Omnia SanaSymptom → Plant Sources
Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) and Wounds: evidence and sources
inferred from antimicrobial action
For educational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants, especially alongside prescribed medication, during pregnancy, or for a serious condition.
1 source supporting Common Juniper for Wounds. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's antimicrobial action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Plant-derived products and their extracted compounds have been used in folk medicine since early times. Zimbro or common juniper ( Juniperus communis ) is traditionally used to treat renal suppression, acute and chronic cystitis, bladder catarrh, albuminuria, leucorrhea, and amenorrhea. These uses are mainly attributed to its bioactive composition, which is very rich in phenolics, terpenoids, organic acids, alkaloids, and volatile compounds. In the last few years, several studies have analyzed the huge potential of this evergreen shrub, describing a wide range of activities with relevance in different biomedical discipline areas, namely antimicrobial potential against human pathogens and foodborne microorganisms, notorious antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antidiabetic, antihypercholesterolemic and antihyperlipidemic effects, and neuroprotective action, as well as antiproliferative ability against cancer cells and the ability to activate inductive hepato-, renal- and gastroprotective mechanisms. Owing to these promising activities, extracts and bioactive compounds of juniper could be useful for the development of new pharmacological applications in the treatment of several acute and chronic human diseases.
Juniperus communis is a shrub or small evergreen tree, native to Europe, South Asia, and North America, and belongs to family Cupressaceae. It has been widely used as herbal medicine from ancient time. Traditionally the plant is being potentially used as antidiarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic and in the treatment of various abdominal disorders. The main chemical constituents, which were reported in J. communis L. are α-pinene, β-pinene, apigenin, sabinene, β-sitosterol, campesterol, limonene, cupressuflavone, and many others. This review includes the last 20 years journals and various books update on this plant, representing its pharmacological activity and health benefits against various diseases.
Needles of seven cultivated clones (C1 - C7) of Juniperus communis at lower altitude and three wild Juniperus species (J. communis, J. recurva and J. indica) at higher altitudes were investigated comparatively for their essential oils (EOs) yields, chemical composition, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. The EOs yields varied from 0.26 to 0.56% (v/w) among samples. Sixty-one volatile components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and quantified using gas chromatography GC (FID) representing 82.5 - 95.7% of the total oil. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (49.1 - 82.8%) dominated in all samples (α-pinene, limonene and sabinene as major components). Principal component analysis (PCA) of GC data revealed that wild and cultivated Juniperus species are highly distinct due to variation in chemical composition. J. communis (wild species) displayed cytotoxicity against SiHa (human cervical cancer), A549 (human lung carcinoma) and A431 (human skin carcinoma) cells (66.4 ± 2.2%, 74.4 ± 1.4% and 57.4 ± 4.0%), respectively, at 200 μg/ml. EOs exhibited better antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than against Gram-negative bacteria with the highest zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96 (19.2 ± 0.7) by clone-7. As per the conclusion of the findings, EOs of clone-2, clone-5 and clone-7 can be suggested to the growers of lower altitude, as there is more possibility of uses of these EOs in food and medicinal preparations.
Objective The present study evaluated the possible synergistic antimycobacterial interactions of Juniperus communis and Helichrysum italicum essential oils (EO). Methods Antimycobacterial potential was tested against Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare using broth and water dilution method and checkerboard synergy method. Antiadhesion and antibiofilm effect of EOs was evaluated on biotic (HeLa cells) and abiotic surface (polystyrene). To evaluate the possible mechanisms of action, cellular leakage of proteins and DNA was tested and structural changes were visualized with a transmission electron microscope. Results MIC, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimal effective concentration (MEC) were 1.6 mg ml -1 for J. communis EO and 3.2 mg ml -1 for H. italicum EO against both mycobacteria. All combinations of EOs in checkerboard synergy method produced fractional inhibitory concentration index values ranging from 0.501 to 1.5, corresponding to synergistic, additive or indifferent effects. Mycobacterium avium showed a greater tendency to create biofilm but these EOs at subinhibitory concentrations (sMIC) effectively blocked the adhesion and the establishment of biofilm. The exposure of both mycobacteria to MICs and sMICs lead to significant morphological changes: acquired a swollen form, ghost-like cell, disorganized cytoplasm detached from the cell wall. OD value of supernatant for both mycobacteria exposed to EOs have confirmed that there is a leakage of cellular material. Conclusion The leakage of the cellular material is noticeably higher in sMIC, which is probably due to cell wall damage. sMIC of both EOs have an additive or synergistic effect, reducing MICs, limiting adhesion and preventing the formation of biofilms.