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The present study evaluated the influence of some environmental factors on the quantity and composition of essential oil (EO) in ripe berry cones of Juniperus communis L. The berry cones were collected from juniper shrubs growing wild at five localities of north-east Slovakia during the years 2012-2014. The EO yield ranged from 0.4 to 1.9%, depending on the locality and year. In the EO, eight monoterpenes (α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, sabinene, limonene, terpinene-4-ol, borneol, bornylacetate) and one sesquiterpene (β-caryophyllene) were identified. The dominant component was the monoterpene α-pinene, ranging from 31.0 to 49.0%. The amount and composition of the EO was affected by soil composition (content of humus and pH) and topographic environmental factors, including air temperature and precipitation. According to the composition of the EO, the studied juniper shrubs belong to the α-pinene chemotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most claimed aphrodisiac plant is puncture vine (Tribulus terrestrisL.) known as ‘plant Viagra’. This herb, growing especially in South and East Europe, is used for pharmaceutical purposes, due to its content of furostanol saponins which have stimulant effects on natural testosterone levels. Puncture vine grows as a weed on sandy soils areas. A study aimed to the introduction of puncture vine into large cultivation scale was carried out. Two different methods of cultivation were compared and production of biomass and evaluation of the content of furostanol saponins were done. Transplantation of seedlings raised in the greenhouse into the open field was more effective for the production of high amount of biomass and active components than using plants that are directly sown. The transplantation of seedlings into open field is suitable for the puncture vine cultivation as it increases biomass production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]