Comparative Antioxidant Properties of Juniperus communis L. and Juniperus virginiana L. Extracts Obtained by Refluxing and Sonication Methods

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate and tetrahydrofuran extracts of Juniperus berries, branches and needles, by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Two Juniperus species, Juniperus communis and Juniperus virginiana, from different regions were used. The extracts obtained by sonication and refluxing extraction were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, which revealed that the Romanian juniper extracts are largely comprised of monoterpene hydrocarbons, such as a-pinene, b-pinene, b-hellandrene, sabinene, b-cadinene, t-cadinene, b-caryophyllene, b-cubebene, b-elemene and germacrene D. The antioxidant activity was highest in ethyl acetate Juniperus communis needles extract from Lipova (Romania) and in ethyl acetate Juniperus virginiana branches extract from Macea Botanical Garden (Romania). The mean rates (vm) of DPPH consumption were higher for the tetrahydrofuran Juniperus communis branches extract from Lipova and ethyl acetate Juniperus virginiana branches extract than in tetrahydrofuran Juniperus communis berries extract from Lipova.