Communic acids are diterpenes with labdane skeletons found in many plant species, mainly conifers, predominating in the genus Juniperus (fam. Cupresaceae). In this review we briefly describe their distribution and different biological activities (anti- bacterial, antitumoral, hypolipidemic, relaxing smooth muscle, etc.). This paper also includes a detailed explanation of their use as chiral bui...

The biocidal activity of three steam distilled wood essential oils-incense cedar, Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin; Port-Orford-cedar, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl.; and western juniper, Juniperus occidentalis (Hook)--were evaluated against adult Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothchild) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) and nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say ...

Our modelling approach shows the predominance of facilitative over competition effects in controlling regeneration studied species, thus pointing out to intra- and inter-specific coexistence mechanisms. Natural is a main issue management continental Mediterranean forests. Ensuring natural forest therefore vital for preserving ecosystem function under climate warming increased frequency intensit...

The title compound, C(20)H(28)O(2), commonly named Sugiol, is a natural oxygenated diterpene that we have isolated for the first time from a hexane extract of the fruits of Juniperus Oxycedrus L. Its X-ray crystal structure determination confirms an abietane skeleton which was predicted by spectroscopic analysis, mainly by (1)H and (13)C NMR. The cyclo-hexane ring adopts a flattened chair confo...

Four important categories of urologic herbs, their history, and modern scientific investigations regarding them are reviewed. Botanical diuretics are discussed with a focus on Solidago spp (goldenrod) herb, Levisticum officinale (lovage) root, Petroselinum crispus (parsley) fruit, and Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) herb. Urinary antiseptic and anti-adhesion herbs, particularly Arctostaphylos u...

Juniperus communis is a shrub or small evergreen tree, native to Europe, South Asia, and North America, and belongs to family Cupressaceae. It has been widely used as herbal medicine from ancient time. Traditionally the plant is being potentially used as antidiarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic and in the treatment of various abdominal disorders. The main chemical constitue...

The antifungal activities of three supercritical CO2 (SCC) extracted cedar oils, Port-Orford-cedar (POC) (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), Alaska yellow cedar (AYC) (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), and Eastern red cedar (ERC) (Juniperus virginiana L), were evaluated against two common wood decay fungi, brown-rot fungi (Gloeophyllum trabeum) and white-rot fungi (Trametes versicolor). The statistical anal...

Comparisons were made of DNA extracted from leaves of Juniperus virginiana stored in 100, 75, 70, 54 and 23% humidity at 21oC for up to 12 months. Fungal growth was observed in the 100, 75 and 70% humidity tests that resulted in the degradation of the juniper DNA. The DNA in leaves stored at 54.4 and 23.1% RH show no evidence of degradation after 12 months storage. It appears that storage of he...

Dendrochronology is the science that uses tree-rings dated to their exact year of formation to analyze temporal and spatial patterns of processes in the physical and cultural sciences. There currently is no published record for tree-ring studies using Eastern Red Cedar in the Upper Mississippi River Valley in Wisconsin. Therefore, this study develops a chronology from treerings using Eastern Re...