Juniperus communis L. essential oils in the Natura 2000 site ‘Serranía de Cuenca’ (Central Spain)

Terminal branches from single male plants of Juniperus communis L. were collected in the Natura 2000 site ‘Serranía de Cuenca’, an environmentally valuable but depopulated area in the Iberian Peninsula, with the aim of studying the yield and composition of their essential oils. The results showed significant differences in terms of essential oil yield (0.15–0.53%) and composition of the collected samples. Unexpectedly, this variability was not related to the geographical origin of the plants. The main compounds detected were α-pinene (12.3–56.4%), β-phellandrene (10.0–29.8%) and limonene (3.4–25.7%). Samples stood out from those in other European areas because of their high content of β-phellandrene. Plant breeding programs could be useful in obtaining chemotypes and cultivars that ensure an adequate and stable essential oil composition. On the other hand, given that bioactivities depend on this composition, their high variability a priori enlarges their potential applications. This work is a starting point for identifying potential uses of common juniper that may enable economic, social and environmental alternatives for the development of this area.