Last updated: 21 October 2016
Pimpinella anisum L.
Anisum odoratum Raf. Anisum officinale DC., Anisum officinarum Moench, Anisum vulgare Gaertn., Apium anisum (L.) Crantz, Carum anisum (L.) Baill., Ptychotis vargasiana DC., Selinum anisum (L.) E.H.L. Krause, Seseli gilliesii Hook. & Arn., Sison anisum (L.) Spreng., Tragium anisum (L.) Link. [1]
Malaysia | Jintan manis [2] |
English | Anise, aniseed, sweet cumin [2] |
Indonesia | Jinten manis [2] |
Philippines | Anis [2] |
France | Anis vert, boucage, pimpinelle [2]. |
Pimpinella anisum probably originated in the eastern Mediterranean region. It is cultivated nowadays in a wide range of countries, especially in southern Europe (in particular Spain and Italy), the former Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Iran, northern Africa, India, China, Japan, Chili, Argentina and Mexico, and is often naturalised. P. anisum fruits are used in Southeast Asia, but the crop does not grow satisfactorily in tropical lowlands. Only very occasionally is P. aniusm grown in Southeast Asia. [2]
P. anisum is a member of Apiaceas family. P. anisum is an aromatic, erect, annual herb, up to (10-)15-50(-90) cm tall, with grooved stem and patently hairy. The leaves are arranged alternately and entire to pinnately compound. The petiole is 4-10 cm long in lower leaves while gradually becoming shorter to absent in uppermost leaves and always sheathing at base. The blade of lower leaves is orbicular-kidney-shaped and dentately lobed while the middle leaves blade is pinnate or 3-foliolate with incised leaflets. The blade of uppermost leaves is 3-partite and subsessile. [2]
The inflorescence is terminal and leaf-opposed while the umbel is compound. The peduncle is 2.5-7 cm long. The involucre of bracts is absent or short and 1-2-foliolate. There are 4-15 primary rays which are 0.5-2.5 cm long and hairy. There are also 7-13 secondary rays (pedicels) which are 1-5 mm long while the flowers are bisexual. The sepal is indistinct. The 5 obovate-cordate petal is 1-1.5 mm long, with ciliate margin and inflexed apex. There are 5 stamens. The filaments are longer than petals and apex is inflexed. The pistil is with inferior, bilocular, 2-carpelled ovary and 2 styles, each with swollen stylopodium at base and globular stigma at the top. [2]
The fruit is a schizocarp, ovoid, measure 3-5 mm long, with short hairs and at maturity it splits into 2 mericarps. The mericarp is 5-ribbed, with numerous oil ducts and containing a single seed. The fruit wall is connate with seed testa. [2]
P. anisum can be grown in temperate and subtropical climates, but does not grow well under tropical lowland conditions. It requires a frost-free growing season of about 120 days. It grows under conditions ranging from 1000-2000 mm average annual rainfall and mean annual temperatures of (6-)12-18(-24)ºC. Moisture requirements are highest in the period from stem emergence to flowering. Temperature and rainfall should be rather uniform because it is unfavourably affected by sudden changes in both. P. anisum can be grown in a wide range of soils, from sandy to clayey loams with a pH of 5-8, but it thrives on well-drained, moderate to heavy loams with adequate water-holding capacity. The sandy soils and heavy clay soils are unsuitable. [2]
P. anisum has been reported to contain phenol-methyl -ethyl (> 95%) trans-anethole (92%), chavicol methyl-ethyl (3%), terpenic alcohol: anisol (2-3%), aldehydes, cetones and coumarins. [3][4]
Fruit/seed. [2]
The essential oil has traditionally used for lung ailments and breathing and digestive problems. It also has been used to treat many estrogen-related functions, such as milk production, menstruation, and libido. [4]
P. anisum essential oil and extract were tested against different yeast strains including Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. The results showed that both the oil and the extract possessed antifungal activity, although the essential oil had stronger activity. [5] The oil of P. anisum also is affective against certain types of mold, which may be useful as a protective food additive. [6] This essential oil showed inhibitory effects against aciclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1. [7] An additional study found anise oil to inhibit herpes simplex virus type 2 at 0.016%. [8]
In an animal model, anise oil decreased urine output in mice, which is contradictory to traditional use as a diuretic. [9] Laboratory studies on guinea pig tracheal chains demonstrated that P. anisum essential oil has bronchodilatory effects that are similar to theophylline, and relaxant activity due to inhibitory effects on muscarinic receptors. [10]
P. anisum retains estrogen-like qualities. This is thought to be due to the anethole, dianethole and photoanethole content. [4] The essential oil of P. anisum has shown some insecticidal activity, although not as strong as other oils tested. [11] However, a component of this oil, p-anisaldehyde, has shown positive results against house dust mites. [12]
Pharmacology
No documentation
Clinical findings
No documentation
Side effects
No documentation
Pregnancy/Breast Feeding
P. anisum has been reported to not be used on infants, children or pregnant mothers. [13]
Adverse reaction
No documentation
Interaction & Depletion
No documentation
Contraindications
P. anisum essential oil reported to be contraindicated to those with epilepsy or seizure. [13]
No documentation
No documentation
Figure 1: The line drawing of P. anisum. [2]