Biological Potential and Chemical Characterization of

Abstract

Juniperus oxycedrus (J. oxycedrus) is a traditional culinary spice and medicinal herb with a longstanding history of ethnopharmacological applications across diverse cultures. While prior research has explored the biological activities and phytochemical constituents of extracts derived from its leaves and seed cones, the present study systematically investigates their mineral and phenolic profiles alongside their multifunctional bioactive potential. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) analysis revealed a substantial abundance of essential macro- and microelements. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) further identified high concentrations of phenolic acids (e.g., p-coumaric acid) and flavonoids (e.g., rutin and quercetin). The extracts exhibited potent radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), robust antioxidant capacity against hydrogen peroxide, and significant inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. Notably, both extracts demonstrated marked antibacterial efficacy. In silico molecular docking studies suggested that the antimicrobial activity may stem from the phenolic constituents, which exhibited favorable binding affinities to the active site of bacterial target proteins. These findings underscore J. oxycedrus as a promising reservoir of bioactive natural compounds, warranting further exploration for therapeutic and nutraceutical applications.