Green Anise: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
Anise, Cultivated Anise, Egyptian Pimpernel
Scientific name(s)
Pimpinella anisum
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Flavonoids
Sesquiterpenes
Phenolic Acids
Furocoumarins
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Digestive Disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
A clinical study conducted on adults with postprandial distress syndrome revealed that administering 3 g of anise powder three times daily for four weeks significantly improved functional dyspepsia symptoms compared to a placebo. Furthermore, the quality of life for patients receiving anise treatment significantly improved compared to those under placebo. According to 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, to be taken three times per day.
Posologie
Oral: seed
150 - 600 microliter
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., aetheroleum
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 on adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have revealed the efficacy of anise oil: taking 200 mg three times a day over four weeks alleviated IBS symptoms in 75% of patients, compared to 52.5% under peppermint oil and 35% under placebo. The most notable benefits were observed in the reduction of abdominal pain, bloating and reflux reduction. Moreover, these improvements persisted for two weeks after treatment ended.
Posologie
Oral: seed
600 mg
4 - weeks
Adults
oil
Menopause ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research conducted on menopausal 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 to placebo.
Posologie
Oral: seed
990 - 9000 mg
4 - weeks
Adults, Women
dry extract
Lactation ✪✪✪✪✪
Green anise helps stimulate milk secretion in breastfeeding women. A small Iranian study tends to validate these properties and concludes on the efficacy of 2 g of green anise in tea form (taken 3 times daily) to increase breast milk.
Posologie
Oral: seed
2 g
Women
herbal tea/infusion
Bronchitis ✪✪✪✪✪
According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), anise-based preparations are traditionally used as expectorants, aiding the expulsion of bronchial secretions, especially in cases of productive cough associated with bronchitis.
Posologie
Oral: seed
150 - 600 microliter
2 - weeks
Adults
oil
Properties
Digestive Effect
In animals, anise shows significant cytoprotective and anti-ulcerative activities against experimentally induced gastric lesions. The anti-ulcer effect of anise may be induced by prostaglandins and/or its antisecretory and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, some in vivo studies have shown anise has a spasmolytic 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 ethanol extracts, may exert bronchodilator effects, attributed to anticholinergic activity.
Usages associés
Antibacterial
Research has demonstrated that anise essential oils, along with 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 element of anise, specifically showed antibacterial effects against Salmonella.
Anti-inflammatory
In animal studies, anise oil revealed anti-inflammatory properties. Anethole, one of its components, seems to play a crucial role by inhibiting the production and activity of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, it works by reducing the activity of NF-kB (nuclear factor-kappa B, a key protein in immune response and cellular stress mechanisms) activated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
Estrogenic Action
Certain constituents of anise oil, including anethole, may have estrogenic effects, as shown by an in vivo study on mice. However, other in vitro research has shown that aqueous extracts of anise have anti-estrogenic effects. This effect concerns the essential oil containing anethole.
Usages associés
Galactagogue
Green anise, renowned for its galactagogue properties, plays an essential role in stimulating milk secretion in breastfeeding women. This indication is supported by a long-standing traditional use.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 years: 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 risk in 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. For herbal tea, an amount of 2 to 3 g is recommended.
Child :
Anise can be given to children in the form of 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 may interfere with contraceptive medications through competition for estrogen receptors.
Estrogens: moderate interaction
Theoretically, concurrent use of large amounts of anise may interfere with hormone replacement therapy by competing for estrogen receptors.
Tamoxifen: moderate interaction
Theoretically, high doses of anise may interfere with tamoxifen due to its potential estrogenic effects.
Precautions
Pregnant women: use with caution
Anise and its oil, when consumed in common dietary amounts, are considered safe. However, there is a lack of reliable data on the safety of using anise at therapeutic doses during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding woman: use with caution
Anise and its oil, when consumed in common dietary amounts, are considered safe. However, there is a lack of reliable data on the safety of using anise at therapeutic doses during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
