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Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the highly prevalent endemic diseases in the Middle East and North Africa. Many treatment modalities have been recommended for this condition but success rates remain limited. Herbal remedies have also been used for treatment but evidence-based clinical trials with these products are sparse. In-vitro and in-vivo studies have shown the anti-leishmanial and curative effects of extract of fruits and leaves of Juniperus excelsa (J. excelsa). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of topical J. excelsa M. Bieb extract as an adjuvant to cryotherapy for the treatment of human CL. This study was designed as a two-arm triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial using a parallel design. Seventy-two patients with clinical diagnosis of CL confirmed by leishmania smears were allocated to receive either a topical formulation of leaf of J. excelsa extract (group A) or placebo (group B) for 3 months. Both groups received cryotherapy as baseline standard treatment. Patients were evaluated before and weekly after the intervention was initiated until complete cure. Overall, 82% of patients in group A, experienced complete cure and 9% of them had partial cure. On the other hand, 34% in group B reported complete cure, while 14% of them had partial cure at the end of treatment protocol with a significant difference between the two groups (P< 0.001). The mean duration to healing of the lesions in patients who received J. excelsa extract was statistically significantly shorter than the placebo group (p = 0.04). No significant side effect was seen in the J. excelsa extract group except for mild to moderate local irritation after a few weeks in a few numbers of patients. The results of this study showed that topical J. excelsa extract can be used as an adjuvant treatment modality in addition to cryotherapy for accelerating the time to cure in addition to increasing the complete cure rate in CL. ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT2015082523753N1.

Little is known about the immunomodulatory activity of essential oils isolated from Juniperus species. Thus, we isolated essential oils from the cones and leaves of eight juniper species found in Montana and in Kazakhstan, including J. horizontalis, J. scopolorum, J. communis, J. seravschanica, J. sabina, J. pseudosabina, J. pseudosabina subsp. turkestanica, and J. sibirica. We report here the chemical composition and innate immunomodulatory activity of these essential oils. Compositional analysis of the 16 samples of Juniper essential oils revealed similarities and differences between our analyses and those previously reported for essential oils from this species. Our studies represent the first analysis of essential oils isolated from the cones of four of these Juniper species. Several essential oil samples contained high levels of cedrol, which was fairly unique to three Juniper species from Kazakhstan. We found that these essential oils and pure (+)-cedrol induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in human neutrophils. Furthermore, pretreatment of human neutrophils and N-formyl peptide receptor 1 and 2 (FPR1 and FPR2) transfected HL60 cells with these essential oils or (+)-cedrol inhibited agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization, suggesting these responses were desensitized by this pretreatment. In support of this conclusion, pretreatment with essential oils from J. seravschanica cones (containing 16.8% cedrol) or pure (+)-cedrol inhibited human neutrophil chemotaxis to N-formyl peptide. Finally, reverse pharmacophore mapping predicted several potential kinase targets for cedrol. Thus, our studies have identified cedrol as a novel neutrophil agonist that can desensitize cells to subsequent stimulation by N-formyl peptide.

In order to evaluate the antioxidant properties of aqueous and methanol extracts of needles and berries of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus (Joo) species, various antioxidant capacity assessment tests (free radical scavenging assays (DPPH• and ABTS•+ tests), ferrous ions (Fe2+) chelating activity and reducing power assay (FRAP) were conducted. In all of the tests, the extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity. Furthermore, in-vitro cytotoxic activity assays of the methanolic extracts showed potent cytotoxic effects against two breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7), with no cytotoxicity towards normal cells (PBMCs). Reactive oxygen species generation was presumed to be a potential reason for the observed cytotoxic effects. According to all the above, and considering its appropriate composition of mineral elements and phenolic compounds, Joo could offer a beneficial and natural source of bioactive compounds that can be either used on the preventive side as it could potentially be used in the clinic without toxicity.

