Illicium anisatum

Anisatin Illicium anisatum (Japanese star anise) GABA-R non-competitive... 

Ethyl dihydrocinnamate Illicium anisatum (Illiciaceae), Agastache spp., Ocimum basilicum (Lamiaceae), Magnolia kobus (Magnoliaceae), Myrcia acris (Myrtaceae), Firms sp. (Pinaceae), Piper betel (Piperaceae), Citrus spp., Dictamnus alba (Rutaceae) [oil] Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) (wine) OD-R (flowery)... 

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. 

Plant parts Fruits. Can be mixed up with the toxic fruits of Illicium anisatum L. (shikimi fruits), which do, however, not smell like anise but camphorous and bitter. 

To investigate the potential of the SEME technique, comparisons have been made with hydrodistillation for extraction of essential oil from spices - ajowan Carum ajowan Apiaceae), cumin (Cuminum cyminum Umbdliferae), star anise Illicium anisatum Illiciaceae) - and from fresh aromatic herbs - basil ( Ocimum basilicum Labiaceae), crispate mint [Mentha crispa Labiaceae), thyme (Thymus vulgaris Labia-ceae) [59, 60]. The yields of essential oil and their chemical composition for the two extraction methods are reported in Table 22.4. 

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. 

Upton, R. 2006. Differentiation between star anise (Illicium verum) and the toxic adulterant shikimi (Illicium anisatum). Scotts Valley, CA American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. 

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... 

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. 

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 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. ... 

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

Joshi, V.C., RV. Srinivas, and LA. Khan 2005. Rapid and easy identification of Illicium verum Hook. f. and its adulterant lllicium anisatum Linn by fluorescent microscopy and gas chromatography. /. AOAC Int. 88(3) 703-706. 

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