Foeniculum vulgare from Spice to Pharma: Recent Advances in Its Medicinal Value, Bioactivities and Perspectives
Abstract
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (F. vulgare) belongs to the family Apiaceae with numerous medicinal and traditional applications. It has been widely used in South Asia as an important medicine for the treatment of many ailments. Different parts of F. vulgare, including seeds, leaves, aerial part and fruits, has been found to contain diverse phytochemicals such as anethole, fenchone, limonene, estragole, and p-coumaric acid. In particular, anethole and fenchone as the chief bioactives isolated from F. vulgare, have been proven to possess notable antioxidant, antitumor, carminative, diuretic, and galactagogue effects and is useful in amenorrhoea, dental decay and irritable bowel syndrome. This review summarizes the botanical activities, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of F. vulgare, along with the clinical studies to serve as the basis for further research and development on this medicinal plant.
Naquibuddin M, Hamiduddin, Reyaz Z. Badiyan ( Foeniculum Vulgare Mill .): an important drug of Unani Badiyan (Foeniculum Vulgare Mill.): an important drug of unani system of medicine. Eur J Pharm Med Res 2020;7:307-312.
Malhotra SK. Recent advances in seed spices research–a review. Ann Plant Soil Res 2016;18:300-308.
Roby MHH, Sarhan MA, Selim KAH, Khalel KI. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil and extracts of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.). Ind Crops Prod 2013;44:437-445.
Rather MA, Dar BA, Sofi SN, Bhat BA, Qurishi MA. Foeniculum vulgare: A comprehensive review of its traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety. Arab J Chem 2016;9:S1574-S1583. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2012.04.011
Ody P. The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Healing Properties of Herbs. Simon and Schuster 2017.
Akbar S. Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare Mill .): A Common spice with unique medicinal properties. Ann Complement Altern Med 2018;1:1-12.
Keys JD. Chinese herbs, Their Botany, Chemistry, and Pharmacodynamics, Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc Rutland, Vermont Tokyo, Japan 1976.
Saddiqi H, Iqbal Z. Usage and significance of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seeds in eastern medicine. Nuts Seeds Heal Dis Prev 2011:461-467
Bekoe EO, Kitcher C, Gyima NAM, Schwinger G, Frempong M. Medicinal plants used as galactagogues. Pharmacogn Plants 2018.
Colombo ML. Herbal preparations and homemade herbal teas for children: The matter of fennel. Nutrafoods 2012;11:19-24.
Gori L, Gallo E, Mascherini V, Mugelli A, Vannacci A, et al. Can estragole in fennel seed decoctions really be considered a danger for human health? a fennel safety update. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:860542.
Facchinetti F, Pedrielli G, Benoni G. Herbal supplements in pregnancy: unexpected results from a multicentre study. Hum Reprod 2012;27:3161-3167.
Al-Snafi AE. Traditional uses of Iraqi medicinal plants (part 2). Int J Biol Pharm Sci Arch 2021;2:022-041.
McGaw LJ, Omokhua-Uyi AG, Finnie JF, Van Staden J. Invasive alien plants and weeds in South Africa: A review of their applications in traditional medicine and potential pharmaceutical properties. J Ethnopharmacol 2022;283:114564. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114564
Jeambey Z, Johns T, Talhouk S, Batal M. Perceived health and medicinal properties of six species of wild edible plants in north-east lebanon. Public Health Nutr 2009;12:1902-1911.
Makkar HPS, Norvsambuu T, Lkhagvatseren S, Becker K. Plant secondary metabolites in some medicinal plants of mongolia used for enhancing animal health and production. Vet Res 2009:159-167.
Krishnamurthy KH. Medicinal plants: Madhurika, saunf or fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, Gaertn). J New Approaches to Med Heal 2011;19:1-4.
Gani HMO, Hoq MO, Tamanna T. Pharmacological and phytochemical analysis of Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A review. 2019;198272954
Malhotra SK. Fennel and fennel seed. In: Handbook of Herbs and Spices. Elsevier; 2012:275-302.
Badgujar SB, Patel VV, Bandivdekar AH. Foeniculum vulgare Mill: a review of its botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, contemporary application, and toxicology. Biomed Res Int 2014;842674.
