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Star anise ( Illicium verum ): Chemical compounds, antiviral properties, and clinical relevance
Author(s) -
Patra Jayanta Kumar,
Das Gitishree,
Bose Sankhadip,
Banerjee Sabyasachi,
Vishnuprasad Chethala N.,
Pilar RodriguezTorres Maria,
Shin HanSeung
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.6614
Subject(s) - traditional medicine , phytochemical , herb , shikimic acid , antifungal , antimicrobial , expectorant , biology , medicine , medicinal herbs , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Medicinal herbs are one of the imperative sources of drugs all over the world. Star anise ( Illicium verum ), an evergreen, medium‐sized tree with star‐shaped fruit, is an important herb with wide distribution throughout southwestern parts of the Asian continent. Besides its use as spice in culinary, star anise is one of the vital ingredients of the Chinese medicinal herbs and is widely known for its antiviral effects. It is also the source of the precursor molecule, shikimic acid, which is used in the manufacture of oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), an antiviral medication for influenza A and influenza B. Besides, several other molecules with numerous biological benefits including the antiviral effects have been reported from the same plant. Except the antiviral potential, star anise possesses a number of other potentials such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, insecticidal, secretolytic, antinociceptive, anti‐inflammatory, gastroprotective, sedative properties, expectorant and spasmolytic, and estrogenic effects. This review aimed to integrate the information on the customary attributes of the plant star anise with a specific prominence on its antiviral properties and the phytochemical constituents along with its clinical aptness.