Bioprospection and by-product utilization of Juniperus virginiana

Experiments were conducted to study variation in the amount of podophyllotoxin in J. virginiana across nine physiographic regions of Mississippi. The aim was bioprospection of podophyllotoxin from J. virginiana across Mississippi. Experiments were also conducted to utilize biproducts (i.e. needles) as a source of podophyllotoxin and essential oil. Dual extraction of both from the same plant material was obtained in order to develop economic protocol for industrial utilization. Three different experiments were conducted for the bioprospection and byproduct utilization of J. virginana . Experiment I: Study of variation in the amount of podophyllotoxin across nine physiographic regions and the study of contributing factors for the variability. Experiment II: Explore different plant parts as source of podophyllotoxin. Experiment III: Establish a dual extraction protocol for extraction of podophyllotoxin and essential oil from J. virginiana .