Ara RIT. Ph ton eBooks. Published online 2015.
Bukhari H, Shehzad A, Saeed K. Compositional profiling of fennel seed. Pakistan J Food Sci. 2014;24:132-136.
Diao WR, Hu QP, Zhang H, Xu JG. Chemical composition, antibacterial activity and mechanism of action of essential oil from seeds of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Food Control 2014;35:109-116.
Senatore F, Oliviero F, Scandolera E, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Roscigno G, et al. Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of anethole-rich oil from leaves of selected varieties of fennel [Foeniculum vulgare Mill. ssp. vulgare var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell]. Fitoterapia 2013;90:214-219.
González-Rivera J, Duce C, Falconieri D, Ferrari C, Ghezzi L, et al. Coaxial microwave assisted hydrodistillation of essential oils from five different herbs (lavender, rosemary, sage, fennel seeds and clove buds): Chemical composition and thermal analysis. Innov Food Sci Emerg Technol 2016;33:308-318.
Chang S, Mohammadi Nafchi A, Karim AA. Chemical composition, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties of three selected varieties of Iranian fennel seeds. J Essent Oil Res 2016;28:357-363.
Pavela R, Žabka M, Bednář J, Tříska J, Vrchotová N. New knowledge for yield, composition and insecticidal activity of essential oils obtained from the aerial parts or seeds of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Ind Crops Prod 2016;83:275-282.
Nagoor Meeran MF, Javed H, Taee H Al, Azimullah S, Ojha SK. Pharmacological properties and molecular mechanisms of thymol: Prospects for its therapeutic potential and pharmaceutical development. Front Pharmacol 2017;8:1-34.
Olgun Ç, Özkan OE, Güney B, Pattabanoglu ES, Güney K, et al. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity in cold press oil of fennel, anise, white and black mustard seeds. Indian J Pharm Educ Res 2017;51:S200-S204.
Coban F, Ozer H, Ors S, Sahin U, Yildiz G, et al. Effects of deficit irrigation on essential oil composition and yield of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) in a high-altitude environment. J Essent Oil Res 2018;30:457-463.
Alam P, Abdel-Kader MS, Alqarni MH, Zaatout HH, Ahamad SR, et al. Chemical composition of fennel seed extract and determination of fenchone in commercial formulations by GC-MS method. J Food Sci Technol 2019;56:2395-2403.
Kalleli F, Bettaieb Rebey I, Wannes WA, Boughalleb F, Hammami M, et al. Chemical composition and antioxidant potential of essential oil and methanol extract from Tunisian and French fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seeds. J Food Biochem 2019;43:e12935
Abdellaoui M, Bouhlali E dine T, Derouich M, El-Rhaffari L. Essential oil and chemical composition of wild and cultivated fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.): A comparative study. South African J Bot 2020;135:93-100.
Akhbari M, Kord R, Jafari Nodooshan S, Hamedi S. Analysis and evaluation of the antimicrobial and anticancer activities of the essential oil isolated from Foeniculum vulgare from Hamedan, Iran. Nat Prod Res 2019;33:1629-1632. doi:10.1080/14786419.2017.1423310
González-Rivera J, Duce C, Falconieri D, Ferrari C, Ghezzi L, et al. Coaxial microwave assisted hydrodistillation of essential oils from five different herbs (lavender, rosemary, sage, fennel seeds and clove buds): Chemical composition and thermal analysis. Innov Food Sci Emerg Technol 2016;33:308-318.
Coban F, Ozer H, Ors S, Sahin U, Yildiz G, et al. Effects of deficit irrigation on essential oil composition and yield of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) in a high-altitude environment. J Essent Oil Res 2018;30:457-463.
Kalleli F, Bettaieb Rebey I, Wannes WA, Boughalleb F, Hammami M, et al. Chemical composition and antioxidant potential of essential oil and methanol extract from Tunisian and French fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seeds. J Food Biochem 2019;43:e12935.
Sheikh BA, Pari L, Rathinam A, Chandramohan R. Trans-anethole, a terpenoid ameliorates hyperglycemia by regulating key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Biochimie 2015;112:57-65.
