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Review Article
Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany,
Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application,
and Toxicology
Shamkant B. Badgujar, Vainav V. Patel, and Atmaram H. Bandivdekar
Department of Biochemistry, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, ICMR, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel,
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400 012, India
Correspondence should be addressed to Shamkant B. Badgujar; shambadgujar@gmail.com
Received February ; Revised May ; Accepted June ; Published August
Academic Editor: Ronald E. Baynes
Copyright © Shamkant B. Badgujar et al. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
Foeniculum vulgare Mill commonly called fennel has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments related
to digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Additionally, it is also used as a galactagogue agent for lactating
mothers. e review aims to gather the fragmented information available in the literature regarding morphology, ethnomedicinal
applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Foeniculum vulgare. It also compiles available scientic evidence
for the ethnobotanical claims and to identify gaps required to be lled by future research. Findings based on their traditional
uses and scientic evaluation indicates that Foeniculum vulgare remains to be the most widely used herbal plant. It has been used
for more than forty types of disorders. Phytochemical studies have shown the presence of numerous valuable compounds, such
as volatile compounds, avonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids. Compiled data indicate their ecacy in
several in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inammatory, antimutagenic, antinoci-
ceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antithrombotic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective,
hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and memory enhancing property. Foeniculum vulgare has emerged as a good source of traditional
medicine and it provides a noteworthy basis in pharmaceutical biology for the development/formulation of new drugs and future
clinical uses.
1. Introduction
Foeniculum vulgare is the oldest valid name within the genus
Foeniculum for the plant designated by Karsten as Foeniculum
Foeniculutn. However, according to the international rules
of nomenclature, the binomial name Foeniculum vulgare was
not validly published by Hill in his reference []forthereason
that he did not consistently adopt the binomial system of
nomenclature. In accordance with the international rules as
adopted at Cambridge, the name Foeniculum vulgare must
be accredited to Philip Miller, who rst validly published
it in the eighth edition of his “Gardeners Dictionary” in
.Fromthenon,thenameofthisplantiswrittenas
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. It is a medicinal plant belonging
totheUmbelliferae(Apiaceae)family,knownandusedby
humans since antiquity, due to its avor. It was cultivated in
almost every country []. It is universally known as Fennel
and is known by more than names (Tabl e ). It is a
traditional and popular herb with a long history of use as
a medicine. A series of studies showed that F. vu l gare eec-
tively controls numerous infectious disorders of bacterial,
fungal, viral, mycobacterium, and protozoal origin [–]. It
has antioxidant, antitumor, chemopreventive, cytoprotective,
hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, and oestrogenic activities
[–]. Some of the publications stated that F. v u lgare has
a special kind of memory-enhancing eect and can reduce
stress []. Animal experiments and limited clinical trials
suggest that chronic use of F. v u l gare is not harmful. Fennel
maybe consumed daily, in the raw form as salads and snacks,
stewed, boiled, grilled, or baked in several dishes and even
used in the preparation of herbal teas or spirits. A diet
with desired quantity of fennel could bring potential health
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
BioMed Research International
Volume 2014, Article ID 842674, 32 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/842674
BioMed Research International
benets due to its valuable nutritional composition with
respecttopresenceofessentialfattyacids[]. In recent years,
increased interests in improvement of agricultural yield of
fennel due to its medicinal properties and essential oil content
has encouraged cultivation of the plant on large scale.
Research on F. vulg a r e with current technology has been
conductedallovertheworld.Alltheavailableliteratureon
F. vu l g are was compiled from electronic databases such as
Academic Journals (including high impact, nonimpact, and
nonindexed journals), Ethnobotany, Google Scholar, Scopus
link, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and library
search. A review of the literature from to shows
only % reports published on F. vu l g are which increased
to about % from to . Briey, in these years
a total of claims appeared in the literature on various
aspects of F. v u lga r e . It is important to note that about
% of reports ( articles) were collected from recent three
years, that is, to (Figure ). Some of the earlier
published reviews of this plant included medicinal properties
and phytochemistry [–], but few of them appear in all
these reviews. However, there is a need for an inclusive
review that bridges the gaps between traditional uses of
fennel and its in vitro studies. e present review attempts
to collate the available information on the botany, nation-
wise common vernacular names, cultivation (propagation),
nutritive value, and traditional/contemporary as well as allied
applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of
F. vu l g are. We hope that this review may provide scientic
basis that explains the ethnophytopharmacological role of
F. vu l g are in order to facilitate and guide future research.
In particular, we aimed to answer the following questions.
() What information is available on the traditional uses,
botany, phytochemistry, and toxicity of F. vul g are?()What
pharmacological studies were performed on this plant and
how do they validate its traditional uses? () What is the
future for F. vu l g are?
