Antimicrobial and anticancer evaluation of<i> Juniperus</i><i> chinensis</i> seed oil with molecular docking of α-cedrol-AKT1

Kurt M., KORCAN S. E., Azarkan S. Y.

ACTA CHIMICA SLOVENICA, vol.73, no.1, pp.223-235, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 73 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.17344/acsi.2025.9517
  • Journal Name: ACTA CHIMICA SLOVENICA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), Chemical Abstracts Core, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals, DIALNET
  • Page Numbers: pp.223-235
  • Keywords: Juniperus chinensis L., seed oil, GC-MS, alpha-cedrol, antimicrobial efficacy, molecular docking, anticancer potential
  • Uşak University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, the essential oil of Juniperus chinensis L. seeds was analyzed by GC-MS, identifying 25 comprising comprising 99.78% of the oil. α-Pinene (79.63 ± 0.45%) was the major component, followed by β-myrcene, β-pinene, and DL-limonene. The oil exhibited antimicrobial activity with inhibition zones of 11 mm (S. aureus), 6 mm (E. coli), and 4 mm (S. mutans). Antifungal effects were noted against Fusarium solani and Aspergillus niger. Cytotoxicity assays revealed selective effects on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (IC50: 38 μg/mL), with no toxicity to MCF-10A normal cells. Molecular docking demonstrated strong binding affinity of α-cedrol to AKT-1 protein (-7.5 kcal/mol), supported by RMSD stability analysis and hydrogen bonding. ADME profiling confirmed favorable drug-likeness of α-cedrol. These results suggest that J. chinensis L. seed essential oil, particularly as a complex phytochemical mixture containing α-cedrol, holds promise as a natural source for antimicrobial and anticancer agents.