Genoprotective, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract of wild-growing Juniperus communis L. (Cupressaceae) native to Romanian southern sub-Carpathian hills

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018; 18: 3. Published online 2018 Jan 4. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-2066-8 PMCID: PMC5755145 Irina Fierascu,#1,2 Camelia Ungureanu,3 Sorin Marius Avramescu,2,4 Carmen Cimpeanu,corresponding author#2 Mihaela Ioana Georgescu,2 Radu Claudiu Fierascu,corresponding author#1,2 Alina Ortan,#2 Anca Nicoleta Sutan,5 Valentina Anuta,6 Anca Zanfirescu,6 Cristina Elena Dinu-Pirvu,2,6 and Bruno Stefan Velescu6 1The National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania 2University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine, 59 Marasti Blvd, 011464 Bucharest, Romania 3Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1 Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania 4Research Center for Environmental Protection and Waste Management, University of Bucharest, 36-46 M. Kogalniceanu Blvd., 050107 Bucharest, Romania 5Department of Natural Sciences, University of Pitesti, 1 Targu din Vale, 110040 Pitesti, Arges Romania 6Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Str., 020956 Bucharest, Romania Irina Fierascu, Email: moc.oohay@aniri.uirtimud. Contributor Information. corresponding authorCorresponding author. #Contributed equally. Author information ▼ Article notes ► Copyright and License information ► Go to: Abstract Background Juniperus communis L. represents a multi-purpose crop used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industry. Several studies present the possible medicinal properties of different Juniperus taxa native to specific geographical area. The present study aims to evaluate the genoprotective, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory potential of hydroalcoholic extract of wild-growing Juniperus communis L. (Cupressaceae) native to Romanian southern sub-Carpathian hills. Methods The prepared hydroethanolic extract of Juniperus communis L. was characterized by GC-MS, HPLC, UV-Vis spectrometry and phytochemical assays. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH assay, the antifungal effect was studied on Aspergillus niger ATCC 15475 and Penicillium hirsutum ATCC 52323, while the genoprotective effect was evaluated using the Allium cepa assay. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in two inflammation experimental models (dextran and kaolin) by plethysmometry. Male Wistar rats were treated by gavage with distilled water (negative control), the microemulsion (positive control), diclofenac sodium aqueous solution (reference) and microemulsions containing juniper extract (experimental group). The initial paw volume and the paw volumes at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 24 h were measured. Results Total terpenoids, phenolics and flavonoids were estimated to be 13.44 ± 0.14 mg linalool equivalent, 19.23 ± 1.32 mg gallic acid equivalent, and 5109.6 ± 21.47 mg rutin equivalent per 100 g of extract, respectively. GC-MS characterization of the juniper extract identified 57 volatile compounds in the sample, while the HPLC analysis revealed the presence of the selected compounds (α-pinene, chlorogenic acid, rutin, apigenin, quercitin). The antioxidant potential of the crude extract was found to be 81.63 ± 0.38% (measured by the DPPH method). The results of the antifungal activity assay (for Aspergillus niger and Penicillium hirsutum) were 21.6 mm, respectively 17.2 mm as inhibition zone. Test results demonstrated the genoprotective potential of J. communis undiluted extract, inhibiting the mitodepressive effect of ethanol. The anti-inflammatory action of the juniper extract, administered as microemulsion in acute-dextran model was increased when compared to kaolin subacute inflammation induced model. Conclusion The hydroalcoholic extract obtained from wild-growing Juniperus communis native to Romanian southern sub-Carpathian hills has genoprotective, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Keywords: Natural compounds, Hydroalcoholic extract, Genoprotective Go to: Background Natural products (extracts or essential oils) obtained from various plants are complex mixtures, containing hundreds of organic compounds that are usually used as food, beverages, flavouring and aroma agents [1]. These natural products are currently promoted as anticancer, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant agents, and in various other applications (such as the phytosynthesis of nanoparticles) [2–7]. Most of these therapeutic activities mentioned could be attributed to polyphenolic compounds found in natural products [8]. Juniperus communis L. is an evergreen tree growing in many regions in Eurasia, North Africa and North America. From the Juniperus L. genus, consisting of 67 species and 34 varieties, the most common juniper species in Central and Southeast Europe is Juniperus communis L., which can be identified based on macroscopic and microscopic differences compared to other species of juniper [9, 10]. Its usable parts (berries – Juniperi fructus and needles – Juniperi foliage) contain an essential oil with a characteristic and recognizable flavour. The main value of juniper as a crop resides in the application of its essential oil and extracts as diuretic, in gastrointestinal diseases, renal, genital, pulmonary and rheumatic disorders, in pharmaceutical and food industries, perfumery or in cosmetics [11]. Recent papers studied the use of juniper extracts natural products (essential oil or extracts) mainly as antioxidants [12] and antimicrobial agents [13, 14]. Their hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects and cytotoxic activity were also investigated [15]. The anti-inflammatory potential of juniper was empirically established and transmitted in the folk medicine of different countries, throughout Europe [11, 16, 17]. Scientific evidences of the anti-inflammatory effect of several Juniperus taxa are provided by many in vitro and in vivo studies published in the last decades. Mascolo et al. [16] evaluated 75 (most frequently used in Italian folk medicine) hydro-alcoholic plant extracts for the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan foot oedema model. Among them, Juniperus communis L. qualified in the first four species, considering their activity. Tunon et al. [17] evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of 59 water extracts (obtained from Swedish medicinal plants) using in vitro assays. Once again, the juniper extract was found to be active in both assays used (prostaglandin biosynthesis and PAF-induced exocytosis). Akkol et al. [18] evaluated five Turkish Juniperus taxa methanolic and aqueous extracts for anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced and PGE2-induced hind paw oedema model, offering scientific support for their traditional use. Kalinkevich et al. [19] included their in vitro study regarding the anti-inflammatory activities of 133 plants, vegetables, fruits and mushrooms native to Russia, the ethanolic extract obtained from Juniperus communis L. Their results situated the juniper extract as having an average anti-inflammatory potential. Other Juniperus taxa, such as Juniperus sibirica Burgsdorf. [20], Juniperus foetidissima Willd. 1806 [21] or Juniperus macrocarpa Sibth. et Sm. [22] (native to Serbia) were evaluated by in vitro assays, with very good results. The literature data presented suggests that further investigations are necessary to verify and establish the anti-inflammatory effect, especially considering the variations between vegetal materials. In Romania, juniper fruits are traditionally used as infusion or tincture, both internally (as diuretic and antiseptic) and externally (for various dermatitis conditions) [11]. Considering the various factors affecting the final composition of natural extracts [23–25], it is not only possible but even probable that different researchers will obtain different results for the same plant species. The objectives of the study were the preparation, chemical characterisation and the assessment of antioxidant, antifungal, genoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of hydroalcoholic extract of wild-growing Juniperus communis L. (Cupressaceae). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5755145/