Unable to distinguish the two species in land, O. claytonii (Michx.) C. B. Clarke and O. longistylis (Torr.) DC., I have merged data from DEM and others for the two common land species, doubting that others can distinguish them any better than I can.
Medicinal Uses (Sweetroot) —
In his great topic, Moerman (1998) maintains the two species as distinct, with several overlaps in usages. He notes that Chippewa poultice Clayton’s Sweetroot on running sores and gargle the root decoction for sore throat. Chippewa women take the root infusion to bring on the period. Menominee use the root as a fattening agent and in an eyewash (collyrium) for sore eyes. Ojibwa use the root decoction in childbirth and take the infusion for sore throat. Tlingit use warm tea of the whole plant for cough. Moerman cites Cheyenne usage of longstyle sweetroot for bloated or disordered stomach. They use the roots for kidney ailment.
Meskwaki use the leaf infusion as a fattener and as an eye remedy. They grate the root with salt for equine distemper. Omaha and Winnebago apply the pounded root to boils. Pawnee take the root decoction for debility and general weakness. Potawatomi use as collyrium and use the root infusion as a stomachic. But Moerman cites no Cherokee usages. For Cherokee usage, we can thank my friend David Winston (2001), himself part Cherokee. He describes it, in western terms, as carminative, demulcent, expectorant, immunotonic, and nutritive. He adds that Cherokee have long considered it important for increasing disease resistance, strength, and weight. The root tea (1 tsp dry root to 8 oz water, cooked 3—1 hours or steeped 2 hours, 2-3 cups/day) is used for cold, dry cough, flu, gas, gastritis, and indigestion. “Sweet cicely strengthens what the Chinese call the ‘wei qi,’ making it useful for preventing colds and other external pernicious influences. The root can be used as a substitute for licorice or astragalus with many similar applications” (Winston, 2001). Alfs (2001) quotes a Canadian herbalist who recommends the herb for tonifying the mucous membranes. Many of the medicinal uses may be rationalized by the high anethole content. One of my herbal friends says that he, like me, does not distinguish the two species but doesn’t use it if it doesn’t smell like anise. That makes sense to reductionistic me, because I attribute much of the medicinal activity to the anethole, which makes many of the individuals smell of anise.
JAH2 data were referred to O. claytoni, DEM data to one or both species, Hussain et al.’s (1990) data to O. longistylis. All 1 ratings below were based on anethole, common to both species.
Indications (Sweetroot) —
Alactea (1; CAN); Amenorrhea (f; DEM); Bacteria (1; FNF); Bloat (f; DEM); Boil (f; DEM; FAD); Childbirth (f; CEB; DEM; FAD); Cold (f; JAH2(2):45); Colic (f; ALF); Conjunctivosis (f; FAD); Cough (f; FAD; JAH2(2):45); Cramp (1; FNF); Debility (f; DEM; FAD; JAH2(2):45); Diarrhea (f; ALF); Distemper (f; DEM); Dyspepsia (1; DEM; FNF; JAH2(2):45); Fever (f; ALF); Flu (f; JAH2(2):45); Fungus (1; JNP49:156); Gas (f; CEB; JAH2(2):45); Gastrosis (f; FAD; JAH2(2):45; DEM); Hepatosis (1; FNF); Infection (1; FNF; JAH2(2):45); Mucososis (f; ALF); Mycosis (1; JNP49:156); Nausea (f; JAH2(2):45); Nephrosis (1; DEM; TOP139:177); Ophthalmia (f; CEB; DEM); Sore (f; DEM; FAD); Sore Throat (f; ALF; DEM; JAH2(2):45); Wound (f; DEM; FAD).
