Anatomical and chemical characteristics of leaves and branches of Juniperus deppeana var. deppeana (Cupressaceae): A potential source of raw materials for the perfume and sweet candies industries

In North America, the genus Juniperus has a high commercial value because of the natural products derived from its wood, bark and leaves. In Mexico, the species of this genus are commonly known as junípero, sabino, enebro and táscate and they could represent potential sources of valuable products. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report dealing with the anatomy and the phytochemistry of the endemic species Juniperus deppeana var. deppeana. From the first viewpoint, the resin canals are very large and they occupy one third of leaf volume. In the leaves, they are round, large and turgent, whereas in the branches, they merge and form large, elliptical cavities. The origin of resin ducts in branches is either the cortex or the phloem. They never form in the xylem. The phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts and essential oil of the leaves and branches showed that J. deppeana is a rich source of important polyphenolics and essences and might have the potential to be used in formulations containing this plant with applications in different areas, such as cosmetics, food and health care industries.