• Common Juniper (Juniper Berry)
  • Common Juniper (Juniper Berry)

Common Juniper (Juniper Berry)

  • Scientific Name
    juniperus communis
  • Family
    Cupressaceae
  • Origin
    North America, Europe, Asiaetc.

CONTENTS

Plant description

Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) is a shrubby, evergreen coniferous tree of the Cupressaceae family that grows 3m-10m tall.  In early spring, it produces yellow or green flowers and is characterized by its slender, pointed leaves. The name “Needle Juniper” is derived from the use of these thin, pointed leaves to repel rats.　Common Juniper bears unripe green berries that gradually ripen over approximately two years, turning into fully ripe blue-black berries. Depending on the growing conditions, it is known to easily mutate, resulting in various varieties that may have different fragrances. Dried juniper berries have a long history of use in flavoring gin, a popular Western alcoholic beverage, and are also employed in Western herbal medicine. These juniper berries are found growing in the wild across North America, Europe, and Asia, making them one of the most widespread trees globally.

Essential oil composition

Juniper Berry

  • Juniper Berry

  • INCI
    Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil
  • Parts of Plant Used
    Fruit
  • Extraction Method
    Steam Distillation
  • Extraction Rate
    1%
  • Notes
    Middle
  • Aroma Family
    Woody

Juniper Berry Essential Oil Properties & Uses

About 1% of Juniper essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from juniper berries, and is colorless to pale yellowish in color. Its primary constituents, alpha-pinene and myrcene, are recognized for their relaxing properties. The aroma is refreshingly woody, dry, bitter, slightly sour, and imbued with a bluish tint, enriched by a deep green undertone. This versatile oil blends harmoniously with various essential oils, exhibiting exceptional compatibility with citrus and floral scents, such as Lemon. When combined with Neroli and Rose, it creates a captivating yet green, invigorating fragrance.Due to its relatively mild fragrance, it is advisable to add a bit more of this essential oil to maintain a well-balanced aroma blend.

Essential oil composition

Essential oil composition

※An example of one batch production is shown here.

  • α-Pinene　38.2%
  • Myrcene　12.2%
  • Sabinene　8.9%
  • Limonene　6.8%
  • β-Caryophyllene　5.6%
  • β-Pinene　3.4%
  • Terpinen-4-ol　2.5%
  • p-Cymene　2.3%
  • Germacrene D　2.2%
  • γ-Terpinene　1.5%
  • α-Humulene　1.2%
  • δ-Cadinene　1.2%
  • Other components　14.0%

Functions and Efficacies

α-Pinene

α-Pinene
  • IUPAC Name
    (+)-α-Pinene: (1R,5R)-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene
    (-)-α-Pinene: (1S,5S)-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene
  • Molecular Formula
    C10H16
  • Molecular Weight
    136.23 g/mol
  • CAS No.
    (+)-α-Pinene: 7785-70-8
    (-)-α-Pinene: 7785-26-4
  • Structure
    Bicyclic monoterpene

Functions and Efficacies of α-Pinene

in slico in vitro ex vivo in vivo
Non-clinical Clinical
Mice Rats Guinea Pigs Insects Rabbits Human
Stress Reduction ○
Anti-bacterial Effects ○
Anti-inflammatory Effects ○

Stress Reduction

A study reported that brain tumors in mice that inhaled the fragrance of α-pinene became smaller. However, no melanoma cell growth was observed with the addition of α-pinene, indicating a potential psychological effect .1)

Anti-bacterial Effects

A study reported that α-pinene had an inhibitory effect on the growth of blue staining fungi, both when exposed to gas and when added to the culture medium2)

Anti-inflammatory Effects

It is known that the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 cells induces the production of nitric oxide (NO), a substance that causes inflammation. A study reported that the production of NO was suppressed by the addition of α-pinene.3)

  • 1)Kusuhara et al., Biomedical Research, 2012
  • 2)岡村、木材保存、
  • 3)Kwak et al., Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 2019

Limonene

Limonene
  • IUPAC Name
    1-methyl-4-prop-1-en-2-ylcyclohexene
  • Molecular Formula
    C10H16
  • Molecular Weight
    136.23 g/mol
  • CAS No.
    138-86-3
  • Structure
    Monocyclic monoterpene

Functions and Efficacies of Limonene

in slico in vitro ex vivo in vivo
Non-clinical Clinical
Mice Rats Guinea Pigs Insects Rabbits Human
Stress Reduction ○
Memory Improvement ○ ○
Anti-cancer Effects ○ ○ ○

Stress Reduction

A study reported that mice subjected to cold stress at 4°C (41°F) exhibited reduced elevations in blood corticosterone levels when treated with limonene. Furthermore, the same report demonstrated that limonene effectively lowered corticosterone levels in the blood of mice exposed to both physical and mental stress.1)

Memory Improvement

A study reported that when acetylcholinesterase reacts with acetylthiocholine in phosphate-buffered saline, the introduction of limonene inhibits the degradation by acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase plays a role in the breakdown of acetylcholine, a hormone associated with memory and learning. In the same report, it was also noted that limonene suppressed memory impairment induced by scopolamine administration in rats.2)

Anti-cancer Effects

A report indicated that the consumption of limonene by breast cancer patients resulted in reduced expression of Cyclin D1, a protein crucial for cell division, within tumors.3)Furthermore, numerous other studies have also documented the anticancer properties of limonene.4)5)

  • 1)Fukumoto et al., Stress and Health, 2008
  • 2)Zhou et al., Nutritional Neuroscience,, 2013
  • 3)Miller et al., Cancer Prevntion Research, 2013
  • 4)Ajikumaran Nair S et al., Phytomedicine, 2018
  • 5)Chaudhary et al., Human & Experimental Toxicology, 2012

IFRA

Common Juniper (Juniper Berry)：
No restrictions applied

※Only information for selected components are shown here.

References
Jennie Harding [Handbook of Essential Oil and Plant Oil] Tokyo-do Publishing, 2010.
Shinichiro Otsuki/Yukiko Ozaki [Scientific Name Etymology Dictionary of Herbs] Tokyo-do Publishing, 2009.
Jennie Harding [Illustrated Reference Book of Herbs] Sancho Publishing, 2012.
Freddy Ghozland/Xavier Fernandez [L’Herbier Parfume] Hara Publishing, 2013.
Kyohei Mikami [Comprehensive Guide to Essential Oils] Fragrance Journal, 2010.
Yuzuru Ogura [Dictionary of Plants] Tokyo-do Publishing, 1957.
Nobuo Ohashi [Dictionary of Medical Herbs] Tokyo-do Publishing, 2016.
Wanda Sellar [The directory of essential oils] Fragrance Journal, 1992.
Aroma Environment Association of Japan [AEAJ Aromatherapy Certification Official Textbook grade1&2] Sekaibunka, 1999.
Robert Tissearand [Essential Oil Safety] Fragrance Journal, 2018.
Ayako Berg [Aromatherapy Essential Oil Dictionary] Seibido Shuppan, 2022.
Azusa Annells [Enjoying Fragrance: An Illustrated Book of Aromas with Characteristics]Natsumesha CO.,LTD., 2023
(All written in or translated to Japanese.)
Supervisor
Yamamoto Perfumery co., ltd.

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