CHAPTER 26: Star Anise/Chinese Anise (Illicium Verum)

Star anise is an eight-pointed star shaped fruit that is traditionally dried and used to make tea and as spice due to its anise-licorice aroma and flavour. It is an important ingredient of Indian and Malay-Indonesian cuisine, popular in Caribbean, Chinese and latin American cuisine, it is also added to perfumes and cosmetics. Research from the Far East, Middle East and North America provides evidence that star anise possesses a small number of bioactive properties. These include antioxidant, chemopreventive/anti-cancer, analgesic, sedative, anticonvulsant and anti-microbial properties. Preliminary research suggests that this spice may be of use in weight management via its inhibition of lipid (fat) digestion.