PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

LITERATURE

Brieskorn CH, Beck V, (1971) Phytochemistry 10:3205.

Hoppe HA, (1975-1987) Drogenkunde, 8. Aufl., Bde 1-3, W.

de Gruyter Verlag, Berlin, New York.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc. New

York 1980.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.

Anise

Pimpinella anisum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the essential oil

from the ripe fruit and the dried fruit.

Flower and Fruit: The inflorescences are medium-sized

umbels with about 7 to 15 scattered pubescent rays. There is

usually no involucre, but sometimes there is a single bract.

There are barely any sepals. The petals are white, about 15

mm long, and have a ciliate margin. They have small bristles

on the outside and a long indented tip. The fruit is downy,

ovate to oblong and flattened at the sides.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an annual herb about 0.5

m high; it is downy all over. The root is thin and fusiform,

and the stem is erect, round, grooved and branched above.

The lower leaves are petiolate, orbicular-reniform, entire and

coarsely dentate to lobed. The. middle leaves are orbicular

and 3-lobed, or 3-segmented with ovate or obovate seg-

ments. The upper leaves are short-petioled to sessile with

narrow sheaths; they are pinnatisect with narrow tips.

Characteristics: The taste is sweet and the odor

characteristic.

Habitat: The origin of the plant is unknown but it probably

came from the Near East. Today, it is cultivated mainly in

southern Europe, Turkey, central Asia, India, China, Japan,

Central and South America.

Production: Anise consists of the dried fruits of Pimpinella
anisum.

ANISE/35

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil (2 to 6%): chief constituent trans-anethole

(94%), including as well chavicol methyl ether (estragole,

2%), anis aldehyde (1.4%)

Caffeic acid derivatives: including chlorogenic acid (0.1%),

other caffeoyl quinic acids

Flavonoids: including apigenin-7-O-glucoside, isoorientin,

isovitexin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside

Fatty oil (30%)

Proteic substances (20%)

EFFECTS

The drug is said to have an expectorant, mildly spasmolytic

and antibacterial effect based on the essential oil. The data is

empirical and there are no recent studies available.

Aniseed oil (main constituent trans-anethol) has an antibacte-

rial, antiviral, insect repellent effect and in animal experi-

ments it has been shown to be expectorant, spasmolytic and

estrogenic.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Common cold


• Cough/bronchitis


• Fevers and colds


• Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx


• Dyspeptic complaints


• Loss of appetite
  The drug is used internally for dyspeptic complaints. It is
  used both internally and externally for catarrhs of the
  respiratory tract.
  Unproven Uses: In folk medicine, Anise is used internally
  for whooping cough, flatulence, colic-like pain, as a diges-
  tive, for menstruation disturbances, liver disease and
  tuberculosis.
  Homeopathic Uses: Pimpinella anisum is used for shoulder
  pain and lumbago.
  CONTRAINDICATIONS
  Anise is contraindicated in patients allergic to anise and
  anethole.
  PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
  No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
  with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
  dosages. Sensitization has been observed very rarely.
  DOSAGE
  Mode of Administration: As a comminuted drug for infu-
  sions and other galenic preparations for internal use or for