Anise

Pimpinella anisum L.

DESCRIPTION

An extremely aromatic and herbaceous annual plant, which has an erect, striated stem that branches out at the top. Lower leaves are reniform, the middle ones ovate or oblong and the upper stems have narrow lobules and petioles with pods.

White flowers are grouped together in compact umbels. The ovoid-oblong shaped fruit has a green-grey colour with short hairs.

The umbels are collected in August-September when 50% of the fruit is ripe.
Tightly closed containers that are kept out of the light and away from dampness, are used for perfect preservation.

PART USED

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Essential oil is the active ingredient; whose main component is anethole, which together with its allylic isomer estragole, also contains aldehyde, anisic ketone and terpene hydrocarbons.

PROPERTIES AND INSTRUCTIONS

ACKNOWLEDGED USE

Dyspeptic problems, antispasmodic, carminative and expectorant used in paediatrics. (European Commission)

COMMON USES

Aids menstruation, galactogenic, aphrodisiac and flavouring. It is used in distilleries for the production of alcoholic drinks and spirits.

PRECAUTIONS

This product must not be used by people who are allergic to anise or anethole.

It is commonly combined with camomile and is a carminative and spasmolytic preparation that is often used to relieve colic in young babies.


PRESENTATION

Anise normally comes in the form of an herbal tea when used for the pharmaceutical industry.

DID YOU KNOW

Anise is a plant that grows spontaneously in Egypt and the Middle East. Anise essence, found in creams or oils, is externally used for revulsive massages and the elimination of parasites.