Other Uses (Sweetroot) —
Tanaka (1976) notes that the roots and shoots are eaten and used to make tea. Facciola (1998) says roots and stems of O. claytonii are eaten as vegetable, and roots and unripe seeds used as anise-like flavorings. Re O. longistylis, he adds that leaves and green seeds may be added to salads (FAC). The dry seeds are used in cakes, candies, and liqueurs (FAC). In Wisconsin, the roots are stored whole, dry, and cleaned, and scraped before using, thereby retaining more of their anethole. The anise flavor is often so strong as to make it more spice than food. Where is that elusive dividing line? But for possible confusion by amateurs with poisonous members of the Apiaceae, this could clearly serve as a famine food. I have enjoyed it steeped in gin or vodka, making a poor man’s All-American-Anisette, improved with a dash of lemon and sweetener, even a licorice swirl stick for those avoiding sugar. According to Foster and (2000), the root of O. longistylis is eaten or soaked in brandy. Alfs (2001) enjoys nibbling on young pods and young stems as well. Roots are eaten raw or cooked. He notes that the Menominee relished the roots, especially for fattening slim people. But they recommended slow consumption—only a section at a time. Omaha and Ponca reportedly use the aromatic root to lure or attract and capture horses. Potawatomi add chopped roots to oats or the like to fatten their ponies. Chippewa wash a dog’s nostril with the aromatic root decoction to improve the dogs power of scent (DEM). Root can be used as a substitute for astragalus or licorice, with many similar applications (Winston, 2001). Hussain et al. (1990) showed how this and several other anethole-containing herbs were useful as sweeteners.
For more information on activities, dosages, and contraindications, see the CRC Handtopic of Medicinal Herbs, ed. 2, et al. 2002.
Cultivation (Sweetroot) —
On my property, there are aromatic and non-aromatic varieties that are not distinguishable morphologically. Some of both are hairy; others more frequent are glabrous. Some seem biennial, some seem perennial. The Longstyle Sweetroot, alias Hairy Sweet Cicely, O. longistylis, has rather similar aroma, morphology, and utility. Offhand, I doubt that these species are as distinct as the keys would make them, splitting hairs and measuring stylopodia. They seem easy enough to transplant even in December. I have a specimen, dug December 3, 2001, from which I removed enough root and leaf material for chromotographic analysis and then replanted it. As a crop, I suspect it could be treated as a biennial, with root harvest in late fall. Or perhaps those enamored of the local “anise” might dig, cut off lateral roots, and replant.
Chemistry (Sweetroot) —
Hussain et al. (1990), in Economic Botany, reported analyses of seven anise-scented and/or anethole-containing herbs. Trans-anethole was dominant among five of the seven herbs. They found 5700 ppm EO in the roots dominated by anethole (5440 ppm), making this highest (on a ppm basis) among the seven plants they analyzed. There are higher herbs, like fennel seed, in my database. They attributed the sweet taste of fennel, star anise, sweet cicely, and our Osmorhhiza to anethole. They note that trans-anethole, of which some 70 tons a year were being used in the U.S., has GRAS status and is used in baked goods, beverages, candies, and chewing gums in levels up to 1500 ppm. Trans-anethole was not acutely toxic for mice and was non-mutagenic. It is 10-20 times sweeter than sucrose (Hussain et al., 1990). Here are a few of the more notable chemicals found in sweetroot. For a complete listing of the phytochemicals and their activities, see the CRC phytochemical compendium, and 1993 (DAD) and the USDA database.
Anethole — Antibacterial; Anticancer; Antihepatosis; Antiinflammatory; Antinephrotic; AntiNF-kB; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; AntiTNF; Antitumor; Carminative; Dermatitogenic; Digestive; Estrogenic; Expectorant; Fungicide; Gastrostimulant; Hepatotoxic 695 mg/kg orl mus/days; Immu-nostimulant; Insecticide; Lactagogue; Leucocytogenic; Mutagenic; Secretagogue; Secretolytic; Sweetener (13 x sucrose); Sympathomimetic; LD50 = 3000 orl mus; LD50 = 2090 orl rat; LD50 = 900 ipr rat.
Carene — Antibacterial; Antiseptic; Fungicide; Irritant; LD50 = 4800 mg/kg orl rat.
Limonene — See also Carum carvi.
Trans-Anethole — Antigenotoxic 40-400 mg/kg orl mus; Antioxidant; Antiradicular; Sweetener (13 x sucrose); LD50 = 900 mg/kg ipr rat; LD50 = 1000 mg/kg ipr mus; LD50 = 1800-5000 mg/kg
orl mus; LD50 = 2000-3000 mg/kg orl rat; LD50 = 2100 mg/kg orl gpg.
