ANISEED

ANISEED

(Pimpinella anisum Linn)

Anise or Aniseed is the dried, ripe fruit of Pimpinella anisum Linn. (Apiaceae/Umbelliferae)

Pimpinella is Latin word meaning two wings.

The plant is an annual herb indigenous to Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece and also cultivated in South America, Germany, Italy and Southern Russia. Anise grows wild in the near east and widely cultivated, along other places on the Mediterranean rim (Spain, Turkey, North Africa and Asia).

Chemical Constituents:

The aniseed fruit contains polysaccharides, lipids (15-20%), flavonoids, a glucoside of p-hydroxy benzoic acid and 2-3% of essential oil. The latter contains 80-90%  anethole, estragol and anisaldehude. Other derivatives (anisic acid, anisyl alcohol and ketone) may be found in partially oxidized essential oils.

Health Food:

Aniseed is reputed to be estrogenic, considered to be galactogogue, expectorant and carminative, traditionally used for symptomatic treatment of gastrointestinal disturbance.

The fruits are used as spice in the health food products, because of their carminative properties.