The chemical composition of lipophilic extractives from Juniperus communis used for cosmetic, medicinaland food additives was studied. Herein we report the extraction of labdane-type diterpenoids from theneedles of the common juniper (Juniperus communis ssp. communis var. communis L.), and identification ofthem as the major class of compounds in this species. Furthermore, and to the best of our knowledge weprovide the first-ever report some of these compounds (nor-16- imbricatolic, nor-16-acetylimbricatolicand acetylimbricatolic acids) as natural compounds. Imbricataloic and imbricatolic acids were the mostabundant compounds, accounting for 65% of the total extract. We also found long-chain secondary alco-hols (n-alkan-10-ols) and secondary/secondary alkanediols (4,10-, 5,10-, 6,10-, 7,10-), which we reporthere for the first time ever in the genus Juniperus. In total, we identified 127 compounds: of these,48 (nonacosan-10- -tocopherols and lignans) are described here for the first time in Juniperus and 54(including alkanols, phytol, sterols and flavonoids), for the first time in common juniper.

The chemical composition of lipophilic extractives from Juniperus communis used for cosmetic, medicinaland food additives was studied. Herein we report the extraction of labdane-type diterpenoids from theneedles of the common juniper (Juniperus communis ssp. communis var. communis L.), and identification ofthem as the major class of compounds in this species. Furthermore, and to the best of our knowledge weprovide the first-ever report some of these compounds (nor-16- imbricatolic, nor-16-acetylimbricatolicand acetylimbricatolic acids) as natural compounds. Imbricataloic and imbricatolic acids were the mostabundant compounds, accounting for 65% of the total extract. We also found long-chain secondary alco-hols (n-alkan-10-ols) and secondary/secondary alkanediols (4,10-, 5,10-, 6,10-, 7,10-), which we reporthere for the first time ever in the genus Juniperus. In total, we identified 127 compounds: of these,48 (nonacosan-10- -tocopherols and lignans) are described here for the first time in Juniperus and 54(including alkanols, phytol, sterols and flavonoids), for the first time in common juniper.