The Contents of Fatty Acids, Phenolic Acids, Metals, and Antimicrobial Studies of Leaves and Fruits of Juniperus Phoenicea Plant

Abstract

This study aims to determine of Fatty acids, phenolic acids, minerals, metals, and phytochemical screening in leaves and fruits of the Juniperus phoenicea plant. The extracts are also used for antimicrobial investigation against different species of bacteria. Different methods were used in the experimental part: the GC-MS instrument was used to analyze fatty acids and phenolic compounds, atomic absorption was used to estimate metals, and the spectrophotometer was used to determine phosphorus and Nitrogen in the extracts. The results of this study showed that some phenolic acids were detected in the samples, including: the types of phenolic acids in the leaves and fruits of Juniperus phoenicea were as follows: Juniperus phoenicea leaves: 4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, Cinnamic acid, Gallic acid, Geraniol, Phloridzin, Quercetin, and Catechin. Juniperus phoenicea fruits: 3,4-Dicaffeoly guinic acid, Gallic acid and Catecin.  On the other side some of fatty acids were detected and can show as following: The saturated fatty acid in leaves and fruits of Juniperus phoenicea as following: Juniperus phoenicea leaves: Hexanoic , Octanoic.Decanoic , Undecanoic ,Dodecanoic , Tridecanoic , Tetradecanoic , Pentadecanoic, Hexadecanoic , Octadecanoic and Eicosanoic  Juniperus phoenicea fruits: Decanoic , Undecanoic , Decanoic , Tetradecanoic , Hexadecanoic and Octadecanoic  .The high concentration of saturated fatty acid was recorded for Octadecanoic ,while the low concentration was recorded for Decanoic and Undecanoic in fruits of Juniperus pheonicea; and Octanoic in fruits of Pistacia lentiscus.  The contents of metals were fluctuated as follows: the contents of Na, K, Ca P, and N were as follows 1.50, .40, 2.16, 2.40, and 0.02 in leaf samples, respectively; on the other hand, these mineral contents in fruits were 0.41, 14.44, 1.33, 2.41, and 0.11. The contents of metals of Zn, Cu, Cr, and µg in leaves were 012, 0.84, 0.076, and 1.64 ppm, where the contents of the same metals in fruit samples were 0.13, 0.91, 0.095, and 1.89 ppm, respectively. The antimicrobial activities showed different effects of the fruits and leaves of extracts against different species of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium.