Observations placeholder
Anxiolytic-like effect of Illicium verum fruit oil, trans-anethole and related compounds in mice
Identifier
021101
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Phytother Res. 2014 Nov;28(11):1710-2. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5190. Epub 2014 Jun 11.
Anxiolytic-like effect of Illicium verum fruit oil, trans-anethole and related compounds in mice.
Miyagawa M1, Satou T, Yukimune C, Ishibashi A, Seimiya H, Yamada H, Hasegawa T, Koike K.
- 1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan.
Abstract
The fruit of Illicium verum Hook. f. (star anise) is used by many as a spice. The fragrance of I. verum fruit is characteristically anise-like.
In this study, hexane-extracted I. verum fruit oil (IVO), trans-anethole as the main component, and related compounds (propiophenone, 4'-methoxy-propiophenone, trans-β-methylstyrene) were analyzed in order to clarify the emotional effect of inhaling the fragrance of I. verum fruit.
As a result, although 4 μL/L air IVO did not exhibit an anxiolytic-like effect, 1 μL/L air trans-anethole exhibited a significant effect (p < 0.05). Moreover, the anxiolytic-like effect of 1 μL/L air trans-anethole was significantly greater than 1 μL/L air propiophenone and 1 μL/L air 4'-methoxy-propiophenone (p < 0.05).
Thus, the anxiolytic-like effect of trans-anethole was confirmed, and it is proposed that the methoxyl group and 1-propenyl group in the para position of the benzene ring are necessary for the effect.
Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Illicium verum; anxiolytic-like effect; structure-activity relationship; trans-anethole
PMID:
24919985