Wang B, Zhang G, Yang M, Liu N, Li Y-X, et al. Neuroprotective effect of anethole against neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in mice. Neurochem Res 2018;43:2404-2422.
Elkady AI. Anethole inhibits the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells via induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2018;18:216-236.
Freire RS, Morais SM, Catunda-Junior FEA, Pinheiro DCSN. Synthesis and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotector activities of anethole and related compounds. Bioorg Med Chem 2005;13:4353-4358.
Dongare V, Kulkarni C, Kondawar M, Magdum C, Haldavnekar V, et al. Inhibition of aldose reductase and anti-cataract action of trans-anethole isolated from Foeniculum vulgare Mill. fruits. Food Chem 2012;132:385-390. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.11.005
Moradi J, Abbasipour F, Zaringhalam J, Maleki B, Ziaee N, et al. Anethole, a medicinal plant compound, decreases the production of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-1β in a rat model of LPS-Induced Periodontitis. Iran J Pharm Res 2014;13:1319-1325.
Roberto D, Micucci P, Sebastian T, Graciela F, Anesini C. Antioxidant activity of limonene on normal murine lymphocytes: relation to H2O2 modulation and cell proliferation. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2010;106:38-44.
Yu X, Lin H, Wang Y, Lv W, Zhang S, et al. d-limonene exhibits antitumor activity by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in lung cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2018;11:1833-1847.
Hilário S, Amaral IA, Gonçalves MFM, Lopes A, Santos L, et al. Diaporthe species associated with twig blight and dieback of Vaccinium corymbosum in Portugal, with description of four new species. Mycologia 2020;112:293-308.
Murali R, Saravanan R. Antidiabetic effect of d-limonene, a monoterpene in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Biomed Prev Nutr 2012;2:269-275.
Santana HSR, de Carvalho FO, Silva ER, Santos NGL, Shanmugam S, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of limonene in the prevention and control of injuries in the respiratory system: a systematic review. Curr Pharm Des 2020;26:2182-2191.
de Souza Pessoa ML, Silva LMO, Araruna MEC, de Lima Serafim CA, Alves Júnior EB, et al. Antifungal activity and antidiarrheal activity via antimotility mechanisms of (-)-fenchone in experimental models. World J Gastroenterol 2020;26:6795-6809.
Him A, Ozbek H, Turel I, Oner AC. Antinociceptive activity of alpha-pinene and fenchone. Pharmacologyonline 2008;3:363-369.
Ali N, Chhetri B, Dosoky N, Shari K, Al-Fahad AJ, et al. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of Ocimum forskolei and Teucrium yemense (Lamiaceae) Essential Oils. Medicines 2017;4:17.
De Cássia Da Silveira E Sá R, Andrade LN, De Sousa DP. A review on anti-inflammatory activity of monoterpenes. Molecules 2013;18:1227-1254.
Mota AS, Rosário Martins M, Arantes S, Lopes VR, Bettencourt E, et al. Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the essential oils of Portuguese foeniculum vulgare fruits. Nat Prod Commun 2015;10:673-676.
Martati E, Akmalina MA. Antioxidant activity and estragole content of ethanolic and methanolic extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare mill.) and its risk assessment using Margin of Exposure (MOE). Int Food Res J 2018;25:S43-S49.
Andrade TCB, Lima SGD, Freitas RM, Rocha MS, Islam T, et al. Isolation, characterization and evaluation of antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of estragole, obtained from the essential oil of croton zehntneri (euphorbiaceae). An Acad Bras Cienc 2015;87:173-182.
Silva-Alves KS, Ferreira-da-Silva FW, Peixoto-Neves D, Viana-Cardoso KV, Moreira-Júnior L, et al. Estragole blocks neuronal excitability by direct inhibition of Na+ channels. Braz J Med Biol Res 2013;46:1056-1063.
Shen Y, Song X, Li L, Sun J, Jaiswal Y, et al. Protective effects of p-coumaric acid against oxidant and hyperlipidemia-an in vitro and in vivo evaluation. Biomed Pharmacother 2019;111:579-587.
