Quality of juniper essential oil (Oleum Juniperi) in the South Slovakia and it’s curative and industrial utilization

Abstract

Common juniper, Juniperus communis L., is a shrub or tree species belonging to the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). It has wide ecological amplitude and the aromatic plants occur abundantly in dry sunny hillsides, as well as the subalpine level. The essential oil is distilled from the fresh and dry black, ripe berries. Juniper essential oil (Oleum juniper) is transparent, fluid and colourless, sometimes with a tinge of greenish-yellow. The principal essential oil constituent is pinene, which has two main isomers, α- and β-pinene; α-pinene is the dominant. The principal properties of the oil are anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-septic and diuretic. The recent research demonstrates that pinene is also helpful at mitigating the damages of hepatoma carcinoma and is viable as a potential anti-tumor drug. Juniper berries with a high pinene contents are an important and essential raw material in the distilled spirits industry. “Borovicka”, as Slovak national alcoholic beverage, is a spirit made from the fruits. The results of essential oil qualitative-quantitative characteristics show great differences among juniper raw materials harvested in the Cerova Highlands - Chramec Area (the South Slovakia), where its biotopes are occurred on large areas (319.44 ha).