Anethole
Synonym(s)
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Anetholum, p-methoxypropenylbenzene; CAS No.: 480-23-8
Anethole is an organic compound, highly soluble in ethanol and insoluble in water, which is a component of various essential oils, e.g. anise oil (see below Anisi fructus) and fennel oil. Anethole occurs as trans-anethole and cis-anethole in fennel, anise and star anise. The odor of anethole is causal for the typical anise aroma. A structural isomer of anethole is estragole.
Anethole has secretolytic, secretomotor, antihelmintic and antibacterial effects on various species. Species. At the same time it shows a spasmolytic effect, which is why it can be used as an expectorant. Experiments have shown an anticarcinogenic effect.
Anethole is used as a fragrance and flavoring, especially in hygiene products in soaps and oral care products, but also in food chemistry.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- de Groot AC et al.(2016) Essential Oils, Part III: Chemical Composition. Dermatitis 27:161-169.
- Shahbazian S et al.(2015) Anti-cancer activity of pegylated liposomal trans-anethole on breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and T47D. Biotechnol Lett 37:1355-1359.
- Topuz OK et al (2016) Physical and antimicrobial properties of anise oil loaded nanoemulsions on the survival of foodborne pathogens. Food Chem 203:117-123.
- Wakabayashi KA et al (2015) thelmintic effects of the essential oil of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Apiaceae) against Schistosoma mansoni. Chem Biodivers 12:1105-1114.
- Wisniewski-Rebecca ES et al (2015) Synergistic effects of anethole and ibuprofen in acute inflammatory response. Chem Biol Interact 242:247-253.
- Zahid MS et al (2015) Anethole inhibits growth of recently emerged multidrug resistant toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor variant strains in vitro. J Vet Med Sci 77:535-540.