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Ernst, D.

Pimpinella anisum L. (anise): Cell culture, somatic embryogenesis and the production of anise oil.

In: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants II. Berlin: Springer, 1989. 381-397
DOI
Anise originated in the eastern Mediterranean region and is native to Asia Minor, Greece and Egypt. Principal anise-growing regions are Spain, the Soviet Union, France and North Africa as well as some parts of Germany (Deutschmann et al. 1979; Wagner 1980). Moreover, anise is commercially cultivated in Chile, China and the USA (Embong et al. 1977). The plant belongs to the UmbeUiferae family, has a distinct spicy-aromatic (anise-like) smell, and an aromatic-sweetish taste, with greyish-green upside-down pear-shaped, and about 2-mm-long schizocarps of the 1-year-old herb-like plant which may grow up to 50 cm (Wagner 1980). The plant has fine fusiform roots, the ribbed stem is branched and has pubiscent leaves. The lower vegetative leaves are roundish-reniform, whereas the upper vegetative leaves consist of narrow-leaved pinnas. The blossom is an umbel with filamentous involucral bracts and white and short petals (Deutschmann et al. 1979). As a medicinal herb and aromatic plant, anise is one of the oldest cultigens. Hippocrates used anise for the treatment of jaundice and, in the Middle Ages, it was taken as a medicine for cough and cancer, as well as for cases of snake and scorpion bites, mental diseases and epilepsy; it was even used as a diuretic. The first legal certification of anise oil dates back to the beginning of the 16th century (Gildemeister and Hoffmann 1956). The annual world production of anise oil, including coriander oil, amounts to as much as 500 tons (Gildemeister and Hoffmann 1956, 1966). Anise fruit and its essential oil are used as a spicy seasoning (in biscuits, Vinschgl = a “long-time bread” from South Tyrol and preserved fruits), as a flavour additive in the field of oral hygiene (in toothpastes and gargles), in the confectionery industry and for the production of alcoholic beverages, such as herb liqueur or anise brandy (Wagner 1980; Zepernick et al. 1984). In medicine, the carminative, spasmolytic and expectorant effects of the drug and oil are of interest (Weiss 1974; Wagner 1980; Zepernick et al. 1984). Moreover, the plant’s importance is shown nowadays in its adaptation into essential European pharmacopeias: DAB 8 (FRG), DAB 7 (GDR), ÖAB 9 (Austria), Helv VI (Switzerland) and Ph. Eur. III (Europe).
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Publication type Article: Periodical or book chapter
Editors Bajaj, Y.*
Book Volume Title Medicinal and Aromatic Plants II
Quellenangaben Volume: , Issue: , Pages: 381-397 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Springer
Publishing Place Berlin
Institute(s) Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology (BIOP)