1.1. Taxonomy. Kingdom: Plantae, division:Tracheophyta,
subdivision:Spermatophytina,class:Magnoliopsida,order:
Apiales, family:Apiaceae,genus:Foeniculum,species:vulgare,
and botanical name:Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
1.2. Botanical Description. Fennel is an ancient seasonal herb.
e fennel plant originated in the southern Mediterranean
region and through naturalization and cultivation it grows
wild throughout the Northern, Eastern, and Western hemi-
spheres, specically in Asia, North America, and Europe.
It is cultivated in elds and also grows wild. e herb was
well-known to the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Indians, and
Chinese. e Romans grew it for its aromatic seeds and
the edible eshy shoots are still a very common vegetable
in southern Italy []. Emperor Charlemagne was known
to have encouraged its cultivation in Central Europe. It is
an indispensable ingredient in modern French and Italian
cooking. All parts of the plant are aromatic and can be used
in many ways.
F. vu l g are is an upright, branching perennial herb
(Figure (a)) with so, feathery, almost hair-like foliage
T : Vernacular names of Foeniculum vulgare.
Region/language/system of
medicine Local name
Alto, Bolivia Hinojo
Arabic Bisbas, razianaj
Aym ara, Kechua Inuju
Balikesir, Turkey Arapsaci, rezene, malatura,
hullebe
Basque Mieloi
Bengali (Indian language) Mauri, p¯
anmour¯
ı
Bosnia Komoraˇ
c
Brazil Endro, erva-doce, funcho
Catalan Fenoll, fonoll
Central Serbia Morac
Chinese Hui xiang, xiao hui xiang
Czech Fenykl
Dalmatia (southern Croatia),
Poland
Komoraˇ
c, koromaˇ
c, kumuraˇ
c,
moraˇ
c, moroˇ
c, moraˇ
ca, Koper
wloski
Danish Almindelig fennikel, fennikel
Denmark Almindelig
Dutch Ven k e l
English Bitter fennel, common fennel,
sweet fennel, wild fennel
France Fenouille
French Fenouil
Germany Fenchel, fenchle, bitterfenchel,
wilder fenchel, dunkler fenchel,
Guerrero, Mexico Hinojo
Gujarati (Indian language) Hariyal, variyali
Haryana, India Saunf
Hindi (Indian language) Badi, badishep, bari saunf, badi
saunf, saunp, saunf, sonp, sont
Italy
Finucchio, nucchiello,
nochietto, nocchiella,
fen`
ucciu, fenuc´
ettu-sarv`
egu
Jammu and Kashmir, India Saunf
Japanese Fenneru, uikyou, uikyou,
shouikya
Java, Indonesia Adas
Jordan Shomar
Kallawaya Jinuchchu
Kannada Badi sopu, badisepu, sabbasige,
dodda sopu, dodda jirige
Korea Sohoehyang
Laotian Phaksi
Latin Foeniculum, maratrum
Loja, Ecuador Hinojo
Majorcan area Fonoll
Middle Navarra Hinojo, cenojo
BioMed Research International
T : C o n t i n u e d .
Region/language/system of
medicine Local name
Marathi (Indian language) Badishep, bad
.¯
ı´
sep, shoap
Nepalese Madesi sauf
North Iran Badian
North Portugal Funcho
Norway Fenikkel
Norwegian Fennikel
Pakistan Sonef, saunf
Peninsula, Spain Hinojo
Persian Razianeh
Polish Fenkuł, koper włoski
Portuguese Funcho
Rajasthan, India Sanuf
Sanskrit (Indian language) Madhurika, shatapushpa
Slovenian Sladki komarˇ
cek
Somali Region, Ethiopia Kamon
South Europe Fennel
South Africa Vinkel, fennel
Spanish Hinojo, hinojo amargo, fenoll,
ollo, millua
Swedish F¨
ank˚
al
Tamil (Indian language) Perun siragum, shombu, sohikire
Telugu (Indian language) Peddajilakurra, sopu
ai Phak chi, phak chi duen ha, phak
chi lom, thian klaep, yira
Uttarakhand, India Badesoppu
growing upto .. ( m) tall. is plant looks similar to
dill. It is typically grown in vegetable and herb gardens
(Figure (f)) for its anise-avored foliage and seeds, both of
whicharecommonlyharvestedforuseincooking.Itiserect
andcylindrical,brightgreen,andsmoothastoseempolished,
with multiple branched leaves (Figure (c)) cut into the nest
of segments. e leaves grow upto cm long; they are nely
dissected, with the ultimate segments liform (threadlike),
about . mm wide. e bright golden owers, produced
in large, at terminal umbels, with thirteen to twenty rays,
bloom in July and August (Figure (d)).
