selected medicinal plants - World Health Organization

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Aetheroleum Anisi
Defi nition
Aetheroleum Anisi consists of the essential oil obtained by steam distillation
from the dry ripe fruits of Pimpinella anisum L. (Apiaceae) (1–5). 1
Synonyms
Anisum offi cinarum Moench, A. vulgare Gaertn., Apium anisum (L.)
Crantz, Carum anisum (L.) Baill., Pimpinella anisum cultum Alef., P. aromatica
Bieb., Selinum anisum (L.) E.H.L. Krause, Sison anisum Spreng.,
Tragium anisum Link (1, 6–8). Apiaceae are also known as Umbelliferae.
Selected vernacular names
Anacio, Änes, Aneis, anice, anice verde, Anis, anisbibernelle, anis verde,
anis vert, anise, anisoon, anisum, ánizs, anizsolaj, annsella, badian, badian
rumi, boucage, boucage anis, Grüner Anis, habbat hlawa, jintan manis,
jinten manis, petit anis, pimpinelle, razianag, razianaj, roomy, saunf, sweet
cumin, yansoon (1, 6–10).
Geographical distribution
Indigenous to the eastern Mediterranean region, western Asia and Europe.
Cultivated in southern Europe and northern Africa, and in Argentina,
Bulgaria, Chile, China, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Mexico,
Romania, Russian Federation and Turkey (8).
Description
An aromatic annual herb, up to 60 cm high with an erect, cylindrical,
striated, smooth stem. Leaves alternate below, opposite above, the lower
being long-petioled, ovate–orbicular, dentate, the upper with short dilated
petioles, pinnatifi d or ternately pinnate with long, entire or cut cuneate
segments. Infl orescence long-stalked, compound umbel with 8–14 rays;
fl owers small, white, each on a long hairy pedicel. Fruit comprises a
1 The European pharmacopoeia (5) permits the inclusion of the essential oil of Illicium verum Hook.