Japanese star anise

There are also a few /3-lactone structures in natural products. Two toxic compounds, anisatin and neoanisatin, were isolated from a toxic plant, Japanese star anise, and have been assigned to the /8-lactone-containing structures (72) and (73), respectively. These structures are based on extensive study of spectral data and chemical transformations (68T199). 

Illicium lanacedatum A. S. Smith Hong Hui Xiang Gen (Japanese star anise) (fruit) Anisatin, neoanisatin, shikimic acid, pseudoanisatin 33 This herb is toxic. ... 

Japanese star anise (Illicium anisa-tum), a similar tree, is not edible because... 

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. 

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%). 

Biessels, G.J., Vermeij, F.H. and Leijten, F.S. (2002) Epileptic seizure after a cup of tea intoxication with Japanese star anise. Ned Tijdschr Ceneeskd 146(1 7), 81 3-816. 

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

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. 

When Japanese star anise was mixed into a commercially sold herbal tea, perhaps inadvertently consumption of the tea was associated with adverse events in 63 Dutch consumers (1). Their symptoms occurred 2-4 hours after they drank the tea and included general malaise, nausea, and vomiting. In 22 cases hospitalization was required, and 16 had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. All made a full recovery after withdrawal of the herbal tea. Anisatin is a non-competitive GABA receptor antagonist, which causes nervous system hyperactivity, and the authors believed that this mechanism explained the high rate of seizures in these patients. 

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. 

The oil distilled from the leaves and poisonous fruit of Illimum religiosum, Sieb., the Japanese star anise, was found by Eykman Rec. Trav. Chim. 4, 32-54 via /. Chem. Soc. 1886, A. i, 95) to contain a terpene termed shikimene, eugenol and "shikimol, now known as safrole. 

Oil Anise, Japanese, Volatile oi] from fruit of Jffi-cium anisatum L., Magnoliaceae (Japanese star anise). Constit. Chiefly anethole also safrol, eugenol. 

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]... 

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), but analysis of the tea products in several of the case reports indicated adulteration with Japanese star anise (f. anisatuni). General malaise, nausea, and vomiting were reported in adults who consumed a tea product labeled as star anise that was later found to contain Japanese star anise (Johanns et al. 2002). 

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. 

A false aniseed, also belonging to the N.O. Magnoliacea, is found in Japan under the name Shikimi no Ki . It is the Illkiwm religioswni, and its oil is known as Shikimi or Japanese star-anise oil. This oil has the following characters —... 

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... 

Vermaak, I., Viljoen, A., and Lindstrom, S.W. (2013) Hyperspectral imaging in the quality control of herbal medicines - The case of neurotoxic Japanese star anise. /. Pharm. Biomed. Anal, 75, 207-213. 

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