Kwiatkowski P, Pruss A, Masiuk H, Mnichowska-Polanowska M, Kaczmarek M, et al. The effect of fennel essential oil and trans-anethole on antibacterial activity of mupirocin against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from asymptomatic carriers. Postep dermatologii i Alergol 2019;36:308-314.
Marín I, Sayas-Barberá E, Viuda-Martos M, Navarro C, Sendra E. Chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from organic fennel, parsley, and lavender from Spain. Foods 2016;5(1):5010018.
Shabnam J, Sobia M, Ibatsam K, Rauf A. Comparative antimicrobial activity of clove and fennel essential oils against food borne pathogenic fungi and food spoilage bacteria. African J Biotechnol 2012;11:16065-16070.
Roby MHH, Sarhan MA, Selim KAH, Khalel KI. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil and extracts of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.). Ind Crops Prod 2013;44:437-445.
Ahmed AF, Shi M, Liu C, Kang W. Comparative analysis of antioxidant activities of essential oils and extracts of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)seeds from Egypt and China. Food Sci Hum Wellness 2019;8:67-72.
Pacifico S, Galasso S, Piccolella S, Kretschmer N, Pan S-P, et al. Winter wild fennel leaves as a source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant polyphenols. Arab J Chem 2018;11:513-524.
Mansourabadi AH, Shams A, Mansouri R, Najafi A, Ajami M. Effects of fennel, asafetida and ginseng ethanolic extracts on growth and proliferation of mouse breast cancer 4T1 cell lines. Adv Herb Med 2015;1:34-39.
Bakry S, Mehany ABM. Anti carcinogenic activity of Methanolic Extract of Fennel Seeds ( Foeniculum vulgare ) against breast , colon , and liver cancer cells. 2016;3:255-266.
El-Garawani IM, El-Nabi SH, Dawoud GT, Esmail SM, Abdel Moneim AE. Triggering of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by fennel and clove oils in Caco-2 cells: the role of combination. Toxicol Mech Methods 2019;29:710-722.
Ghasemian A, Al-Marzoqi AH, Mostafavi SKS, Alghanimi YK, Teimouri M. Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Foeniculum vulgare Mill Essential Oils. J Gastrointest Cancer 2020;51:260-266.
Akbari A, Izadi-Darbandi A, Bahmani K. Assessment of phenolic profile, and antioxidant activity in developed breeding populations of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill). Biocatal Agric Biotechnol 2023;48:102639.
Kataoka H, Horiyama S, Yamaki M, Oku H, Ishiguro K, et al. Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities of hydroxylamine and related compounds. Biol Pharm Bull 2002;25:1436-1441.
Choi EM, Hwang JK. Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities of the fruit of Foeniculum vulgare. Fitoterapia 2004;75:557-565.
Reiter M, Brandt W. Relaxant effects on tracheal and ileal smooth muscles of the guinea pig. Arzneimittelforschung 1985;35:408-414.
Chakŭrski I, Matev M, Koĭchev A, Angelova I, Stefanov G. Treatment of chronic colitis with an herbal combination of Taraxacum officinale, Hipericum perforatum, Melissa officinaliss, Calendula officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare. Vutr Boles 1981;20:51-54.
Nassar MI, Aboutabl E sayed A, Makled YA, El-Khrisy ED, Osman AF. Secondary metabolites and pharmacology of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Subsp. Piperitum. Rev Latinoam Química. 2010;38:103-112.
Cáceres A, Girón LM, Martínez AM. Diuretic activity of plants used for the treatment of urinary ailments in Guatemala. J Ethnopharmacol 1987;19:233-245.
Tanira MOM, Shah AH, Mohsin A, Ageel AM, Qureshi S. Pharmacological and toxicological investigations on Foeniculum vulgare dried fruit extract in experimental animals. Phyther Res 1996;10:33-36.
Bardai SE, Lyoussi B, Wibo M, Morel N. Pharmacological evidence of hypotensive activity of Marrubium vulgare and Foeniculum vulgare in spontaneously hypertensive rat. Clin Exp Hypertens 2001;23:329-343.
Abdul-Ghani AS, Amin R. The vascular action of aqueous extracts of Foeniculum vulgare leaves. J Ethnopharmacol 1988;24:213-218.
