TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES
Institute of Molecular Biology, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan
TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES
Institute of Molecular Biology, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan
* For correspondence: minare.hasanova@inbox.ru
Gulnar Aidarkhanova: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5108-8036 Arzu Çığ: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2142-5986 Elman Iskender: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5222-9366 Minara Hasanova: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5222-9366 Zumrud Mamedova: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5116-0520 Gullu Aliyeva: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8020-6583
Given the widespread popularity of common juniper in folk and traditional medicine, as well as in landscape design, this study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition of Juniperus communis L. growing within the territory of the Burabay State National Nature Park in Northern Kazakhstan to determine its pharmacological potential, and to conduct a comparative study of the biochemical components of Juniperus communis L. and Juniperus sabina L. collected from the study areas Khizi, Altiagaj and Shabran, in Azerbaijan. The distribution and geobotanical characteristics of Juniperus communis L., growing in the Burabay State National Nature Park in northern Kazakhstan, were studied. The phytochemical composition of alcoholic extracts of common juniper included 54 components belonging to 15 classes of organic compounds: Ester, Carboxylic acid, Hydrocarbon, Lactone, Pyranone, Diketone, Ketone, Oxime, Phenol, Alcohol, Epoxide, Ether, Aldehyde, Disaccharide, and Anhydrosugar. Essential oils of 3 juniper species were obtained and their yield percentage was calculated. The yield of essential oil for Juniperus communis L. – 1.4% and and Juniperus sabina – 1.2%. The highest yield of essential oil was recorded in the type of multi-fruited juniper. The article presents the results of the analysis of the essential oil of Juniperus communis L. by gas chromatography and the composition of the essential oil. Chromatographic analysis revealed that thiujone (35.21%) and alpha-terpinene (19.78%) components had higher concentrations, while camphor (0.33%) and estragole (0.16%) components had the lowest concentrations. Turkish scientists have scientifically proven that the biochemical composition of juniper species growing in natural conditions depends on environmental conditions and soil characteristics, especially their richness in potassium (5.02-6.81%), and their macro and micro element composition.
The authors express their sincere gratitude to V.Yu.Kirillov for consultation in interpreting the chemical analysis results and to A.N.Ebel for assistance with the expedition work.
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The authors have carefully respected ethical standards related to the use of traditional knowledge by appropriately acknowledging all sources and avoiding misrepresentation or misuse of indigenous ethnobotanical information.
This study was carried out within the framework of Project AP05136154 “Resource Potential of Non-Wood Forest Materials and Their Environmental Safety for the Socio-Economic Development of the Regions of Kazakhstan”, financed by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan during 2018-2020.
There are no conflicts of interest to declare.
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Received: April 18, 2026; Reviewed: June 02, 2026; Accepted: June 12, 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62088/timbb/10.1.6Keywords:
Juniperus communis L., biochemical components, component composition chromatogram
Aidarkhanova G., Çığ A., Iskender E., Hasanova M., Mamedova Z., Aliyeva G. (2026). Biochemical components of Juniperus communis L. under the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan and the study of essential oils of some Juniperus L. species from the flora of Azerbaijan. TIMBB, 10 (1), 54-61.