RESUMO
The chemical profile and antioxidant capacity of Juniperus virginiana, J. excelsa, and J. sabina essential oil (EO) fractions as a function of time was the subject of this study. The hypothesis was that, capturing EO in sequential timeframes during hydrodistillation would generate fractions containing unique compositions and antioxidant capacity. In J. virginiana, the highest limonene (43%) was found in the 0â»5 min oil fraction, with safrole (37%) being highest in the 10â»20 and 20â»40 min fractions, and elemol (34%) being highest in the 160â»240 min fraction. In J. excelsa, α-pinene (34-36%) was the highest in the 0â»5 min fraction and in the control (non-stop 0â»240 min distillation) oil, limonene (39%) was the highest in the 0â»10 min fractions and cedrol (50-53%) was the highest in the 40â»240 min fractions. In J. sabina, sabinene (80%) was highest in the 0â»3 min fraction. The highest antioxidant capacity of J. virginiana was demonstrated by the 5â»10 min fraction; the one in J. sabina by the 3â»10 min fraction; and, the one in J. excelsa, by the control. The kinetics regression models that were developed can predict EO composition of the three juniper species eluted at different timeframes. Various industries could benefit from the results from this study.