Foliage. Stem striate, leaves - pinnate, segments liform,
upto . in. ( cm) long; leaf bases sheathing. It has a green,
sleek, and slippery stem with upright sti branches and much
divided leaves in linear segments (Figure (b)). Rays are –
numberswith.–.inches(–cm)long.Flowers
are small, yellow, and found in large at-topped umbels
(Figure (d)). Fruits are oblong to ovoid with .–. inches
(– mm) long and .–. mm broad (Figure (e)). e
stylopodium persists on the fruit. e fruits are elongated
and have strong ribs. e most esteemed fennel seeds vary
from three to ve lines in length and are elliptical, slightly
curved, and somewhat obtuse at the ends (Figure (a)).
0 50 100 150
4
25
30
59
27
33
31
91
Ethnobotany
Phytopharmacology
Tot a l
2011–13
2006–10
2001–05
F : Research papers in dierent aspects especially traditional
or ethnobotanical knowledge, phytochemistry, pharmacological,
and various biological activities of Foeniculum vulgare.(Papers
were collected via electronic databases such as Academic Journals,
Ethnobotany, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct.)
ey are greenish-yellow, the colour of hay, from which the
term fennel is derived. Wild fruits are short, dark coloured
andbluntattheirends,andhavealessagreeableavour
and odour than those of sweet fennel. Seeds ripen from
September to October. is plant can reproduce from crown
or root fragments but freely reproduces from seed.
1.3. Chemical Composition and Nutritional Value of Fennel.
Foeniculum vulgare is widely grown for its edible fruit or
seeds.esearesweetanddry;afullyripespecimenis
an exquisite fruit. e fruit is oen dried for later use and
this dried fruit called fennel is a major item of commerce.
Table lists the nutrient composition of fennel (USDA data).
Fennelsareoneofthehighestplantsourcesofpotassium,
sodium, phosphorus, and calcium. According to USDA data
for the Mission variety, fennels are richest in dietary ber
andvitamins,relativetohumanneeds.eyhavesmaller
amounts of many other nutrients.
Table summarizes the chemical composition and
the nutritional value [] of dierent parts of fennel,
namely, shoots, leaves, stems, and inorescence. Leaves
andstemsshowthehighestmoisturecontent(.and
. g/ g, resp.), while inorescence exhibits the lowest
content (.g/ g). Carbohydrates are the most abundant
macronutrients in all the parts and range from . to
. g/ g. Proteins, reducing sugars, and fats are the
less abundant macronutrients; proteins varied between
. g/ g in stems and . g/ g in inorescences. e
inorescences and stems revealed the highest fat content
(. g/ g) and reducing sugar content (. g/ g),
respectively, amongst all the parts of fennel. On the basis
oftheproximateanalysis,itcanbecalculatedthatafresh
portionofgofthesepartsyields,onaverage,Kcalof
BioMed Research International
(a) (b) (d)
(e)(c) (f)
F : Foeniculum vulgare Mill (a) in its natural habitat; (b) stem; (c) leaves; (d) inorescences and owers; (e) fruits; and (f) population
of F. vu l g a r e Mill.
(a) (b)
F : Normal fennel seeds (a) and sugar coated and uncoated fennel seeds (b) used in mukhwas.
energy. e highest values were obtained for inorescences,
while leaves and stems gave the lowest energy contribution.
About twenty-one fatty acids were identied and quanti-
edfromtheabovementionedpartsoffennel(Tab l e ). ese
are caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, undecanoic acid,
lauric acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, pentadecanoic
acid, palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, stearic acid, oleic
acid, linoleic acid, 𝛼-linolenic acid, arachidic acid, eicosanoic
acid, cis-,-eicosadienoic acid, cis-,,-eicosatrienoic
acid + heneicosanoic acid, behenic acid, tricosanoic acid,
and lignoceric acid. us, Barros and his coworker conclude
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to be the main group
of fatty acids present in all the fennel parts. On the other
hand Vardavas and his coworker reported monounsaturated
fatty acids (MUFA) as the main group of fatty acids in
fennel []. Nevertheless, unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) range
from % to % and predominate over saturated fatty acids
[]. e highest concentration of n- fatty acids was found
in fennel leaves, while the lowest concentration was found
in inorescences. e ratio of 𝜔to𝜔fattyacidshasan
important role in the human diet. e highest levels of n-
fatty acids found in leaves contributed to its lowest ratio of
𝜔to𝜔 fatty acids. e lowest levels of n- fatty acids found
in inorescences contributed to its highest ratio of 𝜔to𝜔
fatty acids.
Fennels have smaller amounts of many other nutrients.
