| Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is an herb that is native to the Mediterranean region, but is currently cultivated in most temperate areas. The constituent oils and extracts of Fennel Seed have been shown to possess considerable benefits in various areas: inflammation, asthma, indigestion, hirsutism and colic. It is also an anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and hepato-protective agent. And, researchers use it to develop tea to clear the throat and repel mosquitoes. |
RESEARCH FINDINGS
Researchers have evaluated the effects of fennel on various conditions,
and fennel appears to have a wide range of health benefits:
ANTI-BACTERIAL / ANTIMICROBIAL GROWTH
Dadalioglu I et al , Mustafa Kemal University, Turkey, found that fennel
exhibited a very strong antibacterial activity against bacteria Escherichia coli
O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, and
Staphylococcus aureus in a vitro study. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec
29;52(26):8255-60]. Lo Cantore P et al, Universita di Napoli "Federico II", Italy, even
suggested to use it as natural bactericide for the control of bacterial diseases of plants
and for seed treatment, in particular, in organic agriculture. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004
Dec 29;52(26):7862-7866].
Singh G et al, DDU Gorakhpur University, India, studied Foeniculum vulgare,
Pimpinella anisum and Seseli indicum for antibacterial activity against eight
pathogenic bacteria, causing infections in the human body. They concluded
that it is effective when compared with standard antibiotics, at a very low
concentration. [Phytother Res. 2002 Nov;16(7):680-2].
Kwon YS et al, Kangwon National University, Korea, found a phenyl propanoid
derivative, dillapional(1) be a antimicrobial principle of the stems of
Foeniculum vulgare. [Arch Pharm Res. 2002 Apr;25(2):154-7].
REPEL MOSQUITOES
Kim SI et al, Seoul National University, Korea, incorporated fennel oil into
aerosol and cream products to repel mosquitoes. [Pest Manag Sci. 2004
Nov;60(11):1125-30; J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Nov 20;50(24):6993-6].
ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES
Satyanarayana S et al, Andhra University, India, suggested daily use of
Foeniculum vulgare in various forms is very common in India and their study
revealed strong antioxidant activity of the extracts that was superior to
known antioxidant ascorbic acid and indicate their intake may be beneficial as
food additives. [J Herb Pharmcother. 2004;4(2):1-10]
Parejo I et al, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain isolated and identified of the
nonvolatile antioxidant compounds from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)
waste: in fennel: 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid,
1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, eriodictyol-7-O-rutinoside,
quercetin-3-O-galactoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and
kaempferol-3-O-glucoside. And, these compounds exhibited a strong
antiradical scavenging activity. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Apr 7;52(7):1890-7]
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVIES
Choi EM et al, Yonsei University, Korea, suggested that oral administration
(200 mg/kg) of Foeniculum vulgare fruit methanolic extract exhibited
inhibitory effects against acute and subacute inflammatory diseases and type
IV allergic reactions and showed a central analgesic effect. [Fitoterapia. 2004
Sep;75(6):557-65].
THROAT CLEARING
Puodziuniene G et al, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania, develop of
throat clearing herbal teas using fennel as one of the active ingredients.
[Medicina (Kaunas). 2004;40(8):762-7]
ASTHMA
Haggag EG et al, Ain Helwan, Egypt, developed an water extract of a mixture
of eight herbs (chamomile, saffron, anise, fennel, caraway, licorice, cardamom
and black seed). And, he found that this herbal water-extract inhibited
histamine released from chemically- and immunologically-induced cells by
81% and 85%. And, the clinical results showed significant improvements of
sleep discomfort, cough frequency and cough intensity. [J Herb Pharmcother.
2003;3(4):41-54]
DIGESTION
Ramakrishna Rao R et al, Central Food Technological Research Institute,
India, examined in vitro influence of 14 individual spices (curcumin, capsaicin,
piperine, garlic, onion, ginger, mint, coriander, cumin, ajowan, fennel,
fenugreek, mustard, and asafoetida) on the activities of digestive enzymes of
rat pancreas and small intestine by including them in the reaction mixture at
two different concentrations. The study suggested that spices had an overall
digestive stimulation. [Nahrung. 2003 Dec;47(6):408-12]
ANTI-HIRSUTISM
Idiopathic hirsutism is the occurrence of excessive male pattern hair growth
in women who have a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and normal levels of
serum androgens. Javidnia K et al, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran
evaluated the clinical response of idiopathic hirsutism to topical Fennel
extract. They treated 38 patients with creams containing 1%, 2% of Fennel
extract and placebo in a double bind study. They then measured hair
diameter was measured and rate of growth. They found that the mean
values of hair diameter reduction was 7.8%, 18.3% and -0.5% for patients
receiving the creams containing 1%, 2% and 0% (placebo) respectively.
[Phytomedicine. 2003;10(6-7):455-8]
INFANTILE COLIC
Colic is a condition in which an infant cries for at least three hours a day, for
at least three days a week and continues for more than three weeks.
Causes of colic may include food allergies, formula intolerance (such as
lactose intolerance), excessive gas formation, or intestinal cramping.
Alexandrovich I et al, St. Petersburg Medical Academy of Postdoctoral
Education, Russia randomly assigned 121 infants with colic to receive 5 to 20
ml of a 0.1% fennel seed oil emulsion or placebo up to four times per day for
one week. Acording to the Wessel criteria, the use of fennel oil emulsion
eliminated colic in 65% (40/62) of infants in the treatment group, which was
significantly better than 23.7% (14/59) of infants in the control group (P <
0.01). [Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;9(4):58-61]
HEPATO-PROTECTIVE EFFECT
Ozbek H et al, Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey, studied the hepato-protective
activity of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) essential oil (FEO) using carbon
tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver injury model in rats. They found that FEO
inhibited the hepatotoxicity produced by acute CCl(4) administration with
evidence of decreased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST),
alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin.[
Fitoterapia. 2003 Apr;74(3):317-9].
CONCLUSION
Fennel appears to have a wide range of health benefits, based on several
basic studies. More clinical studies are needed to confirm the health claims
and find out if there is any side effect of this herb.
Researchers have evaluated the effects of fennel on various conditions,
and fennel appears to have a wide range of health benefits:
ANTI-BACTERIAL / ANTIMICROBIAL GROWTH
Dadalioglu I et al , Mustafa Kemal University, Turkey, found that fennel
exhibited a very strong antibacterial activity against bacteria Escherichia coli
O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, and
Staphylococcus aureus in a vitro study. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec
29;52(26):8255-60]. Lo Cantore P et al, Universita di Napoli "Federico II", Italy, even
suggested to use it as natural bactericide for the control of bacterial diseases of plants
and for seed treatment, in particular, in organic agriculture. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004
Dec 29;52(26):7862-7866].
Singh G et al, DDU Gorakhpur University, India, studied Foeniculum vulgare,
Pimpinella anisum and Seseli indicum for antibacterial activity against eight
pathogenic bacteria, causing infections in the human body. They concluded
that it is effective when compared with standard antibiotics, at a very low
concentration. [Phytother Res. 2002 Nov;16(7):680-2].
Kwon YS et al, Kangwon National University, Korea, found a phenyl propanoid
derivative, dillapional(1) be a antimicrobial principle of the stems of
Foeniculum vulgare. [Arch Pharm Res. 2002 Apr;25(2):154-7].
REPEL MOSQUITOES
Kim SI et al, Seoul National University, Korea, incorporated fennel oil into
aerosol and cream products to repel mosquitoes. [Pest Manag Sci. 2004
Nov;60(11):1125-30; J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Nov 20;50(24):6993-6].
ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES
Satyanarayana S et al, Andhra University, India, suggested daily use of
Foeniculum vulgare in various forms is very common in India and their study
revealed strong antioxidant activity of the extracts that was superior to
known antioxidant ascorbic acid and indicate their intake may be beneficial as
food additives. [J Herb Pharmcother. 2004;4(2):1-10]
Parejo I et al, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain isolated and identified of the
nonvolatile antioxidant compounds from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)
waste: in fennel: 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid,
1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, eriodictyol-7-O-rutinoside,
quercetin-3-O-galactoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and
kaempferol-3-O-glucoside. And, these compounds exhibited a strong
antiradical scavenging activity. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Apr 7;52(7):1890-7]
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVIES
Choi EM et al, Yonsei University, Korea, suggested that oral administration
(200 mg/kg) of Foeniculum vulgare fruit methanolic extract exhibited
inhibitory effects against acute and subacute inflammatory diseases and type
IV allergic reactions and showed a central analgesic effect. [Fitoterapia. 2004
Sep;75(6):557-65].
THROAT CLEARING
Puodziuniene G et al, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania, develop of
throat clearing herbal teas using fennel as one of the active ingredients.
[Medicina (Kaunas). 2004;40(8):762-7]
ASTHMA
Haggag EG et al, Ain Helwan, Egypt, developed an water extract of a mixture
of eight herbs (chamomile, saffron, anise, fennel, caraway, licorice, cardamom
and black seed). And, he found that this herbal water-extract inhibited
histamine released from chemically- and immunologically-induced cells by
81% and 85%. And, the clinical results showed significant improvements of
sleep discomfort, cough frequency and cough intensity. [J Herb Pharmcother.
2003;3(4):41-54]
DIGESTION
Ramakrishna Rao R et al, Central Food Technological Research Institute,
India, examined in vitro influence of 14 individual spices (curcumin, capsaicin,
piperine, garlic, onion, ginger, mint, coriander, cumin, ajowan, fennel,
fenugreek, mustard, and asafoetida) on the activities of digestive enzymes of
rat pancreas and small intestine by including them in the reaction mixture at
two different concentrations. The study suggested that spices had an overall
digestive stimulation. [Nahrung. 2003 Dec;47(6):408-12]
ANTI-HIRSUTISM
Idiopathic hirsutism is the occurrence of excessive male pattern hair growth
in women who have a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and normal levels of
serum androgens. Javidnia K et al, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran
evaluated the clinical response of idiopathic hirsutism to topical Fennel
extract. They treated 38 patients with creams containing 1%, 2% of Fennel
extract and placebo in a double bind study. They then measured hair
diameter was measured and rate of growth. They found that the mean
values of hair diameter reduction was 7.8%, 18.3% and -0.5% for patients
receiving the creams containing 1%, 2% and 0% (placebo) respectively.
[Phytomedicine. 2003;10(6-7):455-8]
INFANTILE COLIC
Colic is a condition in which an infant cries for at least three hours a day, for
at least three days a week and continues for more than three weeks.
Causes of colic may include food allergies, formula intolerance (such as
lactose intolerance), excessive gas formation, or intestinal cramping.
Alexandrovich I et al, St. Petersburg Medical Academy of Postdoctoral
Education, Russia randomly assigned 121 infants with colic to receive 5 to 20
ml of a 0.1% fennel seed oil emulsion or placebo up to four times per day for
one week. Acording to the Wessel criteria, the use of fennel oil emulsion
eliminated colic in 65% (40/62) of infants in the treatment group, which was
significantly better than 23.7% (14/59) of infants in the control group (P <
0.01). [Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;9(4):58-61]
HEPATO-PROTECTIVE EFFECT
Ozbek H et al, Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey, studied the hepato-protective
activity of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) essential oil (FEO) using carbon
tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver injury model in rats. They found that FEO
inhibited the hepatotoxicity produced by acute CCl(4) administration with
evidence of decreased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST),
alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin.[
Fitoterapia. 2003 Apr;74(3):317-9].
CONCLUSION
Fennel appears to have a wide range of health benefits, based on several
basic studies. More clinical studies are needed to confirm the health claims
and find out if there is any side effect of this herb.
FENNEL HEALTH BENEFITS
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Acetyl-L Carnitine
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Coenzyme Q
Colostrum
Dandelion
EGCG
Echinacea
Eleuthero
Ellagic Acid
Eve. Primrose Oil
Fish Oil
Flaxseed
Garlic
Ginger
Ginseng
Ginkgo Biloba
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Gotu Kola
Guar Gum
Hyaluronic acid
Lecithin
Lycopene
Milk Thistle
Nattokinase
Passion Flower
Probiotics
Policosanol /
Polycosanol
Pycnogenol
Reishi / Lingzhi
Resveratrol
Rhodiola
Royal Jelly
Stevia
Whey
Xylitol
More Supplements
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THIS WEBSITE TALKS ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS AND THE POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF HERBS, SUPPLEMENTS,
PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES AND DISEASES.
ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR
DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER
FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX
PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES AND DISEASES.
ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR
DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER
FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX
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