Investigation of Effects of Essential Oil from Berries of Juniperus excelsa Bieb. Subsp excelsa (Cupressaceae) on Angiogenesis in Shell-less Chick Embryo (CAM) Culture

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of essential oil of the berries from Juniperus excelsa Bieb. subsp. excelsa (Cupressaceae) to the vascularization systems of the chick embryos in a chorioallantoic membrane model. The berries of J. excelsa were subjected to hydrodistillation. 50 mu l of essential oil were applied to the center of the blastodisc using a precision micropipette prior to the transfer of shell-less cultures to the incubator. Antiangiogenic effect of essential oil of the study plant was determined with the use of the chick chorioallantoic membrane model. Numbers of main, branching and capillary blood vessels were counted. In the statistical analysis, when the groups were compared with regard to the main blood vessel (MBV) and branch blood vessel (BBV) development, no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed. However, when the groups were compared with regard to capillary vessel (CV) development, the difference between the data of the groups was found significant (p<0.05). This study examined the effect of exposure J. excelsa essential oil on extraembryonic vascular development in the chick embryo area vasculosa (AV) in shell-less culture for the first time. Essential oil of the berries from J. excelsa has antiangiogenic effect.