On a weight basis, fennels contain more calcium (mg/
g) as compared with apples (. mg/ g), bananas
(. mg/ g), dates (. mg/ g), grapes (. mg/
g), orange (. mg/ g), prunes (. mg/ g), rais-
ins (. mg/ g), and strawberries (. mg/ g). Phe-
nolicsareanimportantconstituentoffruitqualitybecause
of their contribution to the taste, colour, and nutritional
properties of fruit. Amongst the phenolics analyzed in the
fruit of this plant are neochlorogenic acid (.%), chloro-
genic acid (.%), gallic acid (.%), chlorogenic acid
(.%), caeic acid (.%), p-coumaric acid (.%),
ferulic acid--o-glucoside (.%), quercetin--o-glucoside
BioMed Research International
T : Nutrients found in dried fennel (USDA, USA).
Composition Quantity (Per g)
Proximates
Moisture . g
Energy kcal
Protein . g
Total lipid (fat) . g
Carbohydrate . g
Total dietary ber . g
Sugars . g
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg
Iron, Fe . mg
Magnesium, Mg mg
Phosphorus, P mg
Potassium, K mg
Sodium, Na mg
Zinc, Z n . mg
Vitamins
Vitamin C mg
iamin B- . mg
Riboavin B- . mg
Niacin B- . mg
Vitamin B- . mg
Folate 𝜇g
Vitamin A 𝜇g
Vitamin E . mg
Vitamin K . 𝜇g
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated . g
Fatty acids, tota l monounsaturated . g
Fatty acids, tota l polyunsaturated . g
Essential amino acids
Leucine . g
Isoleucine . g
Phenylalanine . g
Tryptophane . g
Nonessential amino acid
Glycine . g
Proline . g
(.%), ferulic acid (.%), , dicaeoylquinic acid
(.%), hesperidin (.%), cinnamic acid (.%), ros-
marinic acid (.%), quercetin (.%), and apigenin
(.%) [].
us, as a typical, seasonal fresh fruit, fennels are an
important constituent of the regional diet of Europe and other
regions. Dierent varieties of fennel parts are widely used in
many of the cooking dishes all over world (Table ). Shoots,
tender leaves, and stems are chewed and sucked due to their
exquisite aniseed avor. All these parts are also commonly
used as vegetables. ey are added raw to salads, stewed
with beans and chickpeas, used to stu sh for grilling,
and placed in soups and bread bouillons. Besides seasoning,
fennel is used to preserve food. Flowering stems, sugar, and
honey macerating in brandy produce a highly valorized spirit.
Herbal teas prepared with fresh tender or dried owering
stems are consumed chilled or hot, depending on the season.
F. vu l g are is famous for its essential oil. e characteristic
anise odour of F. vu l g are, which is due to its essential oil,
makes it an excellent avoring agent in baked goods, meat
and sh dishes, ice-cream, and alcoholic beverages. e
culinary uses of fennel are so diverse/widespread that it has
been exported from country to country for centuries [].
2. Traditional and Contemporary Uses
Foeniculum vulgare has been extensively used in traditional
medicine for a wide range of ailments. Fennel is used in
various traditional systems of medicine like in the Ayurveda,
Unani, Siddha, in the Indian, and Iranian traditional systems
of alternative and balancing medicine []. Its stem, fruit,
leaves, seeds, and whole plant itself are medicinally used
in dierent forms in the treatment of a variety of diseased
conditions. e preparation methods, uses, and application
of F. vu l g are are well documented in the common ethnob-
otanical literature [–]. Tab l e lists the ethnomedicinal
uses of F. vu l g are for dierent types of ailments in Bolivia,
Brazil, Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Mexico,
Pakistan,Portugal,Serbia,SouthAfrica,Spain,Turkey,and
USA [,,–]. It is used to treat simple ailments (e.g.,
cough/cold, cuts) to very complicated ailments (e.g., kidney
ailments, cancer). It also has a wide range of veterinary uses
([,]seeTable).F. v ul g are is used in many parts of the
worldforthetreatmentofanumberofdiseases,forexample,
abdominal pains, antiemetic, aperitif, arthritis, cancer, colic
in children, conjunctivitis, constipation, depurative, diarrhea,
dieresis, emmenagogue, fever, atulence, gastralgia, gastritis,
insomnia,irritablecolon,kidneyailments,laxative,leucor-
rhoea, liver pain, mouth ulcer, and stomachache (Tab l e ).
