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Anise Herb - Uses, Benefits and Dosage for Anise
Taxonomic Class
Apiaceae
Common Trade Names
Beech Cough Drops, Bronhillor Natural Source Cough Candies & Throat Discs
Common Forms
Available as an extract and in lozenges and teas. Also available in trace quantities as flavoring
agents in liqueurs, lozenges, and teas as well as a fragrance in soaps, creams, perfumes, foods, and can dies.
Source
Pimpinella anisum, the anise plant, is native to the Mediterranean area. The dried ripe fruit of the plant is referred to as aniseed. Anise oil is extracted from aniseed by steam distillation. Anise oil can also be obtained from the Chinese star anise plant (Illicium verum).
Chemical components
Anise extract typically contains 1 % to 3% volatile anise oil. The primary constituent of anise oil is anethole (80% to 90%). Other components include alpha-pinene, linalool, anisaldehyde, and methyl chavicol. The composition of anise oil from 1. verum resembles that of anise oil obtained from P anisum but also contains trace quantities of safrole and myristicin. Naturally occurring coumarins and sitosterols have been found in tissue cultures of the P anisum root.
Actions
Despite weak anticonvulsant effects, animal models have failed to justify claims of anise in this therapeutic application. One report suggests that aniseed extract exhibits mild sympathomimetic activity. Mucociliary transport velocity increased when patches of ciliated epithelium of frog esophagus were exposed to anise oil extract. However, another study showed that other volatile oils have more pronounced sympathomimetic effects than does anise oil.
Anise oil has been shown to exert varying effects on tracheal and ileal smooth muscle of the guinea pig . Anise oil extract exerts estrogenic, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Anethole, a component of anise, gives licorice its characteristic flavor and odor .
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