Agarwal R, Gupta SK, Agrawal SS, Srivastava S, Saxena R. Oculohypotensive effects of Foeniculum vulgare in experimental models of glaucoma. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2008;52:77-83.
Pourjafari F, Haghpanah T, Nematollahi-Mahani SN, Pourjafari F, Ezzatabadipour M. Hydroalcoholic extract and seed of Foeniculum vulgare improve folliculogenesis and total antioxidant capacity level in F1 female mice offspring. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020;20:1-8.
Devi K, Vanithakumari G, Anusya S, Mekala N, Malini T, Elango V. Effect of Foeniculum vulgare seed extract on mammary glands and oviducts of ovariectomised rats. Anc Sci Life. 1985;5(2):129.
Albert-Puleo M. Fennel and anise as estrogenic agents. J Ethnopharmacol 1980;2:337-344.
Özbek H, Uğraş S, Dülger H, Bayram I, Tuncer I, et al. Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil. Fitoterapia 2003;74:317-319.
Rabeh NM, Aboraya AO, Raheem ZH, Jebor AA, Mohammed SK, et al. Hepatoprotective effect of dill (Anethum graveolens L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) oil on hepatotoxic rats. Pakistan J Nutr 2014;13:303-309.
Sushruta K, Satyanarayana S, Srinivas S, Sekhar JR. Evaluation of the blood-glucose reducing effects of aqueous extracts of the selected umbelliferous fruits used in culinary practices. Trop J Pharm Res 2006;5:613-617.
Abou N, El-Soud NHA, El-Laithy N, El-Saeed G, Wahby MS, et al. Antidiabetic activities of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. essential oil in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Maced J Med Sci. 2011;4:139-146.
Joshi H, Parle M. Cholinergic basis of memory-strengthening effect of Foeniculum vulgare Linn. J Med Food 2006;9:413-417.
Omidvar S, Esmailzadeh S, Baradaran M, Basirat Z. Effect of fennel on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea: A placebo-controlled trial. Ayu 2012;33:311-313.
Bokaie M, Farajkhoda T, Enjezab B, Khoshbin A, Karimi-Zarchi M. Oral fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) drop effect on primary dysmenorrhea: Effectiveness of herbal drug. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2013;18:128-132.
Archer DF, Altomare C, Jiang W, Cort S. Ospemifene’s effects on lipids and coagulation factors: A post hoc analysis of phase 2 and 3 clinical trial data. Menopause 2017;24:1167-1174.
Mahdavian M, Mirzaii Najmabadi K, Hosseinzadeh H, Mirzaeian S, Badiee Aval S, et al. Effect of the mixed herbal medicines extract (fennel, chamomile, and saffron) on menopause syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial. J caring Sci 2019;8:181-189.
Bae J, Kim J, Choue R, Lim H. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) tea drinking suppresses subjective short-term appetite in overweight women. Clin Nutr Res 2015;4:168.
Akha O, Rabiei K, Kashi Z, Bahar A, Zaeif-Khorasani E, et al. The effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) gel 3% in decreasing hair thickness in idiopathic mild to moderate hirsutism, A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial. Casp J Intern Med 2014;5:26-29.
Manohar R, Ganesh A, Abbyramy N, Abinaya R, Balaji SK, et al. The effect of fennel seeds on pH of saliva - A clinical study. Indian J Dent Res Off Publ Indian Soc Dent Res. 2020;31:921-923.
Di Ciaula A, Portincasa P, Maes N, Albert A. Efficacy of bio-optimized extracts of turmeric and essential fenneoil on the quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Ann Gastroenterol 2018;31:685-691.
Alazadeh M, Azadbakht M, Niksolat F, Asgarirad H, Moosazadeh M, et al. Effect of sweet fennel seed extract capsule on knee pain in women with knee osteoarthritis. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2020;40:101219.
Files | ||
Issue | Vol 8, No 2, 2023 | |
Section | Review Article(s) | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/tim.v8i2.13087 | |
Keywords | ||
Foeniculum vulgare Ayurveda Bioactives Pharmacology Clinical study |
Rights and permissions | |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |