Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is considered one of the most valuable plants, with a global production of 3.5 million tons of dried fruit yearly. Throughout the past two millennia, its allelopathic effects have been widely recognized. Black walnuts produce a natural naphthoquinone called juglone, which occurs naturally in all parts of the tree, particularly the green husk, and contributes significantly to the allelopathic effects of black walnut. Except for the fruit’s edible nature, the walnut green husk (Pericarpium Juglandis) has been used for centuries to make wine, natural dyes, and traditional medicines to cure certain diseases. Within the extracts of walnut green husk, 1,4-naphthoquinones, gallic acid, caffeic acid, and quercitrin were separated and characterized. Among these compounds, the major active ingredient with a good application prospect is juglone, which has proven to be a natural chemical compound with anticancer, antitumor, antibacterial, and antiviral activities, especially the strong anticancer activity. Juglone is also an environmentally friendly biological pesticide and herbicide. Certainly, the environmental impact of juglone also needs to be considered. Significant quantities of walnut green husk are currently produced as a byproduct of walnut production; however, its value has not been fully utilized and explored, which raises environmental concerns. This review attempts to: 1) summarize the origin and historical use of walnut and walnut green husk; 2) introduce the structure, biosynthesis pathway, extraction method, biological activity, and potential applications of juglone, as well as its environmental impact assessment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.