Chinese star anise

Chinese star anise is an evergreen bush of the magnolia order grown in Vietnam and southern China. The ripe, strongly anisesmelling fruits open up in a star. They are used as a spice and for the production of star... 

The main component (80-90%) is (f )-anethole. Star anise oil and (F)-anelhole isolated from it are used in anise liqueur (Anisette, Sambuca) and anise brandy (Pernod, Ouzo, Raki, Arak), liquorice sweets, toothpaste, etc. It has almost completely replaced the original anise seed oil, obtained from the umbellifer P. anisum. Shikimic acid (Wang et al., 2001), used in the production of the antiviral drug Tamiflu (Roche), is extracted from the fruits of Chinese star anise and related species (Rahway, 1989). 

Chinese star anise (I. verum Hook, F.) is a well-known spice used in the treatment of infant colic. Japanese star anise [I. anisa-tum L.), however, has been documented to have both neurologic and gastrointestinal toxicities. 

A methodological approach for an effective and reliable quality control of Chinese star anise [I. verum Hook. F.) was developed and validated by Lederer et al. (2006). A combined method of TLC and HPLC-MS/MS was used for differentiation ofvarious Ulicium species, especially Chinese and Japanese star anise. Species can be distinguished by their TLC flavonoid pattern. A sensitive and selective HPLC/ESI-MS/MS method was developed for the detection and quantification of lower admixtures of I. anisatum and of further toxic Ulicium species at a low concentration range using the sesquiterpene, lactone anisatin, as a marker. This assay includes a solid-phase extraction clean-up procedure with a high recovery (> 90%). 

Lederer, I., Schulzki, G., Gross, J. and Steffen, J.P. (2006) Combination of TLC and HPLC-MS/MS methods. Approach to a rational quality control of Chinese star anise. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54, 1970-1974. 

Illicium anisatum contains sesquiterpenoids, such as anisatin, anisotin, neoanisatin, and pseudoanisatin. Illicium religiosum (Japanese star anise) contains shikimic acid, anisatin and neoanisatin. Illicium verum (Chinese star anise) contains the monoterpenoid transanethole. Chinese star anise has been used to treat infant colic, but can be confused with Japanese star anise, which contains the neurotoxin anisatin. 

Two infants whose parents gave them star anise herbal tea developed tremors or spasms, hypertonia, hyperexcitability with crying, nystagmus, and vomiting (3). The Chinese star anise tea had been contaminated with Japanese star anise. 

Star Anise Oil You can look at Table IV to see that Chinese Star Anise has a smidgen anisaldehyde. More recently it was shown that the oil specifically from the Yunnan region of China had a whopping 4.48% content [18]. 

Composition According to ISO [19], the oil contains 86-95% E-anethole, up to 1.0% Z-anethole and up to 6.0% methyl chavicol. Eoeniculin can occur up to 3.0%, anisic aldehyde is limited to 0.5%. Further constituents are monoterpenes like a-pinene, a-phellandrene, limonene, linalool and a-terpineol. Besides P-caryophyllene, two further sesquiterpenes are typical trace components for Chinese star anise oil, namely E-and Z-a-bergamotene. 

Illicium religiosum, I. anisatum. Highly toxic Japanese variant of the safe plant, Chinese star anise (/. verum). All parts of the plant, particularly the seeds, are poisonous, causing vomiting and epileptiform convulsions of the type caused by picrotoxin, with dilated pupil and cyanosis. Kills by effects on respiratory and cardiovascular centres in medulla. Regarded as a sacred plant and found growing around Buddhist temples and graveyards. 

The structural and configurational studies of quinic acid (1) by Fischer and Gerda Dangschat were extended during the Basle period to shikimic acid (2), the trihydroxycyclohexenecarboxyhc acid first isolated from the Chinese star anise by Eykman in 1885. This acid was first proved to be a... 

Oil of Anise. Volatile oi] from dried ripe fruit of Pimpinetla anisum L-. Umbelliferae, or of HUcium serum Hook, fil., Magnoliaceae (Chinese star anise). Constit. 80-90% anethole methylchavico], anisaldehyde. 