In addition to its medicinal uses, aerial parts, namely,
leaf, stem, and fruit/seed of F. vu l g are , are extensively used as
galactagogues not only for increasing the quantity and quality
of milk but also for improving the milk ow of breastfeeding
mothers [,,,]. From ancient times, fennel seeds
have been used as an ingredient for removing any foul smell
of the mouth []. e natural light green dye obtained from
leaves is used in cosmetics, for coloring of textiles/wooden
materials and as food colorant. Yellow and brown color dyes
are obtained by combining the owers and leaves of fennel
[].InPortugal,Italy,Spain,andIndia,thestem,fruit,
leaves, seeds, and whole plant are used as a vegetable [,,
,,]. Sugar coated and uncoated fennel seeds are used
in mukhwas (Mouth freshener) (Figure (b)). In many parts
of India and Pakistan, roasted fennel seeds are consumed as
mukhwas (Mouth freshener). Mukhwasisacolorfulaer-
meal mouth freshener or digestive aid. It can be made of
various seeds and nuts but oen found with fennel seeds,
anise seeds, coconut, and sesame seeds. ey are sweet in
avor and highly aromatic due to the presence of sugar and
the addition of various essential oils. e seeds can be savory,
coated in sugar, and brightly colored.
BioMed Research International
T : Nutrient content of dierent parts of Foeniculum vulgare.
Composition Contents
Leaves Inorescences Stems Shoots
Moisturea. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Asha. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Fata. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Proteina. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Carbohydratesa. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Fructosea. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Glucosea. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Sucrosea. ±. . ±. nd . ±.
Reducing sugarsa. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
𝜔 fatty acidb. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
𝜔 fatty acidb. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
𝜔/𝜔 . ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:ncb. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:ncb. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:nb. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:cbnd . ±. . ±. nd
C:cb. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:n + C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
C:b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Tota l SFA b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Tota l M U FA b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Tota l P U FA b. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
Energyc. ±. . ±. . ±. . ±.
aNutrients composition (g/ g), b𝜔and𝜔 and fatty acid content(p ercent), and cenergetic value (Kcal/ g) of the dierentp arts offennel. nd: not detected.
Values are expressed as mean ±SD, 𝑛=3experiments in each group [].
3. Phytochemistry
PhytochemicalresearchcarriedoutonFoeniculum vulgare
has led to the isolation of fatty acids, phenolic components,
hydrocarbons, volatile components, and few other classes
of secondary metabolites from its dierent parts (Figure ).
Mostly these phytochemicals are found in essential oil
(Table ). Some of the phytoconstituents of F. v u lgare were
nd application as coloring and antiaging agents [,].
eyalsohavenoteworthybiologicalandpharmacological
activities (Tab l e ).
3.1. Volatile Compounds. Tab l e summarizes the volatile
compounds present in the essential oil of F. vu lgare .eanise
odor of F. v u lga r e is due to its essential oil content. It makes
an excellent avoring agent in various types of food and food
related products. e essential oil of fennel has been reported
to contain more than volatile compounds [–]. e
accumulation of these volatile compounds inside the plant
is variable, appearing practically in any of its parts, namely,
roots, stem, shoots, owers, and fruits [,]. e molecular
structures of major volatile components of F. v u lgare seed
essential oil have been illustrated in Figure .
BioMed Research International
T : Us es of Foeniculum vulgare as a food ingredient as reported in the literature.
Sr. number Region/Nation Local name Part used and edible application. References
Campania, Italy
Finucchio,
nucchiello,
nochietto
Stem is used as an aromatizer for pickled olives. []
Campania, Italy Finocchiella,
fen`
ucciu Seed is employed in preparation of salted meats. []
Spain Hinojo, Fenoll Tender leaves and stems, raw as a snack, are used in
salads or stewed. []
Spain Fiallo, millau
Aerial part or seeds used for seasoning olives, as
preservative for dry gs, and for preparing herbal tea or
liqueur.
[]
Tr´
as-os-Montes
(Northeast
Portuguese)
Fialho, onho,
erva-doce
Shoots, tender leaves, and stems used in snacks, salads,
soups, stews, and spices.
Flowering stems used in beverages, spirits, and spices.
Stems used as brochettes and herbal teas.
Seedsusedasspices,avourforcakes,biscuits,and
sweets, and chestnuts.
[]
Arr´
abida and
Ac¸or (Center
Portuguese)
Funcho, erva-doce Seedsusedasavourforcakesandpastriesandfor
cooking chestnuts. []
Alentejo and
Algarve (South
Portuguese)
Funcho, alho,
funcho-doce,
funcho-amargo
Shoots, tender leaves, and stems are fried with eggs,
used in omelettes, used in sh stu, stewed with
dierent kinds of beans and chickpeas, and used in sh
and bread bouillons, soups, and sauces.
Tender leafy stems are used in grilled sh and sh
dishes in general.
Seeds are used as spices, avour for cakes, bread, and
biscuits, and chestnuts.
Whole plant used in olives brines, gs preserves, and
for aromatizing brandy.
