Essential oils from the fruits and leaves of Juniperus sabina possess inhibitory activity against protein glycation and oxidative stress: an in vitro phytochemical investigation

Abstract

Antioxidant and anti-glycation properties of essential oils from branchlets of male (BMT) and female (BFT) trees and fruits of Juniperus sabina were investigated. Essential oils were obtained using steam distillation method and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. Antioxidant effects were evaluated using low-density lipoprotein oxidation, linoleic acid peroxidation and red blood cell hemolysis assays. Overall, all tested oils possessed antioxidant properties and showed different degrees of inhibitory activity. In addition, promising effects were observed from the tested oils against hemoglobin (39.7–79.6%) and insulin (56.9–89.2%) glycation. The observed effects were not found to be dependent on the essential oil concentration. These findings provide additional evidence with respect to the biological activities of essential oils and may serve as a base for future studies to investigate the potential benefits of J. sabina oils in the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Keywords:

• volatile oil
• Juniperus sabina
• Cupressaceae
• oxidative stress
• glycation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the authorities of the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) research council as well as authorities of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) for their respective support. The authors also wish to express their sincerest gratitude to Mrs A. Jamshidi for her kind help.