Note Japanese star anise is lUtcium onisatum L. (il reli-giosum Sieb. Zucc. I. japotitcttm Sieb.) and contains a toxic lactone called anisatin. Chinese star anise does not contain rfiis toxic principle. Shikimic acid has been found in both-... 

The fruits of the Illicium species are distinctive star-shaped follicles which emit a characteristic refreshing flavor. The fruits of I. vernum Hook, in particular, are the source of the only economically important product derived from the genus Chinese star anise, which is widely used as a spice for flavoring food and beverages. Hence, essential oils have been the primary subject of chemical research on Illicium species and the presence of volatile phenols have been reported as constituents of various parts of all Illicium studied so far. On the other hand, the fruits of /. anisatum, Japanese star anise, have been known to be very toxic for several centuries. Many researchers had been involved in the attempt to isolate the toxic substance since the middle of the 19th century. In 1952, Lane et al. succeeded in the isolation of the 0 pure toxic principle named anisatin (1) [4]... 

Howes, M.J., G.C. Kite, and M.S. Simmonds. 2009. Distinguishing Chinese star anise from Japanese star anise using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.. Agric. Food Chem. 57(13) 5783-5789. 

C10H20O2, Mr 172.27. A monocyclic monoterpene dialcohol with the p-menthane structure occurring in nature in both the trans- and the c/s-forms, "trans-T. , mp. 158-159°C, c -T. ,mp. 104-105°C.The a5-T. exists mostly as the hydrate ( c -terpin hydrate , mp. 118 -119 °C) which is used as an expectorant. The occurrence of T. is probably the result of secondary formation from y-terpineol menth-4(8)-en-l-ol]. T. occurs in Chinese star anise oil (Illicium venim, Illi-ciaceae). For synthesis, see Ut.. ... 

Isol. from fennel and Chinese star anise oils. Mp 23.5-24.5°. 

Source Anise Pimpinella anisum L. (syn. Anisum vulgare Gaertn. A. officinarum Moench.) (Family Umbelliferae or Apia-ceae) Chinese star anise Illicium verum Hook. f. (Family Illiciaceae). 

Common/vernacular names Anise seed, aniseed, sweet cumin (P. anisum) Chinese star anise, illicium, and star anise Illicium verum). 

Chinese star anise contains about 5% volatile oil (ca. 10% in follicles and 2.5% in seeds) (nanjing), phenylpropanoid glucosides, lig-nans, catechins and proanthocyanidins, among others. 

Chinese star anise oil contains trans-anethole (80-90%) as its major component. Other constituents include estragole, 1,4-cineole,... 

A methanol extract of the fruits of Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) showed in vitro growth-inhibitory activity against the periodontopathic bacteria, Eikenella cor-rodens, and against the fungus Saccharo-myces cerevisiae In vitro antimicrobial and antifungal activities of Chinese star anise are largely attributed to the presence of anethole. ... 

Japanese star anise Illicium lanceolatum A. C. Smith formerly identified as Illicium anisatum L. or I. religiosum Sieb. et Zucc.) should not be confused with true star anise (Chinese star anise) (/. verum). Use of the former as a culinary spice could result in fatality. Its mistaken identity in Europe... 

Anise oil and Chinese star anise oil are used interchangeably in the United States, both being officially recognized as anise oil in the U.S.P. and F.C.C. 

Both anise and Chinese star anise oils are used as carminatives, stimulants, mild spasmolytics, weak antibacterials, and expectorants in... 

Both anise and Chinese star anise are widely used as domestic spices the former is mainly used by Westerners, while the latter is used primarily by Asians, especially in Chinese foods. 

Traditional Medicine. Anise and Chinese star anise have been used as aromatic carminatives, stimulants, and expectorants also as estrogenic agents to increase milk secretion, promote menstruation, facilitate child birth, increase libido, and alleviate symptoms of male climacteric. Chinese star anise has been used in Chinese medicine for similar purposes for 1300 years (jiangsu). Anise has also been used as an appetizer, diuretic, tranquillizer, antiseptic, laxative, and as a treatment for epilepsy and seizures. ... 

Crude and essential oils are official in N.F. and F.C.C. In Germany, preparations of anise seed containing 5-10% essential oil are used as a respiratory inhalant, whereas Chinese star anise is used internally for peptic discomfort and catarrh (blumenthal 1). 

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