resulted in epidemics of epileptic seizures^38
and poisoning in infants (after being tradition-
ally treated with “star anise” for colicky
pain).^39 Symptoms in infants included vomit-
ing, nystagmus, and abnormal movements.^40
Japanese star anise grows in southern
China, Taiwan, and Japan; it looks like a
smaller, deformed version of Chinese star
anise and is highly poisonous. A 10–15%
aqueous extract is used in China as agricultur-
al insecticide. Toxicity is attributed to the
sesquiterpene anisatin.
USES
Anise oil and Chinese star anise oil are used
interchangeably in the United States, both
being officially recognized as anise oil in the
U.S.P. and F.C.C.
Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Both anise and Chinese star anise oils are used
as carminatives, stimulants, mild spasmoly-
tics, weak antibacterials, and expectorants in
cough mixtures and lozenges, among other
preparations; internally used for dyspeptic
complaints; externally as an inhalant for con-
gestion of the respiratory tract.
Both oils are used to mask undesirable
odors in drug and cosmetic products and as
fragrance components in toothpastes, per-
fumes, soaps, detergents, creams, and lotions,
with maximum use levels of 0.25% anise oil
and 0.4% star anise oil in perfumes.19,20
Food. Anise, Chinese star anise (to a lesser
extent), anise oil, and star anise oil are widely
used as flavoring ingredients in all major
categories of foods, including alcoholic (bit-
ters, brandies, and liqueurs, e.g., anisette) and
nonalcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts,
candy (e.g., licorice candies), baked goods,
gelatins and puddings, and meat and meat
products. Highest average maximum use le-
vels for anise oil are about 0.06% (570 ppm) in
alcoholic beverages and 0.07% (681 ppm) in
candy.
Both anise and Chinese star anise are wide-
ly used as domestic spices; the former is
mainly used by Westerners, while the latter
is used primarily by Asians, especially in
Chinese foods.Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Whole,
crushed, or ground crude drug is used for
infusions and other galenical preparations
(BLUMENTHAL1).Traditional Medicine. Anise and Chinese
star anise have been used as aromatic carmi-
natives, stimulants, and expectorants; also as
estrogenic agents to increase milk secretion,
promote menstruation, facilitate child birth,
increase libido, and alleviate symptoms of
male climacteric.^29 Chinese star anise has
been used in Chinese medicine for similar
purposes for 1300 years (JIANGSU). Anise has
also been used as an appetizer, diuretic, tran-
quillizer,^21 antiseptic, laxative,^24 and as a
treatment for epilepsy and seizures.^41COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONSCrude and essential oils are official in N.F. and
F.C.C. In Germany, preparations of anise seed
containing 5–10% essential oil are used as a
respiratory inhalant, whereas Chinese star
anise is used internally for peptic discomfort
and catarrh (BLUMENTHAL1).Regulatory Status. Regulated in the United
States as a dietary supplement;P. anisum
andI. verumare GRAS as natural flavoring
or spice for use in foods (§182.10); essential
oil, extractives, and solvent-free oleoresin of
P. anisum are GRAS for use in foods
(§182.20). Anise seed and Chinese star anise
seed are subjects of German official mono-
graphs; 3.0 g of seed or 0.3 g essential oil
(mean daily dose) allowed as a bronchial
expectorant for upper respiratory tract con-
gestion and as gastrointestinal spasmolytic
(BLUMENTHAL1;WICHTL).38 Anise (and star anise)