Medicinal Uses (Star Anise) —
Reported to be analgesic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, lactagogue, pediculicide, piscicide, stimulant, stomachic, and vermifuge, star anise is also a folk remedy for back ailments, bladder ailments, croup, diarrhea, fever, nervousness, vomiting, and whooping cough. Used in cough medicines and cough drops, perhaps due to expectorants cineole and terpineol, which increase liquid secretions from mucous membranes, facilitating productive coughs. A medicinal tea is made from the leaves in China (DAD). Anise oil is a good carminative, settling the stomach (RIN).
Teissedre and Waterhouse (2000) look at the antioxidant activities of EOs of spices and culinary herbs. They first assessed EOs as antibacterial and antifungal, second as flavorants and preservatives when added to foods, and third as used in cosmetology, for their aromatic and antioxidant properties. In their survey of 23 EOs, star anise was the most potent LDL antioxidant (IC83 = 2 \\M) with Spanish red thyme (Thymus zygis). Maybe a little star anise in red wine would please the imbiber if not the enologists (JAF4:3801).
Chinese star anise should not be confused with Japanese star anise, I. lanceolatum A. C. Smith, which is said to be highly poisonous. Toxicities of anethole, isosafrole, and safrole were discussed by Buchanan (1978) (GRAS §182.10 and 182.20) (DAD).
Indications (Star Anise) —
Anemia (1; APA); Anorexia (2; PHR; PH2); Arthrosis (f; PH2); Bacteria (1; APA; FNF); Bronchosis (2; APA; FNF; PHR; PH2); Candida (1; FNF); Catarrh (2; KOM; PHR; PH2); Cholecytosis (f; CRC); Colic (1; APA; CRC); Congestion (1; APA; FNF);
Constipation (f; CRC); Cough (2; APA; CRC; PHR; PH2); Cramp (1; APA; DEP; FNF; PH2); Dysentery (f; CRC; DEP; PH2); Dyspepsia (2; APA; CRC; FNF; KOM; PH2); Enterosis (1; PH2);
Extrophy (f; CRC); Favus (f; CRC); Frigidity (f; APA); Fungus (1; FNF; LAF); Gas (1; APA; DEP; PH2); Gastrosis (1; APA; PHR; PH2); Halitosis (f; APA; CRC); Hemopareisis (f; PH2); Hernia (f; CRC); Infection (1; APA; CRC; FNF); Inflammation (1; FNF); Insomnia (f; CRC); Lumbago (f; CRC); Morning Sickness (f; APA); Mycosis (1; FNF; LAF); Nausea (f; APA); Nervousness (1; FNF); Otosis (f; CRC); Pain (f; CRC; PH2); Paralysis (f; PH2); Parturition (f; APA); Respirosis
(2; KOM; LAF; PHR; PH2); Rheumatism (f; CRC; PH2); Scabies (1; APA; CRC); Spasm (2; CRC; FNF; LAF); Stomach Distress (1; APA); Toothache (f; CRC).
Star Anise for bronchosis:
• Antibacterial: 1,8-cineole; alpha-pinene; alpha-terpineol; anethole; caryophyllene; delta-3-carene; delta-cadinene; hydroquinone; limonene; linalool; myrcene; nerolidol; p-cymene; rutin; terpinen-4-ol
• Antibronchitic: 1,8-cineole
• Antihistaminic: linalool; proanthocyanidins; rutin
• Antiinflammatory: alpha-pinene; beta-pinene; caryophyllene; delta-3-carene; quercetin-3-o-galactoside; rutin
• Antioxidant: camphene; gamma-terpinene; hydroquinone; myrcene; proanthocyanidins; rutin
• Antipharyngitic: 1,8-cineole
• Antispasmodic: 1,8-cineole; anethole; caryophyllene; limonene; linalool; myrcene; rutin
• Antitussive: 1,8-cineole; terpinen-4-ol
• Antiviral: alpha-pinene; beta-bisabolene; kaempferol-3-o-glucoside; limonene; linalool; p-cymene; proanthocyanidins; rutin
• Bronchorelaxant: linalool
• Candidicide: 1,8-cineole; beta-pinene; caryophyllene
• Candidistat: limonene; linalool
• Expectorant: 1,8-cineole; alpha-pinene; anethole; beta-phellandrene; camphene; limonene; linalool
• Immunostimulant: anethole
Star Anise for dyspepsia:
• Analgesic: anisatin; myrcene; p-cymene
• Anesthetic: 1,8-cineole; linalool; myrcene
• Antiinflammatory: alpha-pinene; beta-pinene; caryophyllene; delta-3-carene; quercetin-3-o-galactoside; rutin
• Antioxidant: camphene; gamma-terpinene; hydroquinone; myrcene; proanthocyanidins; rutin
• Antiulcer: beta-bisabolene
• Carminative: anethole; carvone
• Digestive: anethole
• Gastrostimulant: anethole
• Secretagogue: 1,8-cineole; anethole
• Sedative: 1,8-cineole; alpha-pinene; alpha-terpineol; anisatin; carvone; caryophyllene; limonene; linalool; p-cymene
• Tranquilizer: alpha-pinene
Star Anise for fungus:
