ABSTRACT
Star anise is very important in Chinese traditional medicine as a stimulant and expectorant, to relieve flatulence, to treat vomiting, stomach aches, insomnia, skin inflammation and rheumatic pain, and to increase libido. The essential oil of star anise, obtained by steam distillation of the dried fruits, is located in the meso- and pericarp and has a hot, sweet and aniseed-like taste. Chinese star anise essential oils have a wide range of commercial applications in the production of perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, food and beverage flavorings and pharmaceutical preparations such as cough lozenges. The oil of star anise is considered to be stimulant, stomachic, carminative, mildly expectorant and diuretic and has antifungal and antioxidant properties. Star anise oil is a clear, mobile liquid, which will become a solid crystalline mass when cold , and which has an intense typical anise and fennel seed odor.
