Medicinal Advantages of Star Anise

Written By: Vivian Benjamin

The Use of Spices
Presently, the use of spices in everyday life is encouraged by every healthcare professional. I’m sure you have seen a plethora of articles or public health education regarding the need to incorporate spices into your daily diet.


Medicinal spices are cultivated in moist evergreen forestland, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. They not only provide medicinal benefits to your body but also add colour and flavouring to the food. The aroma of spice is due to the presence of volatile oils and oleoresin (semi-solid extracts composed of resin and essential or fatty oil).


I have grown up using spices in food and for treating minor illnesses. This practice was taught to me by my grandparents. I love the scent of spices and herbs added to food or decoction. However, there are still people around the world who is unsure of using these spices or even know the deeper nutritional value of each spice.



During my years of practice as a registered nurse and registered nutritionist, I have met countless people who are not aware of spices and the advantages it provides. Therefore, I have always made an effort to educate and encourage the use of spices in people’s everyday life.




Illicium Verum
In this article, I’m going to share with you about a spice named star anise. Illicium verum or as it is commonly called star anise is an evergreen aromatic plant, which belongs to the family Illiciaceae. Star anise originated from southwest China and Vietnam nevertheless; it has been cultivated mostly in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia.



This spice comes from a medium-sized tree, which is approximately 8-15m tall and 30cm in breadth. The bark is white to bright greyish colour. Star anise leaves are 6-12cm tall and normally packed with bundles at the end of the branches. The colour of the flower is pink to dark red. The fruit is star-shaped, reddish brown, and has 6-8 follicles arranged around it.



Based on the table below, you can see that star anise contains a rich source of dietary fibre, iron, and calcium, which are beneficial for your health. Dietary fibre in star anise helps to regulate insulin activities and promote good bowel functions. High levels of iron are essential for people suffering from anaemia as it will improve haemoglobin levels. Calcium is beneficial for the healthy development of bones and teeth. 



Nutritional Values of Star Anise
 
Nutrients                                       % Daily Value (according to USDA)

Dietary fibre                                          60%

Potassium                                               41%

Vitamin C                                               35%

Iron                                                         205%

Vitamin B6                                            35%

Magnesium                                           42%

Calcium                                                  64%





5 Health Benefits of Star Anise
 
1. Anti-microbial properties
Generally, microorganisms can enter a human body through the eyes, nose, mouth, urogenital openings and open wounds. Humans are exposed to millions of microbes every day however, thanks to your immune system’s prompt action not many get ill. Nonetheless, at times the microbes tend to get stronger and manage to destroy healthy cells in your body consequently; developing disease.



Star anise can inhibit any type of microbial growth. Several studies have concluded that this spice tends to fight off microbial invasion in your body. Star anise can be used as an alternative medicine to treat ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and dry cough.



2. Prevents cancer
Cancer is a chronic disease that can affect anyone around the world. The main causes of cancer are poor diet, lifestyle factors and exposure to hazardous environments. However, there is an abundance of food you can incorporate into your daily diet to prevent the risk of cancer. Several studies demonstrated that star anise can impede cancer cells.



3. Anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation happens when your body recognizes and removes harmful stimuli. There are two types of inflammation, which are acute inflammation and chronic inflammation. Trauma and microbial invasion can lead to tissue damage, which causes acute inflammation.



Chronic inflammation happens due to prolonged acute inflammation. Examples of chronic inflammatory diseases are diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis and cancer.  Star anise contains anti-inflammatory properties, which are advantageous in fighting inflammation.



4. Reduce sugar and cholesterol levels
High sugar level increases the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol levels raise the risk of heart disease. The prevalence of these two diseases has been on the hike in recent years. Several studies display that star anise can reduce cholesterol and glucose levels. It can also be used by people who have already contracted the illness to help regulate their sugar and/or cholesterol levels.



5. Antioxidant properties
Natural antioxidants are essential in protecting human body cells from damage generated by free radicals. Star anise has been found to exhibit strong antioxidant properties in several studies.








All in All
Since ancient civilization, most spice has been part of the human diet and is used to treat diseases. They contain abundant sources of medicinal properties and nutritional value. Moreover, spice also provides great flavouring in food and beverages.



Illicium verum or star anise is considered beneficial for treating disease and overall general health and well-being thanks to its numerous medicinal advantages. Incorporating spice into your daily diet doesn’t have to be intimidating; you can always start slow if you are new to this. However, if you are already in the spice world and have never heard of star anise, you can also add this powerful spice to your life.



Share in the comment section if you are already into spices or even if you haven’t started and would like to know more. I’m always happy to hear about your food journey. 







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References
1.  Mandal, D., Sarkar, T. & Chakraborty, R. (2023); Critical Review on Nutritional, Bioactive, and Medicinal Potential of
    Spices and Herbs and Their Application in Food Fortification and Nanotechnology; Applied Biochemistry
    Biotechnology; 195:1319–1513.
2.  Anupam K.R, Sunil K, Kumari K & Deepti S. (2018); Medicinal uses of spices in our traditional culture; Journal of
     Medicinal Plant Studies; 6(3): 116-122.
3.  Pahore AK, Khan S, Karim N. (2023); Anticancer effect of Illicium verum (star anise) against human breast cancer
     MCF-7 cell line; Journal of Medical Science; 39(1):70-74.
4.  Kalaivanam K.N, Dinesha R, Santhosh Kumar. (2018); Antioxidant and anti-diabetic Activities of polyphenol-
     enriched star anise; International Journal of Biotechnology And Biochemistry; 14(2): 77-84.
5.  Mohammed H.S., Wenli Sun, Qi Cheng. (2021); Survey on Chemical Constituent, Traditional and Modern
     Pharmaceutical and Health Benefits of Chinese Star Anise, a Treasure from the East; Journal of Pharmacology and
     Natural Products; 11(1): 31-35.