Common Juniper, Studies
Imbricatolic acid from Juniperus communis L. prevents cell cycle progression in CaLu-6 cells.
Deoxypodophyllotoxin isolated from Juniperus communis induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
Imbricatolic acid from Juniperus communis L. prevents cell cycle progression in CaLu-6 cells. Imbricatolic acid was isolated from the methanolic extract of the fresh ripe berries of Juniperus communis (Cupressaceae) together with sixteen known compounds and a new dihydrobenzofuran lignan glycoside named juniperoside A... this plant-derived compound may play a role in the control of cell cycle.
Anti-mycobacterial natural products from the Canadian medicinal plant Juniperus communis....Isocupressic acid, communic acid and deoxypodophyllotoxin were identified as the principal constituents responsible for the anti-mycobacterial activity of the aerial parts of J. communis. Although further research will be required to evaluate the relative activities of the two communic acid isomers, this work validates an ethnopharmacological use of this plant by Canadian First Nations and Native American communities
Inhibitory activity of Juniperus communis on 12(S)-HETE production in human platelets.
Effects of crude aqueous medicinal plant extracts on growth and invasion of breast cancer cells. Plants used in folklore medicine continue to be an important source of discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents. In the present study, we determined the effects of crude aqueous extracts of a panel of medicinal plants on the growth and invasion of cancer cells. Our results showed that extracts of L. tridentata (Creosote Bush) and J. communis L. (Juniper Berry) significantly decreased the growth of MCF-7/AZ breast cancer cells. The latter as well as A. californica (Yerba Mansa) inhibited invasion into the collagen type I gel layer. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) decreased when the cells were exposed to aqueous extracts of L. tridentata, J. communis L. and A. californica. This study provides original scientific data on the anticancer activity of selected aqueous medicinal plant extracts used in traditional medicine.