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In the present study, the seasonal variability of the in vitro ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), total phenols, and terpene hydrocarbon content in 70% ethanol extracts were evaluated. The samples of crushed (CBs) and non-crushed ripe juniper berries (NCBs) collected at five localities in North-East Slovakia during the years 2012–2014 were compared. The method of preparation of the extract influenced the amount of dry matter (DM) in the extracts. In the CB extracts were statistically higher contents of DM (from 13.91 ± 0.11 g·L−1 to 23.84 ± 0.14 g·L−1) compared to NCB extracts (from 1.39 ± 0.01 g·L−1 to 16.55 ± 0.09 g·L−1). The differences in antioxidant activity between the investigated localities were statistically significant for both types of extract. For example, in 2013 in the locality of Zbojné, the FRAP in NCBs was 76.62 µmol·L−1·g−1 DM and in CBs was 138.27 µmol·L−1·g−1 DM, while in the Miľpoš locality, in NCBs there was 232.66 µmol·L−1·g−1 DM and in CBs there was 1178.98 µmol·L−1·g−1 DM. The differences in the antioxidant activity between the studied years in the case of NCB extracts were not statistically significant. In the case of CB extracts, significant differences between the evaluated years were found. Statistics by ANOVA confirmed that CB extracts prepared from berries in the year 2013 showed significantly higher activity compared to CB extracts from berries from the years 2012 and 2014. Based on the Pearson we found a negative correlation coefficient between the FRAP assay and the content of total polyphenols in NCB extracts (−0.531 in 2012; −0.349 in 2013; and −0.224 in 2014). In contrast, CB extracts showed a positive correlation coefficient (0.843 in 2012; 0.742 in 2013; 0.617 in 2014).

In the present study, in vitro hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, total phenols and terpene contents in 70% ethanol extracts were evaluated. Samples of crushed (CB) and non-crushed ripe juniper berries (NCB) collected at five localities in North-East Slovakia during the years 2012–2014 were compared. Standard or modified methods for determining phytochemical and antioxidant activity were used together with a novel method for the evaluation of the results after the correction of the measured values per gram of dry matter (DM). Statistically significantly higher DM contents (average values for three years) were found in the CB extracts (ranging from 18.86 to 21.91 mg/mL) in comparison to those for NCB (ranging from 2.59 to 9.90 mg/mL). Depending on the localities and years, the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity ranged from 15.52 to 32.85% for NCB and from 65.59 to 88.12% for CB, respectively. The contents of total phenols ranged from 43.75 to 246.75 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/L (NCB) and from 151.84 to 278.19 mg GAE/L (CB), respectively. However, the higher content of total phenols per gram of DM was found in the NCB extracts (8.49–42.23 mg GAE/g DM) and then in CB (6.87–18.77 GAE/g DM). The results obtained in this study showed a higher efficiency for extraction from juniper berries in 70% ethanol if the pericarp was disrupted in comparison to that achieved with the maceration of intact berries.