Green anise: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Anise, cultivated anise, Egyptian pimpinella
Scientific name(s)
Pimpinella anisum
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Flavonoids
Sesquiterpenes
Phenolic acids
Furocoumarins
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Digestive disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
A clinical study conducted in adults suffering from postprandial distress syndrome found that administration of 3 g of anise powder three times a day for four weeks significantly improved symptoms of functional dyspepsia compared with placebo. Furthermore, the quality of life of patients who received the anise-based treatment was markedly improved compared with those on placebo. In accordance with the indications of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), anise is traditionally used to relieve digestive disorders, including abdominal bloating. The recommended dosage is 50 to 200 microliters of anise oil, taken three times a day.
Posologie
Oral: seed
150 - 600 microliters
2 - weeks
Adults
oil
Cardozo, P. W., Calsamiglia, S., Ferret, A., and Kamel, C. Effects of natural plant extracts on ruminal protein degradation and fermentation profiles in continuous culture. J Anim Sci. 2004;82(11):3230-3236.
Cardozo, P. W., Calsamiglia, S., Ferret, A., and Kamel, C. Effects of alfalfa extract, anise, capsicum, and a mixture of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol on ruminal fermentation and protein degradation in beef heifers fed a high-concentrate diet. J Anim Sci 2006;84(10):2801-2808.
Community herbal monograph on Pimpinella anisum L.,nnaetheroleum
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Busquet, M., Calsamiglia, S., Ferret, A., and Kamel, C. Plant extracts affect in vitro rumen microbial fermentation. J Dairy Sci. 2006;89(2):761-771.
Irritable bowel syndrome ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical trials conducted in adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have shown the efficacy of anise oil: taking 200 mg three times a day for a period of four weeks reduced IBS symptoms in 75% of patients, compared with 52.5% with peppermint oil and 35% with placebo.nnThe most notable benefits were observed in the reduction of abdominal pain and bloating and reflux. Furthermore, these improvements were maintained for two weeks after stopping treatment.nn
Posologie
Oral use: seed
600 mg
4 weeks
Adults
oil
Menopause ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research conducted in postmenopausal women shows that taking an anise seed extract at a dose of 330 mg three times daily for four weeks reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes by about 75% compared with placebo.
Posologie
Oral: seed
990 - 9000 mg
4 - weeks
Adults, Women
dry extract
Breastfeeding ✪✪✪✪✪
Green anise stimulates milk secretion in breastfeeding women. A small Iranian study tends to support these properties and concludes that 2 g of green anise in the form of an herbal tea (taken 3 times a day) is effective for increasing breast milk.
Posologie
Oral: seed
2 g
Women
herbal tea/tea/infusion
Bronchitis ✪✪✪✪✪
According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), anise-based preparations are traditionally used as expectorants, helping to expel bronchial secretions, particularly in cases of productive cough associated with bronchitis.
Posologie
Oral: seed
150 - 600 microliter
2 - weeks
Adults
oil
Properties
Digestive effect
In animals, anise has significant cytoprotective and anti-ulcer activities against experimentally induced gastric lesions. The anti-ulcer effect of anise may be induced by prostaglandins and/or by its antisecretory and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, some in vivo studies have shown that anise has an antispasmodic effect. Finally, anise has long been used as a carminative: it promotes the expulsion of intestinal gas.
Usages associés
Respiratory effect
In vitro studies suggest that anise essential oil, as well as its aqueous and ethanolic extracts, may exert bronchodilator effects, attributable to an anticholinergic activity.
Usages associés
Antibacterial
Research has shown that anise essential oils, as well as several of its components, possess in vitro antibacterial properties effective against various bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enterica and Proteus vulgaris. Trans-anethole, a key component of anise, has specifically shown antibacterial effects against Salmonella.
Anti-inflammatory
In animal studies, anise oil has shown anti-inflammatory properties. Anethole, one of its components, appears to play a key role by inhibiting the production and activity of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, it acts by reducing the activity of NF-kB (nuclear factor-kappa B, a key protein in immune response mechanisms and cellular stress) activated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
Estrogenic activity
Some constituents of anise oil, including anethole, may have estrogenic effects, as shown by an in vivo study in mice. However, other in vitro research has shown that aqueous anise extracts have anti-estrogenic effects. This effect concerns the essential oil that contains anethole.
Usages associés
Galactagogue
Green anise, known for its galactagogue properties, plays an important role in stimulating milk secretion in breastfeeding women. This indication is supported by long traditional use.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adults 18 years and older: 150 μl - 600 μl (oil)
Anise powder has been used safely at doses up to 9 g per day over a four-week period. As for anise oil, it has been administered orally without adverse effects at doses up to 600 mg per day, also for four weeks. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends a dosage of 150 to 600 µL of anise oil per day, divided into three doses, for adults over 18 years of age. For herbal tea, an amount of 2 to 3 g is recommended.
Child:
Anise can be given to children as an herbal tea, with dosages adapted to their age: 0.5 g for children under one year, up to 2 g for those aged 4 to 10 years.
Interactions
Médicaments
Oral contraceptives: moderate interaction
Preliminary research suggests that anise may have anti-estrogenic effects. Theoretically, concurrent use of large amounts of anise could interfere with contraceptive medications by competing for estrogen receptors.
Estrogens: moderate interaction
Theoretically, concurrent use of large amounts of anise could interfere with hormone replacement therapy by competing for estrogen receptors.
Tamoxifen: moderate interaction
Theoretically, large doses of anise may interfere with tamoxifen due to its potential estrogenic effects.
Precautions
Pregnant: use with caution
Anise and its oil, when consumed in amounts commonly found in food, are considered safe. However, reliable data on the safety of using anise at therapeutic doses during pregnancy or breastfeeding are lacking.
Breastfeeding: use with caution
Anise and its oil, when consumed in amounts commonly found in food, are considered safe. However, reliable data on the safety of using anise at therapeutic doses during pregnancy or breastfeeding are lacking.