Juniperus procera is a natural source of bioactive compounds with the potential of antitumor, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. An optimization method was developed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total tannin content (TTC) in leaf and seed extract of Juniperus procera. Organic solvents (methanol (99.8%), ethanol (99%), and acetone (99.5%)), and deionized water (DI) were used for extraction. The estimation of TPC, TFC, and TTC in plant materials was carried out using UV-spectrophotometer and HPLC with the standards gallic acid, quercetin, and tannic acid. Recovery of TPC in leaf extract ranged from 2.9 to 9.7 mg GAE/g DW, TFC from 0.9 to 5.9 mg QE/g DW, and TTC ranged from 1.5 to 4.3 mg TA/g DW while the TPC value in the seed extract ranged from 0.53 to 2.6 mg GAE/g DW, TFC from 0.5 to 1.6 mg QE/g DW, and TTC ranged from 0.5 to 1.4 mg TA/g DW. This result revealed that methanol is the best solvent for recovery of the TPC value (9.7 mg) from leaf extract in comparison to other solvents. Ethanol recorded the highest result of TFC (5.9 mg) in leaf extract among the solvents whereas acetone was the best for TTC yield recovery from leaf extract (4.3 mg). In the case of the seed extract, ethanol was the best solvent for both TPC (2.6 mg), and TFC (1.6 mg) recovery in comparison to other solvents. Total tannin content in methanol resulted in significant recovery from seed extract (1.4 mg). Separation and quantification of gallic acid, quercetin, and tannic acid in plant materials were undertaken using HPLC. Gallic acid in leaf and seed of J. procera ranged from 6.6 to 9.2, 6.5 to 7.2 µg/g DW, quercetin from 6.3 to 18.2, 0.9 to 4.2 µg/g DW, and tannic acid from 16.2 to 29.3, 6.6 to 9.3 µg/g DW, respectively. Solvents have shown a significant effect in the extraction of phenolic compounds. Moreover, phytochemicals in plant materials were identified using GC-MS and resulted in very important bioactive compounds, which include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor agents such as ferruginol, phenanthrene, and n-hexadecanoic acid. In conclusion, the optimal solvent for extraction depends on the part of the plant material and the compounds that are to be isolated.

Strontium stannate nanorods (SrSnO 3 NRs) were synthesized in the present study via a green, sustainable, and cheap method with leaf extract from Juniperus communis L. UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) were performed to investigate the SrSnO 3 NRs. The particle size distribution (PSD) of SrSnO 3 NRs characterized by using dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The UV-visible spectra of the synthesized SrSnO 3 NRs showed an absorption peak at 279 nm. SEM images confirmed that SrSnO 3 NRs, which have an average size of about 29 nm, include a bunch of rod-like structure. In addition, the as-formed SrSnO 3 NRs demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , and Escherichia coli . The synthesized SrSnO 3 nanorods also exhibited a significant amount of antioxidant activity. It is also an attractive biocompatible choice for pharmacological and medical applications.

The objective of this study was to assess the biological activity of essential oils (EOs) of four Juniperus species obtained via two different distillation methods and their potential as biopesticides. The studied factors were juniper species (Juniperus communis L., J. oxycedrus L., J. pygmaea C. Koch., and J. sibirica Burgsd), plant sex (male (M) and female (F)), and distillation method (hydrodistillation via a standard Clevenger apparatus (ClevA) and semi-commercial (SCom) steam distillation). The hypothesis was that the EO will have differential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal activities as a function of plant species, plant sex, and distillation method. The two distillation methods resulted in similar EO composition within a given species. However, there were differences in the EO content (yield) due to the sex of the plant, and also differences in the proportions of some EO components. The concentration of α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene and δ-cadinol was dissimilar between the EO of M and F plants within all four species. Additionally, M and F plants of J. pygmaea, and J. sibirica had significantly different concentrations of sabinene within the respective species. The EOs obtained via ClevA extraction showed higher antioxidant capacity within a species compared with those from SCom extraction. All of the tested EOs had significant repellent and insecticidal activity against the two aphid species Rhopalosiphum padi (bird cherry-oat aphid) and Sitobion avenae (English grain aphid) at concentrations of the EO in the solution of 1%, 2.5%, and 5%. The tested EOs demonstrated moderate activity against selected pathogens Fusarium spp., Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum spp., Rhizoctonia solani and Cylindrocarpon pauciseptatum. The results demonstrate that the standard ClevA would provide comparable EO content and composition in comparison with SCom steam distillation; however, even slight differences in the EO composition may translate into differential bioactivity.

Juniperus sabina L., a species within the Juniperus genus, is broadly distributed across Southern Europe and Central Asia. In China, its berries, branches, and leaves are traditionally employed in Uyghur medicine to address conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, itchy skin, tinnitus, deafness, and urinary discomfort. Notably, the plant’s primary bioactive constituents are terpenoids, lignans, and flavonoids. Contemporary pharmacological studies have revealed that J. sabina exhibits a range of bioactivities, including insecticidal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects. These diverse therapeutic properties can be attributed to its rich chemical profile, which comprises 279 distinct compounds such as terpenoids, lignans, flavonoids, coumarins, and others, isolated to date. This comprehensive review systematically organizes and summarizes the botanical characteristics, traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacological activities, toxicity, limitations, and future prospects of J. sabina. It aims to offer a valuable scientific reference and fresh perspectives for further research, development, and application of this plant.

