Effect of soil composition elements on essential oils content of juniperus communis l. berries in north populations in albania

Common Juniper (Juniperus communis L.) is a coniferous scrub belonging to the Cupressaceae family and it is widely spread throughout the territory of Albania, exportation of berries plays an important role on the economic aspect of the population especially the North part of Albania. Environmental factors and soil composition elements have a significant influence in essential oils content. Five native populations of Juniperus communis L. growing wild are taken in consideration divided in main regions at North of Albania. The Juniper berries are collected manually for two years (2017-2018). Hydro distillationis held on dried berries in a Clevenger apparatusfor 4 h at a distillation rate of 3 mL.min−1.Essential oils content varied at a range of 1.6-2.6 % on the first year based on the dry weight (v/w) and during the second year the essential oils content varied at a range 1.4-2.6%. After EO analysis eleven main elements belonging mainly to monoterpenes class (α-pinene, myrcene, β-pinene, sabinene, limonene, terpinene-4-ol,germacrene D) are identified. The dominant component was α-pinene belonging to monoterpenes. Results assumed that in populations of Juniperus communis L. growing on five sites in North part of Albania, composition of EO was a significantly correlated with soil composition elements, concluding that soil types and composition had affected on chemical constitutions of essential oil in the investigated populations.