Chemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial and cholinesterase inhibitory activities of three Juniperus species

The chemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial and cholinesterase inhibitory activities of three Juniperus species were studied. The contents of total phenolic and 10 phenolic compounds were highest in Juniperus rigida Sieb.et Zucc., of which catechin and cumaric acid were the predominant phenolic compounds, but were lowest in Juniperus sibirica Burgsd. GC-MS analysis showed the highest contents of essential oils were in J. rigida (92.61%), followed by Juniperus formosana Hayata (87.30%) and J. sibirica (84.89%). The a-pinene was the most dominant compound in J. rigida (23.99%) and J. formosana (9.71%), however, it has not been detected in J. sibirica. Ethanol extracts showed the higher radical scavenging capacity in ABTS, FRAP and DPPH assays than essential oils. The essential oils and ethanol extracts of J.sibirica showed the strong antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Three Juniperus species showed certain acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitions and J. formosana showed better cholinesterase inhibitory.