Anethole

See also: Hydroxycinnamic acids / PhenylpropanoidsSee also: Hydroxycinnamic acids / Phenylpropanoids

Anethole is an organic compound that is used as a flavoring agent. It is also known as anise camphor.

Anethole is a derivative of the aromatic compound allylbenzene. It is the main constituent of the oils of anise, star anise, and fennel. It is also found in lower concentrations in peppermints, wild celeries, and corianders.

Anethole has a sweet, anise, and balsam taste. It is used as a flavoring agent in: Alcoholic drinks, Natural berry flavors, Cosmetics, Perfumery, Pharmaceuticals.

Anethole is often used as an internal standard for GC analysis at a typical concentration of 200 µl/l.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA-US) has issued its safety certification

Inhibits NF-kappaB activation induced by TNF, TRAF2 and NIK in vitro, suppresses TNF-induced activation of the transcription factor AP-1

• trans-Anethole of Fennel Oil is a Selective and Nonelectrophilic Agonist of the TRPA1 Ion Channel.
• mTOR and ROS regulation by anethole on adipogenic differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells.
• The Increase of Triterpene Saponin Production Induced by Trans-Anethole in Hairy Root Cultures of Panax quinquefolium.

Antibacterial / Antimicrobial

• Anethole induces apoptotic cell death accompanied by reactive oxygen species production and DNA fragmentation in Aspergillus fumigatus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• The effect of fennel essential oil and trans-anethole on antibacterial activity of mupirocin against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from asymptomatic carriers.
• Anethole inhibits growth of recently emerged multidrug resistant toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor variant strains in vitro.

Anti-Inflammatory

• Anethole exerts antimetatstaic activity via inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 and AKT/mitogen-activated kinase/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathways.
• Anethole, a Medicinal Plant Compound, Decreases the Production of Pro-Inflammatory TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in a Rat Model of LPS-Induced Periodontitis.
• Illicium verum Extract and Trans-Anethole Attenuate Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Inflammation via Enhancement of Foxp3(+) Regulatory T Cells and Inhibition of Th2 Cytokines in Mice.
• Inhibitory effect of anethole in nonimmune acute inflammation.

Antiprotazoal

In Vitro Activity of Foeniculum vulgare and Its Main Essential Oil Component Trans-Anethole on Trichomonas vaginalis.

Antispasmodic

Antispasmodic effects of the essential oil of Croton zehnteneri, anethole, and estragole, on tracheal smooth muscle.

Arsenic

Shielding effect of anethole against arsenic induced genotoxicity in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes and effect of GSTO1 polymorphism.

Arthritis

Anethole reduces inflammation and joint damage in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis.

Cancer

• Anethole Inhibits The Proliferation Of Human Prostate Cancer Cells Via Induction Of Cell Cycle Arrest And Apoptosis
• Anethole induces anti-oral cancer activity by triggering apoptosis, autophagy and oxidative stress.
• Anethole inhibits the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells via induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
• Anethole suppressed cell survival and induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells independent of estrogen receptor status.
• Anethole exerts antimetatstaic activity.

Cardiovascular

Anethole's effects against myocardial infarction.

Cerebrovascular

• Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vivo Evaluation of Desmethyl Anethole Trithione Phosphate Prodrug for Ameliorating Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.
• Anethole pretreatment modulates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Edema

Comparative study of the anti-edematogenic effects of anethole and estragole.

Gastroprotective

• Anethole ameliorates acetic acid-induced colitis.
• Anethole attenuates enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-induced intestinal barrier disruption and intestinal inflammation.

Gout

Anethole ameliorates inflammation induced by monosodium urate in an acute gouty arthritis model.

Hepatoprotective

• The hepatoprotective effects of fennel seeds extract and trans-Anethole in streptozotocin-induced liver injury in rats.
• Protective mechanism of anethole on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Homocysteine

Anethole dithiolethione lowers the homocysteine and raises the glutathione levels in solid tissues and plasma of rats: a novel non-vitamin homocysteine-lowering agent.

Immune Effects

Innate Immune Response against Staphylococcus aureus Preincubated with Subinhibitory Concentration of trans-Anethole.

Lipid Metabolism

Modulation of Lipid Metabolism by Trans-Anethole in Hepatocytes.

LPS Lung Injury

• Fennel main constituent, trans-anethole treatment against LPS-induced acute lung injury by regulation of Th17/Treg function.
• Anti-inflammatory effects of anethole in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury.

Neuroprotective

• Anethole attenuates motor dysfunctions, striatal neuronal activity deficiency and blood brain barrier permeability.
• Anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective potentials of anethole in Parkinson's disease.
• Neuroprotective effect of anethole against rotenone induced non-motor deficits and oxidative stress in rat model of Parkinson's disease.
• Neuroprotective effect of anethole against neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve.

Ovaries

Anethole reduces oxidative stress and improves in vitro survival and activation of primordial follicles.

Pain

• Effects of anethole in nociception experimental models.
• Antihypernociceptive activity of anethole in experimental inflammatory pain.

Renoprotective

The protective effect of anethole against renal ischemia/reperfusion.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Anethole mitigates H2O2-induced inflammation in HIG-82 synoviocytes.

Other Effects

Anethole prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis and collagen metabolism alterations in human skin fibroblasts.