Pimpinella anisum

Pimpinella anisum

 (Pim- An.)

Botanical name: Pimpinella anisum Linn.

Family: Umbelliferae

Common name: Sans.: Shatapushpa; Madhurimisi, Karavee; Shatava; Shetpushpa, Eng: Anise, Sweet Fennel, Hindi: Saonf, Saurif, Sonf.

Habitat: This annual is a native of Egypt, but is cultivated in Persia, UP, Punjab, Orissa, and various other parts of the world.

Part Used: Fruit

 Inside story

·         Aniseeds have been used traditionally for its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, muscle relaxant, analgesic and anticonvulsant activity.

·         A study on Review of Pharmacological Properties and Chemical Constituents of Pimpinella anisum (Shojali, Fard 2012) revealed that aniseeds can cause gastric protection, muscle relaxant, and affect digestive system. In diabetic patients, it has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and reduces lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, it showed anticonvulsant effect, reduced morphine dependence, and induced conditioned place aversion in mice. Aniseed also has beneficial effects on dysmenorrhea and menopausal hot flashes in women.

·         Traditionally it has been used as a stimulant and carminative; used in cases of flatulence, flatulent colic of infants, and to remove nausea.

·         It can be compared with Illicium verum (The star Anise) which grows more plentifully than the true anise (Pimpinella Anisum) and the essential oil obtained from the former is available at much cheaper price, and is more popular in use.

Family: Umbelliferae

 Clinical

·         Digestive problems of the infants and children.⁷

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References:

1.       Allen T.F., Encyclopedia of pure materia medica

2.       Boerricke W., Homoeopathic materia medica

3.       Clarke, J. H, A dictionary of practical materia medica

4.       K. M. Nadkarni, Dr. K. M. Nadkarni's Indian materia medica

5.     Murphy R, Homoeopathic remedy guide

6.       Shojaii A. , Fard M. A. (2012), Review of Pharmacological Properties and Chemical Constituents of Pimpinella anisum, ISRN Pharm. 2012; 2012: 510795., Published online 2012 Jul 16. doi:  10.5402/2012/510795, Accessed online 18-1-16,  at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3405664/

7.       Varma R N, Vaid I, Encylcopaedia of homoeopathic pharmcopoeia