Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Albanian <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Berries and Needle Leaves Extracts
This paper aims to investigate the phytochemical profile and in vitro antibacterial activity of two juniper species collected in Albania, <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i>. The berries and the needle leaves were subjected to solid–liquid solvent ultraso...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/3/345 |
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| author | Ilir Mërtiri Bogdan Păcularu-Burada Nicoleta Stănciuc |
| author_facet | Ilir Mërtiri Bogdan Păcularu-Burada Nicoleta Stănciuc |
| author_sort | Ilir Mërtiri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper aims to investigate the phytochemical profile and in vitro antibacterial activity of two juniper species collected in Albania, <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i>. The berries and the needle leaves were subjected to solid–liquid solvent ultrasound-assisted extraction. The phytochemical characterization of the extracts was performed by spectrophotometric and chromatographic means. The extract of <i>J. communis</i> berries (JcB) showed a higher total phenolic and flavonoid content (3.04 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g DW, and 1.14 ± 0.36 mg QE/g DW, respectively), also a higher antioxidant activity from DPPH and ABTS radical screening assays, compared to <i>J. oxycedrus</i> berries (JoxB) extract. The extract of <i>J. oxycedrus</i> needle leaves (JoxL) prevailed in total flavonoid content (10.55 ± 0.24 mg QE/g DW), and ABTS assays (1.83 ± 0.01 mM TE/g DW), compared to the extract of <i>J. communis</i> needle leaves (JcL). The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of ellagic acid and kaempferol in all the samples. Ellagic acid was the main identified compound with the highest quantity in the extracts of JoxB, JoxL, and JcB with an average of 445.69 ± 0.96 µg/g, 2890.05 ± 0.29 µg/g, and 8133.83 ± 4.03 µg/g, respectively. The antibacterial potential of the ethanolic extracts was evaluated on <i>Bacillus</i> spp., <i>Escherichia coli</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. In the Agar Well Diffusion Assay, it was observed that all the tested bacterial strains were sensitive to the extracts, whereas selected extracts showed a similar inhibition activity rate compared with the antibiotic substance (Chloramphenicol), used as a positive control. The extracts showed a similar minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentration for the individual bacterial strains, suggesting that <i>J. communis</i> and <i>J. oxycedrus</i> extracts have a similar potential in antibacterial activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:37:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af5ddc5b53924231a2b3560546680f2f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:37:00Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
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| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj.art-af5ddc5b53924231a2b3560546680f2f2024-03-27T13:18:39ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212024-03-0113334510.3390/antiox13030345Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Albanian <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Berries and Needle Leaves ExtractsIlir Mërtiri0Bogdan Păcularu-Burada1Nicoleta Stănciuc2Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Dunărea de Jos University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, RomaniaFaculty of Food Science and Engineering, Dunărea de Jos University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, RomaniaFaculty of Food Science and Engineering, Dunărea de Jos University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, RomaniaThis paper aims to investigate the phytochemical profile and in vitro antibacterial activity of two juniper species collected in Albania, <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i>. The berries and the needle leaves were subjected to solid–liquid solvent ultrasound-assisted extraction. The phytochemical characterization of the extracts was performed by spectrophotometric and chromatographic means. The extract of <i>J. communis</i> berries (JcB) showed a higher total phenolic and flavonoid content (3.04 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g DW, and 1.14 ± 0.36 mg QE/g DW, respectively), also a higher antioxidant activity from DPPH and ABTS radical screening assays, compared to <i>J. oxycedrus</i> berries (JoxB) extract. The extract of <i>J. oxycedrus</i> needle leaves (JoxL) prevailed in total flavonoid content (10.55 ± 0.24 mg QE/g DW), and ABTS assays (1.83 ± 0.01 mM TE/g DW), compared to the extract of <i>J. communis</i> needle leaves (JcL). The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of ellagic acid and kaempferol in all the samples. Ellagic acid was the main identified compound with the highest quantity in the extracts of JoxB, JoxL, and JcB with an average of 445.69 ± 0.96 µg/g, 2890.05 ± 0.29 µg/g, and 8133.83 ± 4.03 µg/g, respectively. The antibacterial potential of the ethanolic extracts was evaluated on <i>Bacillus</i> spp., <i>Escherichia coli</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. In the Agar Well Diffusion Assay, it was observed that all the tested bacterial strains were sensitive to the extracts, whereas selected extracts showed a similar inhibition activity rate compared with the antibiotic substance (Chloramphenicol), used as a positive control. The extracts showed a similar minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentration for the individual bacterial strains, suggesting that <i>J. communis</i> and <i>J. oxycedrus</i> extracts have a similar potential in antibacterial activity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/3/345<i>Juniper communis</i><i>Juniper oxycedrus</i>extractspolyphenolsantibacterial activity |
| spellingShingle | Ilir Mërtiri Bogdan Păcularu-Burada Nicoleta Stănciuc Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Albanian <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Berries and Needle Leaves Extracts Antioxidants <i>Juniper communis</i> <i>Juniper oxycedrus</i> extracts polyphenols antibacterial activity |
| title | Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Albanian <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Berries and Needle Leaves Extracts |
| title_full | Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Albanian <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Berries and Needle Leaves Extracts |
| title_fullStr | Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Albanian <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Berries and Needle Leaves Extracts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Albanian <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Berries and Needle Leaves Extracts |
| title_short | Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Albanian <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Berries and Needle Leaves Extracts |
| title_sort | phytochemical characterization and antibacterial activity of albanian i juniperus communis i and i juniperus oxycedrus i berries and needle leaves extracts |
| topic | <i>Juniper communis</i> <i>Juniper oxycedrus</i> extracts polyphenols antibacterial activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/3/345 |
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