Pimpinella anisum and female disorders: A review

Abstract

Background: Pimpinella anisum (common names aniseed or anise) is an aromatic medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family, of which one of its main indications is the treatment of female disorders. Hypothesis/Purpose: The aim of review was to collect the previous reports on potency of aniseed in management of female disorders. Methods: We searched in electronic resources, books, thesis, and etc. up to April 2020 by using the following keywords: ''aniseed'', ''female'' and ''anethole''. Results: The results of 56 articles showed its effectiveness in treatment of postpartum after pain, menstrual pain, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, hot flash, lactation and depression. The first characteristic of aniseed that helps its effectiveness in treatment of female disorders is its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The estrogenic, antispasmodic and its inhibitory effects on prolactin secretion are the other mechanisms of actions. There is no clinical study for anti-cancer effects of aniseed, but apoptosis can occur in human breast cancer cells in its presence. Conclusion: Aniseed essential oil and ethanol extract are responsible for its efficacy, and the results of clinical and animal studies are limited to its combination with other plant materials, or on special female disorders, so, larger clinical studies are required for evaluating the efficacy of anise essential oil or its ethanol extract on different female disorders.

Keywords

• Anise
• Aniseed
• Essential oil
• Female disorder
• Trans-anethole