Contains not less than 2.0% essential oil (1). Gas chromatography (19) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (20) methods for essential oil constituents are also available.
Major chemical constituents
Contains 2–5% essential oil, the major constituent of which is carvone (20–60%) (11, 21, 22). The carvone content in plants cultivated in India is reported to be 6% less than in those cultivated in Europe (9). Other char- acteristic terpenoid essential oil constituents include dihydrocarvone, 1,8-cineole, p-cymene, limonene, α-phellandrene, α-pinene and α-terpi- nene. The fl avonoids present include kaempferol-glucuronide (22, 23).
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Dillapiol is found in the essential oil obtained from plants cultivated in Egypt, India and Japan (24). Representative structures are presented below.
Medicinal uses
Uses supported by clinical data
None.
Uses described in pharmacopoeias and well established documents
Treatment of dyspepsia (25), gastritis and fl atulence (1, 26), and stomach ache (27).
Uses described in traditional medicine
As an aphrodisiac, analgesic, antipyretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, galacta- gogue, appetite stimulant and vaginal contraceptive. Treatment of diar- rhoea, asthma, neuralgia, dysuria, dysmenorrhoea, gallbladder disease, insomnia, hiatus hernia and kidney stones (9, 26–29).
Pharmacology
Experimental pharmacology
Antispasmodic and carminative activities
A 50% ethanol extract of Fructus Anethi inhibited acetylcholine- and his- tamine-induced contractions of guinea-pig ileum in vitro (30). The essen- tial oil, 50 mg/ml, reduced contractions of rabbit intestine (31). The essen- tial oil (containing the monoterpenes and phenylpropanes: dillapiol, myristicin and isomyristicin) (concentration not specifi ed) acted as a mild carminative and stomachic (32). The essential oil had carminative activity and reduced foaming in vitro, median effective concentration 2.0% (33).
Anti-infl ammatory and analgesic activities
A single topical application of an ethanol extract of the fruits, at a dose corresponding to 1.0 mg/20 μl of a 10.0-mg dried methanol extract dis- solved in 200.0 μl of ethanol, to the inner and outer surface of the ear of
c a r v o n e a n d e n a n t i o m e r O C H 3 C H 3 C H 3 1 , 8 - c i n e o l e O C H 3 H H 3 C H 2 C d i h y d r o c a r v o n e a n d e n a n t i o m e r O H H 3 C H 2 C C H 3 H C H 3 H 3 C C H 3 C H 3 C H 3 H H 3 C H 3 C H H 3 C H 2 C a n d e n a n t i o m e r C H 3 H 3 C C H 3 C H 3 H 3 C H 3 C H H
p-cymene (+)-limonene (-)-α-phellandrene α-pinene α-terpinene
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37 mice inhibited ear infl ammation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol- 13 acetate by 60% (34). Ethyl acetate and hexane extracts of the fruits (concentration not specifi ed) were inactive in this assay. A 10% aqueous extract of the fruits and a 5% aqueous solution of the essential oil had analgesic effects in mice as assessed in the hot plate and acetic acid writh- ing tests. The action of the fruits at 1.0 g/kg body weight (bw) was com- parable with that of acetylsalicyclic acid at 200.0 mg/kg bw (35).
Miscellaneous effects
Intravenous administration of 12.5 mg/kg bw of a 70% dried ethanol ex- tract of the fruits, dissolved in normal saline, to dogs had a diuretic effect, with a 2.2-fold increase in urine output. Intravenous administration of 25.0 mg/kg bw of a 70% ethanol extract to dogs reduced blood pressure. Intravenous administration of 4.0 μl/kg bw of the essential oil induced diuresis in dogs lasting 80 minutes, with increased sodium and calcium ion excretion (36). Intravenous administration of 5.0–10.0 mg/kg bw of a 5% seed oil in saline to cats increased respiration volume and lowered blood pressure; intraperitoneal administration of 35.0 mg/kg bw of the seed oil to guinea-pigs induced anaphylactic shock (11). A single intragastric dose of 250.0 mg/kg bw of a 50% ethanol extract of the fruits to fasted rats re- duced blood glucose levels by 30% compared with controls (30).
Toxicology
In a report by a national regulatory authority “generally regarded as safe status” was granted to Fructus Anethi as a fl avouring agent in 1976 (37).
Clinical pharmacology
No information available.
Adverse reactions
Allergic reactions to Fructus Anethi including oral pruritus, tongue and throat swelling and urticaria, as well as vomiting and diarrhoea were re- ported in one patient with a history of allergic rhinitis (38).
Contraindications
Traditionally, extracts of fruits (seeds) have been used as a contraceptive and to induce labour (4). Furthermore, extracts of the fruits may have teratogenic effects (39). Therefore, the use of Fructus Anethi during preg- nancy and nursing is not recommended.
Warnings
No information available.
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Precautions
Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, impairment of fertility
A chloroform–methanol (2:1) extract of the fruits was not mutagenic in concentrations up to 100.0 mg/plate in the Salmonella/microsome assay using S. typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100, with or without meta- bolic activation. A 95% ethanol extract was also without mutagenic activ- ity in the same test system (40).
An essential oil prepared from the fruits was cytotoxic to human lym- phocytes in vitro, and was active in the chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchange tests in the same system. The oil was inactive in the
Drosophila melanogaster somatic mutation and recombination test in vivo
(41).
Pregnancy: non-teratogenic effects
See Contraindications.
Nursing mothers
See Contraindications.
Other precautions
No information available on general precautions or precautions concern- ing drug interactions; drug and laboratory test interactions; teratogenic effects during pregnancy; or paediatric use.
Dosage forms
Dried fruits for teas, essential oil and other galenical preparations for in- ternal applications. Store in a tightly sealed container away from heat and light.
Posology
(Unless otherwise indicated)
Average daily dose: Fructus Anethi 3 g; essential oil 0.1–0.3 g; or equiva- lent for other preparations (25).
References
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39. Nath D et al. Commonly used Indian abortifacient plants with special refer- ence to their teratologic effect in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 1992, 36:147–154.
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41. Lazutka JR et al. Genotoxicity of dill (Anethum graveolens L.), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) essential oils in human lymphocytes and Drosophila melanogaster. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2001, 39:485–492.
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