The study aimed to evaluate fumigation and repellent properties of essential oils (EOs) from Juniperus macropoda leaves and cedarwood, Cedrus deodara against storage pests viz., Tribolium castaneum and Callosobruchus maculatus . Further, the volatile compounds released from essential oils were collected through headspace extraction and analyzed using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The major compounds released from C. deodara EO were α-Cuprenene (15.53%) and α-Himachalene (13.42%) whereas 4-terpineol (22.35%) and Limonene (14.16%) dominated the volatile composition of J. macropoda EO. Fumigation assay showed that C. deodara EO was significantly more toxic than J. macropoda EO against T. castaneum larvae (LC 50 = 103.91 µl/l vs. 357.33 µl/l) and adults (LC 50 = 123.10 µl/l vs. 724.66 µl/l). Similarly, C. deodara EO exhibited stronger fumigant activity against C. maculatus adult (LC 50 = 16.13 µl/l) compared to J. macropoda EO (LC 50 =25.68 µl/l). Repellency assay revealed that C. deodara EO significantly repelled C. maculatus adults at 50 and 100 ng, whereas J. macropoda EO showed no significant effect. Against T. castaneum adults, both EOs exhibited significant repellency, except J. macropoda at the lowest dose (10 ng). In-silico analysis revealed that in comparison to components from J. macropoda , C. deodara components such as γ -himachalene, α -cuprenene, α -himachalene, and α -(E)-atlantone often showed stronger and more stable binding affinities, consistent with bioassay results indicating the superior insecticidal activity of C. deodara essential oil. Molecular docking also revealed acetylcholinesterase as the primary target, thereby supporting its role in the fumigation insecticidal activity of the essential oils.

We hypothesized that female and male individuals of the dioecious tree species, Juniperus communis, exhibit different strategies of resource allocation when growing under stress conditions. To test this hypothesis, we performed a two-year pot experiment on plants exposed to different levels of nutrient availability. Analysis of the plants revealed a higher concentration of carbohydrates, carbon, and phenolic compounds in needles of female plants, indicating that females allocate more resources to storage and defense than males. This difference was independent of nutrient availability. Differences in carbohydrates levels between the sexes were most often significant in June, during the most intensive phase of vegetative growth in both sexes, but could also be attributed to female resources investment in cone development. A higher level of nitrogen and other macroelements was observed in males than in females, which may have been connected to the accumulation of resources (nitrogen) for pollen grain production in males or greater allocation of these elements to seeds and cones in females. The interaction between sex and soil fertilization for the C:N ratio may also indicate sex-specific patterns of resource allocation and utilization, which is impacted by their availability during specific periods of J. communis annual life cycle.

This study evaluates the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of HPLC-characterized extracts from Juniperus thurifera (L.) leaf extract (ELJT), bark extract (EBJT), and fruit extract (ESJT). The HPLC analysis of the hydroethanol extract of EBJT identified several key constituents, notably urocanic acid. In terms of antioxidant potential, the DPPH assay showed that both the EBJT and ESJT extracts had significant free radical scavenging activity. The IC 50 values for EBJT and ESJT were 43 µg/mL and 77 µg/mL, respectively. These values indicate that EBJT has a stronger capacity to neutralize free radicals compared to ESJT. For comparison, the positive control (BHT) showed a significantly lower IC 50 , underscoring the fact that while the extracts exhibit antioxidant activity, their effectiveness is still relatively weaker than that of BHT. In the FRAP assay, the EC 50 values for EBJT and ESJT were 256 µg/mL and 261 µg/mL, respectively, indicating similar antioxidant efficacy between the two extracts. Again, both extracts show antioxidant potential, but still fall short of the control’s activity. The extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus , E. coli , B. subtilis , and P. mirabilis , with ELJT displaying the strongest effect, characterized by large inhibition zones and low MIC values. This highlights the superior antibacterial potential of the leaf extract compared to the bark and fruit extracts. Regarding antifungal activity, EBJT demonstrated notable efficacy against A. niger , A. flavus , and F. oxysporum , with substantial inhibition zones and relatively low MIC values. Against C. albicans , all extracts showed significant inhibition, with EBJT exhibiting the highest inhibition zone (29.5 mm) and a MIC of 65.29 µL/mL. The J. thurifera extracts, especially ELJT, show promising antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, though less effective than positive controls. Despite this, they remain valuable sources of bioactive compounds for further study and potential applications.