[]
Jammu and
Kashmir, India Saunf e fruits with other ingredients are given to the animal
if it stops taking food during diarrhea. []
Liguria, Italy Fenuc´
ettu-sarv`
egu Aerial parts of plant mixed with shoots of Clematis and
Rubus used as food integrator for sheep. []
Guill´
en and Manzanos []investigatedtheyieldand
composition of the volatile components found in the pentane
extracts of leaves, stems, and seeds of F. vu lgar e .ey
identied a total of volatile compounds from pentane
extracts of above mentioned parts of fennel by using gas
chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spec-
trometry (GC-MS) techniques. In the supercritical CO2(SC-
CO2) seed extracts of fennel, a total of compounds
were identied with major compounds being trans-anethole
(.–.%), fenchone (.–.%), and methylchavicol
(.–.%) whereas only compounds were detected from
hydrodistilled oil of fennel []. Fang et al. [] characterizes
volatile components in the essential oil of F. vu lg a r e with
the help of three advanced techniques, namely, headspace sol-
vent microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry (HSME-GC-MS), solid phase microextraction-
(SPME-) GC-MS, and steam distillation- (SD-) GC-MS
methods. In Tognolini et al.investigatedthe chemical
composition of essential oil of fennel. GC/MS study revealed
a total of compounds present in it with anethole being
themostabundant[]. A comparative prole of occurrence
of monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes,
and phenylpropanoids with respect to various maturity stages
(immature, premature, mature, and fully mature) of the
fruit of F. vu lgare was reported by Telci et al. []. ey
concluded that the content of essential oil decreases with
increasing maturity. A total of components of the essential
oil were identied, accounting for .% of the total oil. e
principal compound in the essential oil was trans-anethole
(.%) followed by estragole (.%), d-limonene (.%),
and fenchone, that is, .% []. Overall, compounds
representing .–.% of the essential oil were identied
by GC and GC/MS in the two cultivars of fennel, namely,
Aurelio and Sparta cocultivars. e major constituent of
the essential oils is trans-anethole (.–.%). In addition,
the fennel essential oils also contains minor amounts of
various constituents as limonene (.–.%), neophytadiene
(–.%), (E)-phytol (.–.%), exo-fenchyl acetate (.–
.%), estragole (.–.%), and fenchone, that is, .–.%
[]. In addition, Zoubiri et al. []summarizedthecompar-
ativeproleofvolatilecompoundsfoundindierentvarieties
of fennel from dierent countries such as Estonia, Norway,
Austria, Moldova, and Turkey. e chemical composition of
the Algerian F. vu l g are seed oil was dierent as compared with
BioMed Research International
T : Traditional and contemporary applications of Foeniculum vulgare.
Sr. number Ailment/use Part/preparation used Locality References
Mouth ulcer Tender leaves, chewed and stuck on ulcer Basilicata, Italy []
Aperitif Tender parts-raw or boiled Rome, Italy []
Gum disorder Fruit and seed, used as a mouth wash for gum
disorder Central Serbia []
Insomnia Infusion of tea leaf Brazil []
Constipation Seeds, decoction South Europe []
Seeds mixed with sugar Jammu and
Kashmir, India []
Cancer Leaf and ower, aqueous infusion, drink Loja, Ecuador []
Conjunctivitis Leaf and ower, aqueous infusion, drink Loja, Ecuador []
Gastritis Leaf, ower, aqueous infusion, drink Loja, Ecuador []
Diuresis Root and seed, decoction Miami, Florida,
USA []
Abdominal pains
Each plant part, decoction Rome, Italy []
Leaf and seeds, infusion Northern Badia,
Jordan, []
Leaves, paste Manisa, Turkey []
Cold Fruits and oral tops, decoction Rome, Italy []
Refreshing Roots/whole plant, decoction Rome, Italy []
Swollen stomach Leaves, decoction with a little honey Rome, Italy []
Hair grow Seed oil Middle Navarra []
Antiemetic Fruit, simple powder Northeastern
Majorcan area []
Antihypertensive
and Anti-
cholesterolemic
Leaf directly chewed north-eastern
Majorcan area []
Depurative Leaf and stem, comestible Iberian Peninsula,
Spain []
Hypnotic Seed, leaf, and stem, infusion and edible North Iran []
Diarrhoea Seeds, roots, and fresh leaves Northern Portugal []
Seeds grounded with Root tubers of Hemidesmus
indicus and the paste taken with jaggery twice a day
for three days
Bhandara,
Maharashtra, India []
Kidney ailments Aerial part, infusion Alto, Bolivia []
Seed, decoction Gujranwala,
Pakistan []
Colic in children Leaf and fruit, infusion Brazil []
Irritable colon Leaf and seeds, infusion Northern Badia,
Jordan, []
Gastralgia Leaf, decoction southern Spain []
Purgative Seed, infusion and edible Gujranwala,
Pakistan []
Laxative Seed, infusion and edible Gujranwala,
Pakistan []
Liver pain Seed Pernambuco,
Northeast Brazil []
Mosquitocidal Root boiled and drunk as tea Somali Region,
Ethiopia []
Arthritis Leaf, an infusion made from the leaves is drunk South Africa []
Fever Leaf, an infusion made from the leaves is drunk South Africa []
BioMed Research International
T : C o n t i n u e d .
