Aniseed

Meshal Saad Alnefie

44205123
Introduction:

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) It also has another name, which is

aniseed, which is a plant with flowers from a family called
Apiaceae. Its native habitat is the eastern Mediterranean region
and southwest Asia. We can say that it is a type of spice, such as
fennel, licorice, and others. It is widely cultivated due to its
many benefits, including adding flavors to foods and drinks. In
herbal medicine, it is considered a strong carminative.

Geographical location:

We can say that its original home is Egypt and mostly in the
eastern Mediterranean region. It can be grown in southern
Russia, southern Europe, northern Africa, China, Pakistan, the
United States, and Mexico.

Characteristics:

Anise is an annual herb with delicate white flowers that grow 18

inches high, with small, feather-like secondary leaflets that are
light green in color. Its fruit is a cremocarp with a peduncle
attached to it. It is grayish brown in color and has an oval-
conical shape. Their size ranges from 3 to 5 mm in length and
1.5 to 2 mm in width. The fruits appear as a rough texture. It has
a sweet and aromatic taste.
Microscopy:

Anise has two vittae on the ventral surface and 20 to 40 on the

dorsal surface. There are also vascular threads under the primary
ridges, and the epicardium also consists of short, conical
epidermal triads. Upon closer inspection, we see the
parenchyma cells showing a clear parenchyma structure. Testa is
a monolayer cell and contains fine brown cells, abundant oil
globules and aleuron grains are present in the endosperm region.

Chemical Constituents:

1. The anise fruit contains a volatile syrupy essential oil of

2.5 to 3.5%.
2. The main component of the essential oil is trans anethole,
which contains up to 90% estragole, anisaldehyde, anisic
acid, anise ketone, linalool, and beta-caryophyllene.
3. Flavonoid glycosides (rutin, isovitexin and quercetin).
 4. It consists of coumarins (umbelliferone, scopoletin)
5. Phenylpropanoids

Uses:

Anise is used as a carminative, expectorant, antimicrobial,

aromatic, and antispasmodic. It can increase lactation, enhance
memory, relieve postmenopausal discomforts and is used in the
treatment of bronchitis, asthma, and whooping cough, externally
in scabies, and flatulence colic in infants, to overcome nausea,
and as a digestive tonic.

Clinical trials on plant or constituents:

Anise contains several active ingredients that have distinct

medicinal properties:

1. Anethole: An active compound found in large quantities in

anise, which forms its distinctive flavor and aroma.
2. Limonene: It is a terpene that is clearly found in anise and
citrus fruits and is considered a powerful anti-cancer, anti-
microbial, and anti-inflammatory agent.
3. Coumarin: It is considered to have a protective effect on
the liver, especially umbiliferon and scopoletin.
Reference:

1- Acimovic, M. G., Korac, J., Jacimovic, G., & Oljaca,

S.(2014). Influence of ecological conditions on seedstraits
and essential oil contents in anise (Pimpinellaanisum L.).
Notulae Botanicae Horti
2- Koeduka, T., Baiga, T. J., Noel, J. P., & Pichersky, E.
(2009).Biosynthesis of t-Anethole in anise:
Characterizationof t-anol/Isoeugenol synthase and an O-
methyl-transferase specific for a C7-C8 propenyl side
chain.Plant Physiology,149, 384–394.
doi:10.1104/pp.108.128066
3- Rebey, I. B., Bourgou, S., Aidi Wannes, W.,
HamrouniSelami, I., Saidani Tounsi, M., Marzouk, B.,
…Ksouri, R.(2017). Comparative assessment of
phytochemicalprofiles and antioxidant properties of
Tunisian andEgyptian anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) seeds.
PlantBiosystems- an International Journal Dealing with
AllAspects of Plant Biology,11, 01.