Phytochemical and Biological Investigation of Juniperus Phoenicea L. : Pharmacognostical and Pharmacological Study

Juniperus phoenicea L. belongs to family Cupressaceae. The Cupressaceae is a conifer family with worldwide distribution. The present work includes phytochemical and biological investigations of fruits and leaves. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids and sterols, triterpenes in both organs. GC/MS analysis of the unsaponifiable matter of the petroleum ether extracts were done. The petroleum ether extract of fruits was chromatographed, the isolated compounds were identified using EI-MS and 1H-NMR as ferruginol, 7-dehydroabietanone, sugiol, 6-a-Hydroxy-7-oxoferruginol, totarolone and varodiol. 4 flavonoids isolated from leaves and fruits identified as isoetin-7-O-glucoside, amentoflavone, isoscutellarein and agathisflavone. carbohydrate contents were also determined. Bioactivity studies included LD50 determination of different extracts of fruits and leaves which indicates the low toxicity of the plant. All the extracts of fruits and leaves exhibited significant anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, hepatoprotective and diuretic activities. Also, Significant antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were exhibited by leaves extract.