Sr. number Ailment/use Part/preparation used Locality References
Fat deduction Green fruit is chewed to reduce fat South Africa []
Leucorrhoea
A mixture of its g seed powder, g seed
powder of Papaver somniferum, g fruit powder of
Coriander sativum, and g of sugar is prepared
and g of this mixture is taken by the tribal ladies
early in the morning
Rajasthan, India []
Problem of
repeated abortions
Mixture of its g s eed powder, g fruit p owder of
Trapa nat ans , andgsugarisgivendailyto
pregnant ladies
Rajasthan, India []
Digestive system
Fruits, decoction Basilicata, Italy []
Seed, decoction (drink one tea cup aer food) Balikesir, Turkey []
Whole plant Wester n c a p e o f
South Africa []
Fruit, powder for digestive ailments Middle, West, and
South Bosnia []
Seeds, decoction South Europe []
Seeds, roots, and fresh leaves Northern Portugal. []
Seed, decoction Southern Spain []
Carminative
Tender parts, raw or boiled Rome, Italy []
Whole plant Wester n c a p e o f
South Africa []
Seeds, decoction South Europe []
Seed, leaf, and stem, infusion and edible North Iran []
Leaves and/or fruits South Africa []
Diuretic
Tender parts, raw or boiled Rome, Italy []
Whole plant Wester n c a p e o f
South Africa []
Seeds, decoction South-Europe []
Seeds, roots, and fresh leaves Northern Portugal. []
Leaf, an infusion made from the leaves is drunk South Africa []
Emmenagogue
Aerial part, raw with carrot Rome, Italy []
Fruit, simple powder North-eastern
Majorcan area []
Seed Haryana, India []
Milk stimulant in
pregnant women
(Galactagogue)
Leaf, an infusion made from the leaves is drunk South Africa []
Fruits, as condiment or chewed Rome, Italy []
Fruit, simple powder north-eastern
Majorcan area []
Aerial part-infusion Alto, Bolivia []
Gingival wound Fruit-paste Uttarakhand, India []
Whole plant, decoction Andalusia, Spain []
Eye blurr y and
itching
Aerial parts, inhaled into eyes Balikesir, Turkey []
Seeds, roots, and leaves Northern Portugal []
Seed, infusion, edible Gujranwala,
Pakistan []
Leaves and/or fruits South Africa []
Cough
Whole plant, oral infusion Guerrero, Mexico []
Whole plant, decoction Southern Spain []
Whole plant Wester n c a p e o f
South Africa []
BioMed Research International
T : C o n t i n u e d .
Sr. number Ailment/use Part/preparation used Locality References
Stomachache
Whole plant, oral infusion Guerrero, Mexico []
Fruit Middle Navarra []
Seed decoction is used against stomach ache Liguria, Italy []
Seed, leaf, and stem-infusion, edible North Iran []
Stress removal Apical shoots is used as sedative for children Liguria, Italy []
Southern Punjab,
Pakistan []
Flatulence
Leaf and fruit, infusion Brazil []
Leaf and seeds, infusion Northern Badia,
Jordan, []
Fresh fruit, decoction North Bengal,
India []
Turk i s h [,], Serbian [], Indian [], and Chinese []
fennels. e hexane extracts of fennel were analyzed by GC-
MS and compounds were identied from these extracts;
the major compounds were identied as ,-benzenediol, -
methoxycyclohexene, o-cymene, sorbic acid, -hydroxy--
methyl--cyclopenten--one, estragole, limonene--ol, and
-methyl--cyclopenten--one []. Diao et al. [] identify
a total of components by GC and GC/MS from fennel
oil, representing .% of the total amount. Trans-Anethole
(.%), a phenylpropanoid, was found to be the main
component, followed by estragole (.%) with limonene
(.%), fenchone (.%), and others as minor components.
3.2. Flavonoids. Flavonoids are generally considered as an
important category of antioxidants in the human diet.
Flavonoids are abundant in the plants of Apiaceae family. It
has been reported that the presence of avonol glycosides
in fennel species is related to its morphological hetero-
geneity and variation. Total avonoid content of hydroal-
coholicextractsisabout12.3 ± 0.18mg/g. Flavonoids like
eriodictyol--rutinoside, quercetin--rutinoside, and ros-
marinicacidhavebeenisolatedfromF. v u lga r e [].
