Medicinal Uses For Juniper Berries

The juniper berry, which is not a true berry, is a modified, berry-sized, seed cone of the juniper plant. Juniper berries are used as a spice in some cuisines and as the flavoring for gin. They also have a wide variety of reputed health benefits, some of which have been supported by recent research.

Antibacterial

Juniper essential oils exert strong antibiotic effects against some bacteria, according to a study by M. Ennajar et al. The study, published in the February 2010 "Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture," compared the effect of different drying methods on the antibiotic activity of juniper and found that oven-drying was more suitable for some components, while shade-drying was better for others.

Antioxidant and Antifungal

Antioxidant and antifungal activity of juniper was observed in a study by M. Ennajar, et al. The study, published in the September 2009 "Journal of Food Science," compared different extraction methods and identified 30 active compounds in juniper leaves and berries. Antioxidant and antibiotic activity of the samples were evaluated. Extraction by methanol yielded the highest content of flavonoid antioxidants, compounds which the authors say contribute to juniper's antifungal effects.

Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory

Diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects of juniper leaves were noted in a study published in the March 2009 "Georgian Medical News" journal. The study of Juniperus oxycedrus L., one of seven species of juniper native to Azerbaijan, reported that the main active constituents in the leaves of the plant are flavonoids and lipids, while the main active constituent in the berries is essential oil, which possesses considerable antibacterial and antifungal activity. The researchers concluded that juniper shows promise as an antiseptic.

Broad Range of Uses

Juniper is traditionally used to treat a broad range of health conditions, including bronchitis, colds, fungal infections, hemorrhoids, gynecological diseases, and wounds, according to a study by E.K. Akkol and conducted at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Gazi University, Turkey. The study tested extracts from the stems, fruit and leaves for anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects on laboratory mice and found methanol extracts particularly effective without causing damage or toxicity.

Weak Effects

Juniper berry essential oils had weak antibiotic effects against a variety of pathogens in a study by A. Angioni. The study, published in the May 2003 "Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry," used both ripe and unripe berries and other parts of juniper plants collected from different localities in Italy and tested the extracts against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Weak inhibitory effects were observed in all cases except for one species that exhibited good activity against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus.