I. anisatum

The closely related Japanese star anise, I. anisatum, is highly toxic. It contains a poisonous sesquiterpene lactone, called ani-satin, and also shikimin and sikimitoxin, which causes severe inflammation of the kidneys, urinary tract and digestive organs, as well as affecting the nervous system (Lederer et al., 2006). Other compounds present in this toxic species of Illicium are saffole and eugenol, which are not present in I. verum and are used to identify its adulteration. 

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%). 

Star anise herbal tea may be adulterated with I. anisatum Linn. A short and rapid method using microscopy and gas chromatography (GC) was developed to detect I. anisatum Linn., an adulterant in the powdered... 

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. 

Pseudoanisatin was first isolated as a nontoxic compound from I. anisatum by Lane et al [4]. The wrong structure of pseudoanisatin was first proposed on the basis of the spectral data [17], but later it was revised as 12 with a 7-membered 11,14-lactone by an X-ray crystal... 

Anislactone-type sesquiterpenes are composed of a new type of carbon skeleton and their occurrence is limited only to I. anisatum and I. merrillianum. As these rare natural products feature the presence of a y-lactone ring closed between C-5 and C-6, they are most likely to be biogenetically derived from the majucin-type sesquiterpenes having a y-lactone at the same positions. Kouno proposed that anislactones came from the majucin-type compound by the ring contraction between C-7... 

I. latifolia 146,149 I. macr[Pg.426]

Seizures have been reported in infants administered teas labeled as star anise (Garzo Fernandez et al. 2002 Gil Gampos et al. 2002 Ize-Ludlow et al. 2004 Minodier et al. 2003 Montoya-Gabrera 1990) however, analysis of the tea products in several of the case reports indicated adulteration with Japanese star anise (I. anisatum), a botanically similar species that has been documented to have neurological and gastrointestinal toxicity (Ize-Ludlow et al. 2004). 

Joshi, V.C., Srinivas, P.V. and Khan, I.A. (2005) Rapid and easy identification of lllicium verum Hook. f. and its adulterant lllicium anisatum Linn, by fluorescent microscopy and gas chromatography. Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists International 88(3), 703-706. 

Sakaguchi, I., Ishimoto, H., Matsuo, M., Ikeda, N., Minamino, M. and Kato, Y. (2004) The water-soluble extract of lllicium anisatum stimulates mouse vibrissae follicles in organ culture. Experimental Dermatology 13(8), 499-504. 

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]... 

Abstract—Two glycerol phenylpropanoid glucosides 1, 2 and a glycoside of 2-hydroxyphenylpropanoid 3 were isolated from the barks of Illicium difengpi K. I. B. et K. I. M. (Illiciaceae). Compounds 4 and S, the analogous compounds of 3, were obtained from the fresh fruits of 1. anisatum L.. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. ... 

We have been interested in the toxic constituents of Illicium plants (Illiciaceae), and have reported on the isolation and structural elucidation of a series of sesquiterpenes possessing unique framework from these plants in Japan and China [1], As a continuous work on the chemical studies on the Illicium plants, we investigated the constituents of the bark of non-toxic Illicium difengpi K. I. B. et K. I. M., which was used as antiarthritic agent in China, and those of the fresh fruits of toxic Illicium anisatum L.. This paper deals with the isolation and structural elucidation of five new phenylpropanoid glycosides from the above plants. 

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... 

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