aphis spiraecola

Insecticidal Activity, GC/MS Analysis, and in silico Studies of Juniperus phoenicea Essentail Oil against Aphis spiraecola

Phytochemical characterization of forest leaves extracts and application to control apple postharvest diseases

The study investigated the antifungal and phytochemical properties of three forest plants (Eucalyptus globulus, Pistacia lentiscus, and Juniperus phoenicea) against apple diseases caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Alternaria alternata. The determination of the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in the three aqueous extracts of studied plants showed that E. globulus exhibited the highest contents than those of P. lentiscus and J. phoenicea. Furthermore, the three studied extracts showed very appreciable antioxidant activity with decreasing order: E. globulus, P. lentiscus, and J. phoenicea. The phytochemical analysis showed different common phenolic acids in the three studied plants namely: quinic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and caffeoylquinic acid as well as other flavonoids mainly quercetin and catechin. The results of the current study demonstrated that the fungistatic activity of E. globulus EO (4 and 2 µl/ml) seemed to be the most effective under laboratory conditions with an inhibition zone diameter above 16 mm. However, the poisoned food technique indicated that the aqueous extract (80%) and the essential oil (4 µl/ml) of E. globulus exhibited the highest mycelial growth (> 67%) and spore germination (> 99%) inhibition. Preventive treatments with essential oils (4 µl/ml) and aqueous extracts (80%) applied to apple fruits inoculated with A. alternata and C. gloeosporioides resulted in the lowest lesion diameter (< 6.80 mm) and disease severity index (< 15%) and the most favorable inhibitory growth (> 85.45%) and protective potentials (> 84.92%). The results suggest that E. globulus has a brilliant future in the management of anthracnose and Alternaria rot of apple and provide a basis for further studies on its effects under field conditions.

Larvicidal activity and chemical compositions of Juniperus phoenicea L. leave extract against Culex pipiens L.

Larvicidal activity and chemical compositions of Juniperus phoenicea L. leave extract against Culex pipiens L.

Phytochemical profile, physicochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Juniperus phoenicea and Tetraclinis articulate: in vitro and in silico approaches.

This research aims to explore the molecular composition, antioxidant capabilities, and antibacterial effects of the essential oils from Tetraclinis articulateata and Juniperus phoenicea. Essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation. Gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry was used to determine the chemical makeup of essential oils. Two methods are used to assess the antioxidant activity of essential oils: the reduction of iron (ferric reducing antioxidant power or frap) and the trapping of the free radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The antimicrobial potential of essential oils was assessed using the diffusion method on a solid-state disk in comparison to nine bacterial and seven fungal souches. The essential oil yields from Tetraclinis articulata and Juniperus phoenicea are 0.46% ± 0.02% and 0.83% ± 0.05%, respectively. According to CG/SM's chromatographic analyses, the predominant constituent in the essential oil of J. Phoenicea is α-pinène (59.51%), while the main constituents in the essential oil of T. Articulata? are Bornyle acetate (18.91%) and camphor (28.48%). The assessment of antioxidant activities reveals intriguing antioxidant qualities in the essential oils of the species under investigation. T. Articulata essential oils yield the greatest results in the DPPH and FRAP tests, with CI50 values of around 266.9 ± 5.4μg/mL and EC50 values of 433.16 ± 4.13μg/mL, respectively. Except for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus BLACT, and Pseudomonas aeroginosa, the two essential oils have demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against all bacterial and fungal souches (MIC <2mg/mL et MBC <3.5mg/mL). The inhibiting effect of these oils on bacterial and fungal development raises potential application areas in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, the current study investigated the potential antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities of the essential oils from Juniperus phoenicea and Tetraclinis articulate plants via the Glide molecular docking methodology, and most of these constituents were observed to be potent therapeutic agents.

Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Essential Oil of Juniperus phoenicea from Fez-Meknes Region, North Central Morocco

Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Essential Oil of Juniperus phoenicea from Fez-Meknes Region, North Central Morocco

Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Juniperus phoenicea subsp. phoenicea L. essential oil and hydrolate from central Italy

ABSTRACT In this paper Juniperus phoenicea L. leaves essential oil (EO) and hydrolate (Hy) were analyzed, for the first time, by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) respectively, with the aim to describe their chemical volatile profile. The antimicrobial tests carried out highlighted that the Hy did not show antimicrobial activity on all the sixteen tested strains, while the EO was able to exert a slight inhibitory activity against all S. aureus strains and both inhibitory and cytocidal activity against the E. faecium strains. Noteworthy was the ability to inhibit proinflammatory cytokines by both matrices and, in particular, by the Hy. Furthermore, the study of the antioxidant efficacy of the EO and the Hy carried out on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) and on S. aureus strains, showed that these were able to neutralize the production of ROS in the presence of an oxidizing stimulus. This activity was longer using the EO than the Hy.