Bioactivities, Pharmacological Properties, and Ethnomedicinal Uses of Juniper Berries (Genus Juniperus)

Juniper is a term used to identify shrub and tree species that fall under the genus Juniperus of the Cupressaceae family. The boiled and molasses forms of juniper berries have been traditionally utilized in folk medicine for centuries. In Turkey, juniper berries have been known to aid in treating shortness of breath, cough, abdominal pain, wound healing, heart disease, and a variety of inflammatory or infectious conditions. Juniper, which has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times, is used by Native Americans in the treatment of urinary tract infections and by Western tribes in Eurasia in the treatment of rheumatism kidney and stomach ailments. Various parts of juniper are still used to treat these conditions. Juniper berry essential oil is widely used and contains α-pinene (51.4%), myrcene (8.3%), sabinene (5.8%), limonene (5.1%), and β-pinene (5.0%), among other compounds. Additionally, it is known for its pharmacological activities.