• Analgesic: anisatin; myrcene; p-cymene
• Anesthetic: 1,8-cineole; linalool; myrcene
• Antibacterial: 1,8-cineole; alpha-pinene; alpha-terpineol; anethole; caryophyllene; delta-3-carene; delta-cadinene; hydroquinone; limonene; linalool; myrcene; nerolidol; p-cymene; rutin; terpinen-4-ol
• Antidermatitic: rutin
• Antiinflammatory: alpha-pinene; beta-pinene; caryophyllene; delta-3-carene; quercetin-3-o-galactoside; rutin
• Antiseptic: 1,8-cineole; alpha-terpineol; anethole; beta-pinene; carvone; hydroquinone; limonene; linalool; proanthocyanidins; terpinen-4-ol
• Candidicide: 1,8-cineole; beta-pinene; caryophyllene
• Candidistat: limonene; linalool
• Fungicide: 1,8-cineole; alpha-phellandrene; anethole; beta-phellandrene; caryophyllene; linalool; myrcene; p-anisaldehyde; p-cymene; terpinen-4-ol; terpinolene
• Fungistat: limonene
• Immunostimulant: anethole
• Mycoplasmistat: hydroquinone
Other Uses (Star Anise) —
Dried fruit has a pleasant, aromatic, anise-like aroma and taste. Dried fruits contribute a licorice flavor to cakes, cookies, coffee, curries, pickles, sweetmeats, tea, and Chinese five-spice powder. Used whole, not ground, as a flavoring agent in confections, candy, chewing gum, and tobacco. Orientals chew the seeds after meals to promote digestion and sweeten the breath. The distilled oil is used in candy, ice cream, soft drinks, and liqueurs. Oil is used in animal feeds, in scenting soaps, toothpaste, creams, detergents, perfumes, etc., and to improve the flavor of some medicines. Highest use levels are ca. 570 ppm in alcoholic beverages and 680 ppm in candies (numbers derived from Pimpinella). Anise oil and star anise candies are used interchangeably in the U.S., both being officially recognized as anise oil. Japanese use the ground bark as incense. A 10-15% aqueous extract is used as an agricultural insecticide in China. The finegrained wood (oven-dried density 0.58) contains 30% parenchyma and 43% fiber, and though suitable for pulping is not recommended for forest plantations because of its slow growth (DAD).For more information on activities, dosages, and contraindications, see the CRC Handtopic of Medicinal Herbs, ed. 2, et al., 2002.
Cultivation (Star Anise) —
Propagated by seeds and by semi-ripe cuttings in summer. Seems to do better in damp but well-drained acid to circumneutral soils in subtropical climates, e.g., zone 8 (Bown, 2001). Only fresh seed will germinate, those planted within 3 days of harvest germinating readily. In China, seed are sown in nursery beds in October and November. Seedlings are transplanted when one year old (fourth leaf stage) to nursery beds, set about 25 cm apart. Plants are allowed to grow for three years and then planted out about 5-7 m apart. Plants should be weeded to facilitate fruit picking and to reduce fire hazards. Soil should be plowed and mulched in fall to provide sufficient moisture for the dry season. At the beginning of each summer, each tree should receive about 6.8 kg of stable manure and 45 kg of ammonium sulfate. Trees yield 6-10 years from planting and continue to bear more than 100 years. Children usually climb the trees and hand-pick the fruits. A mature tree, 25 years old, may yield 23-27 kg of dried fruits, containing up to 3% EO. About 100 kg of fresh green fruit yield 25-30 kg of dried fruit (CFR).
Chemistry (Star Anise) —
Contains ca. 5% volatile oil (ca. 2.5% in seed, 10% in follicle) with trans-anethole as its major ingredient. Presence of safrole disputed. Here are a few of the more notable chemicals found in star anise. For a complete listing of the phytochemicals and their activities, see the CRC phytochemical compendium, and 1993 (DAD) and the USDA database.
Anethole — See also Osmorhiza spp.
Anisatin — Analgesic 0.03 mg/kg; Convulsant 3 mg/kg orl mus; GABA-Antagonist; Neurotropic 0.03-3 mg/kg orl mus; Poison; Sedative 0.03 mg/kg; Toxic; LD50 = 1.46 mus.
P-Anisaldehyde — Antimutagenic; Cosmetic; Fungicide; Insecticide; Irritant; Nematicide MLC = 1 mg/ml; Sedative; LD50 = 1510 mg/kg orl rat.
1,8-Cineole — See also Elettaria cardamomum.
Trans-Anethole — See also Osmorhiza spp.
