Identification of a new natural gastric lipase inhibitor from star anise.
Kamoun J, Rahier R, Sellami M, Koubaa I, Mansuelle P, Lebrun R, Berlioz-Barbier A, Fiore M, Alvarez K, Abousalham A, Carrière F, Aloulou A.
Food Funct. 2019 Jan 22;10(1):469-478. doi: 10.1039/c8fo02009d.

Acaricidal properties of ylang-ylang oil and star anise oil against nymphs of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae).
Elmhalli F, Pålsson K, Örberg J, Grandi G.
Exp Appl Acarol. 2018 Oct;76(2):209-220. doi: 10.1007/s10493-018-0299-y.

Effects of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f.) essential oil on nutrient and energy utilization of laying hens.
Yu C, Guo Y, Yang Z, Yang W, Jiang S.
Anim Sci J. 2019 Jul;90(7):880-886. doi: 10.1111/asj.13221

Effects of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f.) essential oil on laying performance and antioxidant status of laying hens.
Yu C, Wei J, Yang C, Yang Z, Yang W, Jiang S.
Poult Sci. 2018 Nov 1;97(11):3957-3966. doi: 10.3382/ps/pey263.

Effect of Selective Encapsulation of Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin on Components and Antibacterial Properties of Star Anise Essential Oil.
Zhang G, Yuan C, Sun Y.
Molecules. 2018 May 9;23(5). pii: E1126. doi: 10.3390/molecules23051126.

Star Anise (Illicium verum Hook. f.) as Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Formation Inhibitor on Foodborne Bacteria: Study in Milk.
Rahman MR, Lou Z, Zhang J, Yu F, Timilsena YP, Zhang C, Zhang Y, Bakry AM.
J Food Prot. 2017 Apr;80(4):645-653. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-16-294.

New method for the rapid extraction of natural products: efficient isolation of shikimic acid from star anise.
Just J, Deans BJ, Olivier WJ, Paull B, Bissember AC, Smith JA.
Org Lett. 2015 May 15;17(10):2428-30. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5b00936.

Effects of dietary star anise (Illicium verum Hook f) supplementation during gestation and lactation on the performance of lactating multiparous sows and nursing piglets.
Wang GY, Yang C, Yang Z, Yang W, Jiang S, Zhang G, Guo Y, Wei M.
Anim Sci J. 2015 Apr;86(4):401-7. doi: 10.1111/asj.12300.

Star Anise (Illicium verum Hook.f.), also called Badiana, is a medicinal evergreen plant of Asian origin.

It belongs to the Illiciaceae family.

What it is used for and where

Medical

It is used for the treatment of:

• digestive problems

• meteorism
• halitosis

Star anise is used to produce Shikimic acid which is a fundamental component for the synthesis of the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu^®) (1)

The anethole that is a component of this plant has shown antimicrobial properties. Other properties are sedative and analgesic (2).

Cosmetics

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment by restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants.

Food

A component of star anise, anethole, is the basis of the French Pastis liqueur and sambuca.

Contraindications: overdose

Star anise studies

References_______________________________________________________________________

(1) Ghosh S, Chisti Y, Banerjee UC. Production of shikimic acid.  Biotechnol Adv. 2012 Nov;30(6):1425-31. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2012.03.001. 

(2) Wang GW, Hu WT, Huang BK, Qin LP. Illicium verum: a review on its botany, traditional use, chemistry and pharmacology. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Jun 14;136(1):10-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.04.051.