In vitro anti-inflammatory potential of hydrosols and essential oils from fresh female cones of five Juniperus spp. collected in Greece

Needle-leaved junipers from the Juniper genus (Cupressaceae), are coniferous trees and shrubs with red or blue fleshy cones, distributed across Asia, Macaronesia, and the Mediterranean Basin [ 1 ]. The genus includes approximately 75 species which are widely used in the food and cosmetics industries [ 2 ]. Recognizing its medicinal properties, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published two monographs on Juniperus communis dried cones and essential oil, highlighting their traditional use as a diuretic and for digestive, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal relief [ 3 ] [ 4 ]. The essential oils of Juniperus species are rich in monoterpenes, with the bicyclic monoterpene α-pinene being the major constituent, followed by sesquiterpenes. While most research focuses on the antimicrobial activity of essential oils, studies on their anti-inflammatory activity are scarce, presenting an interesting challenge. Moreover, there is no information on the activity of the hydrosols yet. Many endemic species can be found in Greece, which can represent a source of essential oils and hydrosols for the treatment of some inflammatory desease by dermal application. So, this study investigates the fresh female cones of five Greek Juniperus species: J. drupacea, J. communis subsp. hemisphaerica, J. oxycedrus subsp. deltoides, J. macrocarpa and J. turbinate , through distillation and chemotype analysis via GC-MS. This oral presentation details the hydrodistillation protocol used to obtain both hydrosols and essential oils and, discusses the in vitro results related to their anti-inflammatory activities. These will be assessed in macrophages using NADPH oxidase inhibition and cell viability assays to ensure their effectiveness in reducing inflammation while confirming non-toxicity. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany