DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants and improvement of medicinal herbs:

Juniperus communis L ( = J. communis var. communis) and Juniperus nana Willd. ( = J. communis var. saxatilis) are subspecies of juniper. J. communis grows widely in both hemispheres, primarily in lower elevations while J. nana is mainly observed in high mountains. Although they can be distinguished by morphological features, it is not known whether they are genetically and phytochemically distinct entities. We aimed to check whether it is possible to distinguish these two plants (i) by pharmaceutically important chemical traits and (ii) on the basis of intraspecifically highly polymorphic fragment of chloroplast DNA. We used GC with achiral as well as with enantioselective stationary phase columns to identify the main monoterpenes of the essential oil. Sequence analysis of the trnL (UAA)-trnF (GAA) intergenic spacer of the chloroplast genome was used as a genetic marker of taxonomic identity between these two subspecies. The chromatographic analysis showed the existence of three chemical races - the alpha-pinene type, the sabinene type and one with intermediate contents of these terpenes among both J. communis and J. nana. Surprisingly, sequence analysis of trnL (UAA)-trnF (GAA) revealed 100% similarity between the common and the dwarf juniper. Thus, the monoterpene pattern is related to geographical origin, and not to the species identity. We suggest that the three chemical races identified in the present study should be considered as separate sources of pharmaceutical raw material. Our results demonstrate that the contents of α-pinene and sabinene may be applied as a quick diagnostic test for preliminary evaluation of plant material. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart.

PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Frutos.

ACCION FARMACOLOGICA= Pharmacological action: Digestivo, aperitivo, diurético y es útil en el catarro vesical y pulmonar.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: Aceite esencial (0,5-3,4%): Presente en la planta entera y especialmente en los gálbulos, compuesto por los siguientes hidrocaburos terpénicos: alcanfor, alfa-pineno, beta-pineno, horneol, canfeno, limoneno y terpineol; sesquiterpenos: alfa-caliofileno, cadineno, cariofileno, epoxi-dihidro-cariofileno y Beta-elemeno; principio amargo (juniperina, alcoholes y un ciclobutano monocíclico monoterpenoide: la junionona. Flavonoides: cupresoflavona, amentoflavona, apigenina, hipoaletin-7-0-beta-D-glucósido, quercetol, isoquercitrósido, rutósido. Otros: resina (8-10%), taninos catéquicos (gallocatequinas, epigallocatequinas), azúcar invertido (30-33%, lo cual le confiere un sabor dulce a los gálbulos), beta-sitosterol, geijerona (terpenoide), ácidos ascórbico, glicérico y glicórico y por último ácidos orgánicos (acético, cafeico, clorogénico, cinámico, fórmico, glucorónico, I-ascórbico, málico, oxálico y paracumarínico).

ZONA GEOGRAFICA= Geografical zone: Uruguay.

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Usos tradicionales:
a) uso interno: cistitis, uretritis, cálculos renales y de la vejiga; gota e hinchazón (edema); bronquitis, faringitis, dispepsia, mal aliento.
La infusión se prepara con 1 cucharada del vegetal para 1 litro de agua recién hervida; beber 1 taza 3 veces en el día.
b) uso externo: reumatismo, artritis, neuralgias post-herpéticas, dolores musculares, micosis.
La decocción (cocimiento) se prepara hirviendo 1 cucharada del vegetal en 1 litro de agua durante 10 minutos: usar mediante lavados y compresas.

Efectos:
antineurálgico, antiséptico de vías urinarias y respiratorias, aperitivo, carminativo, diurético,expectorante

Precauciones:no administrar durante el embarazo ni a pacientes con insuficiencia renal; puede aumentar el efecto de fármacos hipoglicemiantes y diuréticos; puede disminuir el efecto de anticoagulantes orales.

Origins: Dry soil.

Uses: The fruit is used commercially in flavoring gin, and has value as a diuretic and urinary antiseptic. In Europe, it is used to treat arteriosclerosis.

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The pea-sized berries (fleshy cones) of the juniper tree/shrub take several years to ripen and turn blue. In the past, juniper has been used to treat indigestion, urinary tract problems, and a wide variety of other conditions.  Juniper oil baths and rubs were soothing for rheumatic patients. Recent studies have shown that Juniperus chinensis extract has anti-tumor effects in mice and that Juniperus communis has an anti-mycobacterial effect that may make it useful in tuberculosis, but that it is not effective in fighting dental plaque. Juniper berries have been used to flavor gin since the Dutch invented that drink, which was originally called “Holland’s Geneva.” New growth on junipers is needle shaped and sharp, but older parts of the plant have non sharp, scalelike leaves.

Part used::
Berries

Origin:
Europe, Northern Asia and America

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Origin:
Native to Europe and North America. Distributed in Western Himalayas from Kumaon westwards at 1,700 - 4,200 m.

Action:
Berries—diuretic, urinary antiseptic, carminative, digestive, sudorific, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue. Used for acute and chronic cystitis, renal suppression (scanty micturition), catarrh of the bladder, albuminuria, amenorrhoea, leucorrhoea.
Aerial parts—abortifacient.

Toxicity:
Aerial parts—abortifacient.

1) GONZALEZ, Matías ; LOMBARDO, Atilio ; VALLARINO, Aida. Plantas de la medicina vulgar del Uruguay. Montevideo : Talleres Gráficos, 1937, p.56.

2) ALONSO, Jorge R. Tratado de fitomedicina : bases clínicas y farmacológicas. Buenos Aires : ISIS, 1998, p. 478.

3) FILIPOWICZ, N. et al. The phytochemical and genetic survey of common and dwarf juniper (Juniperus communis and Juniperus nana) identifies chemical races and close taxonomic identity of the species. Planta Medica. 2006, vol.72, nº9, p.850-853.

4) A guide to medicinal plants of Appalachia/ Krochmal, Arnold; Walter, Russel S.; Doughty, Richard M.: USA: U.S.D.A Forest Service:,1959

5) Hierbas medicinales/ Chile. Ministerio de Agricultura.  p.64

6) Hull, Kathleen; Photog. Hull, Meredith /Indiana Medical History Museum: Guide to the Medicinal Plant Garden./ USA: Indiana Medical History Museum. 2010. -- p. 58.

7) Khare, C.P./ Indian Medicinal Plants. -- Nueva Dheli: Springer, 2007 . - p. 352.