Aniseed Essential Oil

Botanical Name: 

Pimpinella anisum

Common name: 

Saunf, fennel seeds,

Plant family: 

Apiaceae

Genus: 

Pimpinella

Appearance/Color:

Colorless to Pale yellow liquid with Licorice odor.

Odor:

Distinctive scent of licorice, Rich and Sweet.

Blends With:

Rose, Orange, Lavender, Spicy Essential oils

Origin

Egypt

Source

Seeds

Method of Extraction

Steam Distillation


Anise is a dainty, white-flowered urnbelliferous annual, about 18 inches high, with secondary feather-like leaflets of bright green, hence its name (of mediaeval origin), Pimpinella, from dipinella, or twicepinnate, in allusion to the form of the leaves.

It is a native of Egypt, Greece, Crete and Asia Minor and was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians. It was well known to the Greeks, being mentioned by Dioscorides and Pliny and was cultivated in Tuscany in Roman times. In the Middle Ages its cultivation spread to Central Europe.

Anise fruit yields on distillation from 2.5 to 3.5 per cent. of a fragrant, syrupy, volatile oil, of which anethol, present to about 90 per cent., is the principal aromatic constituent. It has a strong Anise odour and separates in the form of shining white crystalline scales on cooling the oil. Other constituents of the fruit are a fixed oil, choline, sugar and mucilage.

 

Intended Benefits/Uses or Properties

Aniseed is native to the Middle East and the Romans used it in little cakes that they ate at the end of their banquets. Aniseed is traditionally used with vegetables that can be indigestible such as cabbage, onion, cucumber, carrot, turnip and beetroot.. Aniseed is used to flavour many alcoholic drinks such as Pernod, Greek ouzo and mastikha, anesone from Italy and the French drink, pastis. Apart from that it have several pharmaceutical and ayurvedic properties. In India, it is widely used in Pickels since ancient times.

Aniseed Oil in Pharma

Anise enjoys considerable reputation as a medicine in coughs and pectoral affections. In hard, dry coughs where expectoration is difficult, it is of much value. It is greatly used in the form of lozenges and the seeds have also been used for smoking, to promote expectoration.

The volatile oil, mixed with spirits of wine forms the liqueur Anisette, which has a beneficial action on the bronchial tubes, and for bronchitis and spasmodic asthma, Anisette, if administered in hot water, is an immediate palliative.

Essence of Aniseed Oil

The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices, such as star anise, fennel, and liquorice. Anise oil is a good antiseptic and is used, mixed with oil of Peppermint or Gaultheria (Wintergreen) to flavour aromatic liquid dentrifrices.

 

COMMON USAGE

·        Anti-epileptic & Anti-hysteric Effect

·        Antiseptic

·        Antirheumatic

·        Antispasmodic

·        Aperient

·        Carminative

·        Cordial

·        Decongestant

·        Aids In Digestion

·        Treats Respiratory Disorders

·        Insecticide

·        Sedative

·        Stimulant

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Safety Summary

·        Hazardous: Drug interaction; potentially carcinogenic, based on estragole content; reproductive hormone modulation; may inhibit blood clotting.

·        Contraindications (all routes): Pregnancy, breastfeeding, endometriosis, estrogen-dependant cancers, children under 5 years of Age.

·        Caution (Oral): Diabetes medication, anticoagulant medication, major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia, other bleeding disorders.

·        Maximum Dermal Use Level: 0.2% (IFRA)

Organ Specific Effects

·        Adverse Skin Reactions: Not known but (E)-Anethole is prone to oxidation and its oxidation products may be skin sensitizing.

·        Cardiovascular Effects: (E)-Anethole inhibits platelet aggregation, an essential step in the blood clotting cascade.

·        Reproductive Toxicity: (E)-Anethole is estrogenic in invitro yeast assays and fennel tea has shown invivo estrogenic effects in humans.

·        Hepatotoxicity: Not Found

Systemic Effects

·        Acute Toxicity:

o   ORAL (LD50): Acute: 2250 mg/kg [Rat]

o   DERMAL (LD50): Acute: 5000 mg/kg [Rabbit]

·        Subcute & Subchronic Toxicity: Skin: May cause skin irritation. Eyes: May cause eye irritation. Ingestion: May cause gastrointestinal tract irritation. Inhalation: Inhalation of mist or vapor may cause respiratory tract irritation.

·        Carcinogenic: Not Classified

ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

·        Ecotoxicity: Not available

·        Products of Biodegradation: Possibly hazardous short term degradation products are not likely. However, long term degradation products may arise.

·        Toxicity of the Products of Biodegradation: Not available


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