Abstract
Illicium verum Hook f. (star anise) is considered an important species in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is also used in contemporary medicine in East Asian countries. It occurs in natural habitats in southeastern parts of China and Vietnam, and is cultivated in various regions in China. The raw materials—Anisi stellati fructus and Anisi stellati aetheroleum obtained from this species exhibit expectorant and spasmolytic activities. The European Pharmacopoeia (4th edition) indicates that these raw materials have been used in allopathy since 2002. The biological activities of the above-mentioned raw materials are determined by the presence of valuable secondary metabolites such as monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and flavonoids. Recent pharmacological studies on fruit extracts and the essential oil of this species have confirmed their antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities and thus their medicinal and cosmetic value. The aim of this review was to examine the progress of phytochemical and pharmacological studies that focused on possible cosmetic applications. In addition to fruit extracts and essential oil, the current consensus on the safety of trans-anethole, which is the main compound of essential oil used in cosmetology, is underlined here.
Highlights
Illicium verum Hook f. is a woody species commonly known as ba jiao hui xiang in China and is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a therapeutic agent [1]
Illicium verum is an important species that was widely used in TCM
The valuable properties of I. verum fruits are attributed to its unique chemical composition with abundant amounts of phenylpropanoids, mono- and sesquiterpenoids
Summary
Illicium verum Hook f. (star anise, Chinese star anise) is a woody species commonly known as ba jiao hui xiang in China and is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a therapeutic agent [1]. Two raw materials obtained from I. verum (fruit—Anisi stellati fructus and essential oil—Anisi stellati aetheroleum) have been listed in The European Pharmacopoeia since 2002 (4th edition) [3]. Both of these materials exhibit expectorant and spasmolytic effects. The main component of the I. verum essential oil is trans-anethole. It is extensively used in food, perfume, and pharmaceutical industries due to its sweet flavor and aromatic scent [5]. According to recent studies, trans-anethole possesses antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anti-obesity properties, which are significant in terms of cosmetology and medicine. This review presents the information collected from scientific reports on the biological properties of I. verum and trans-anethole and their potential medicinal and cosmetic applications
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