Star anise is a spice made from the fruit of the Chinese evergreen tree Illicium anise. Also known as fennel, it belongs to the legume family. The spice gets its name from its shape, as its fruit is octagonal and resembles a small star in appearance.
Star anise is commonly found in Chinese, Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine and is widely used in cooking and seasoning. Its aroma is rich and unique, with a slightly sweet taste that brings rich flavor to dishes.
In Chinese cuisine, star anise is often used in soups, braised meats, and stews to add aroma and texture. In Indian cuisine, star anise is used in curries, rotis and rice dishes to add a unique flavor to the dishes. In Southeast Asian cuisine, star anise is commonly found in chili sauces, curries, and fried rice, bringing aroma and flavor to dishes.
In addition, star anise is widely used to make spice blends such as five-spice powder in China and curry powder in India. It is also commonly used to make teas, such as star anise tea in China and spiced tea in India.
In addition to its use in cooking, star anise also has several health benefits. It is thought to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and digestive properties, helping to maintain good health.
Rich in powerful bioactive compounds
Perhaps the most valuable component of star anise is its rich content of flavonoids and polyphenols. These may be the main reasons why spices have wide application and medicinal value.
Some of the major health-promoting compounds found in star anise include:
- Linalool
- Quercetin
- anethole
- Shikimic acid
- gallic acid
- Limonene
Together, these compounds contribute to star anise’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
Some animal and test-tube studies suggest the spice's antioxidant powers may even have anti-cancer properties, such as reducing tumor size. Ultimately, more research is needed to better understand how the bioactive compounds in star anise support human health.
Medicinal effects
One of the most famous medicinal properties of star anise is its shikimic acid content. Shikimic acid is a compound with strong antiviral properties. Currently, star anise is the main source of shikimic acid used in drug development. As influenza continues to pose a growing threat to global health, demand for star anise continues to increase.
Some test-tube studies show that star anise oil can treat other types of viral infections, including herpes simplex type 1. Star anise is often used to treat influenza, but more research is needed to better understand its ability to treat other viral infections in humans.
Star anise is a rich source of the flavonoid anethole. Some agricultural studies have shown that trans-anethole, extracted from star anise, can inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi in certain foods. Experimental studies have shown that other biological compounds found in star anise oil, such as the terpene linalool, can inhibit the formation of human infectious fungal biofilms and walls. More research is needed to better understand how star anise can be used to treat fungal infections in humans.
Another important health benefit of star anise is its ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria associated with many common illnesses. Some studies have shown that star anise extract is equally effective as an antibiotic against many antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Test-tube studies show that bioactive compounds in star anise may be effective in treating urinary tract infections caused by a variety of bacteria.
Another study found that star anise extract appeared to be effective in reducing the growth of E. coli. Currently, most research on star anise's antimicrobial properties is limited to animal and test-tube studies.
risk
Pure Chinese star anise is generally considered safe for most people. For the general public, the highly toxic Japanese star anise (a close relative of the Chinese spice) poses a more serious problem. Additionally, there have been case reports of infants having severe and possibly fatal reactions to star anise. These incidents are thought to be caused by contamination from unknown Japanese spices. Therefore, it is recommended not to give star anise to infants and children. To err on the side of caution, we recommend that you check the origin of the star anise you buy and make sure it is a purely Chinese variety.
Overall, star anise is a common spice that not only adds flavor to dishes but also has some health benefits, making it a popular cooking ingredient.