Amongst the avonoids present in F. vu l g are,themostpreva-
lent are quercetin--glucuronide, isoquercitrin, quercetin-
-arabinoside, kaempferol--glucuronide and kaempferol--
arabinoside, and isorhamnetin glucoside []. Quercetin--
O-galactoside, kaempferol--O-rutinoside, and kaempferol-
-O-glucoside have also been reported to occur in the aque-
ous extract of F. vu l g are []. e avonoids like isorham-
netin -O-𝛼-rhamnoside, quercetin, and kaempferol were
also isolated from the ethyl acetate extract, whereas quercetin
-O-rutinoside, kaempferol -O-rutinoside, and quercetin
-O-𝛽-glucoside were isolated from the methanol extract.
ese avonoids exhibit remarkable antinociceptive and anti-
inammatoryactivity[]. Further, quercetin, rutin, and
isoquercitrinwerereportedtohavetheimmunomodulatory
activities [].
3.3. Phenolic Compounds. ere has been a growing interest
in phenolic components of fruits and vegetables, which may
promote human health or lower the risk of disease. Aqueous
extract of fennel fruits are rich in phenolic compounds.
Many of them have antioxidant activities and hepatopro-
tective properties. e phenolic compounds present in F.
vulgare are considered to be associated with the prevention
of diseases possibly induced by oxidative stress such as
cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and inammation. ese
phenolic compounds have received tremendous attention
among nutritionists, food scientists, and consumers due
to their role in human health. Fennel has been reported
to contain hydroxyl cinnamic acid derivatives, avonoid
glycosides, and avonoid aglycones []. e methanolic
extract of fennel seeds contains rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic
acids as major phenolic compounds (.% and .%, resp.),
and quercetin and apigenin as the major avonoids (.% and
.%, resp.). Also, the total phenolic compounds in fennel
methanol extract were higher than the avonoid compounds
[]. F. vu l g are has been reported to contain phenolic acids
like -O-caeoylquinic acid, -O-caeoylquinic acid, -O-
caeoylquinic acid, ,-O-di-caeoylquinic acid, ,-O-di-
caeoylquinic acid, and ,-O-di-caeoylquinic acid [].
TwocompoundsAandBwereisolatedandcharacter-
ized for the rst time from the wild fennel and identi-
ed as ,-dihydroxyphenethylalchohol--O-caeoyl-𝛽-D-
glucopyranoside and ,-binaringenin, respectively. e
total phenolic and avonoid contents of wild fennel (.% and
.% resp.) were less as compared to cultivated fennel (.%
and .%, resp.) [].
4. Pharmacological Activities
Foeniculum vulgare is ocially noted in Ay u r vedic Pharma-
copoeia as an important part of polyherbal formulations in
the treatment of dierent diseases and disorders. A number
of biological-pharmacological studies have been undertaken
to evaluate the indigenous uses of F. vu l g are. Few extracts of F.
vulgare andisolatedcompoundshavebeenevaluatedforsev-
eral activities, namely, antiaging, antiallergic, anticolitic, anti-
hirsutism, anti-inammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral,
antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic,
BioMed Research International
OO
OH OOOOOO
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
CHO
OO O
O
O
O
HO
O
O
O
O
O
H
H
O
OO
O
O
O
Scopoletin (1) Bergapten (2) Psoralen (3)
Fenchone (4) para-Anisaldehyde (5) (z)-9-Octadecenoic (6)
Dillapional (7) Imperatorin (8) Dillapiol (9)
Beta-myrcene (14)
5-Methoxypsoralen (15) para-Anisaldehyde (16)
Dianethole (19)
trans-Anethole (18)
Photoanethole (17)
Limonene (10) Terpineol (11) Fenchone (12) 1,8-Cineole (13)
H3
OCH3
CO
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
OCH3
H3CO
(a)
F : Continued.
BioMed Research International
OH
O
HH
O
O
O
O
OH
O
OH
OH
OH
O
O
O
O
O
OH
O
O
OO
HO
HO
HO
HO
HO
HO
HO
HO
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH O
OCOOH
O
O
(E)-Phytol (20) Phenylpropanoid (21)
2-Hydroxy-3-methyl-
2-cyclopenten-1-one (24)
o-Cymene (23)
2,4-Undecadienal (22)
Neophytadiene (25)
1,3-Benzenediol (26)
Anethole (28)
Methylchavicol (27)
Linoleic acid (29)
Sorbic acid (32)
3-Methyl-2-
cyclopenten-1-one (33)
Rosmarinic acid (35)
Isoquercetin (36)
1-Methoxycyclohexene (30) Estragole (31)
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH2
CH3
CH3
3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylalchohol-6-O-caeoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (34)
H3C
H3C
H3C
H3C
H3C
CH3Oleic acid (37)
(b)
F : Continued.
BioMed Research International
O
1
2
3
4
5
6
OH
HO
HO
HO
HO
HO
HO
HO
OH
OH
OH
HO
OOHO
HO
O
OOH
O
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
COOH
OH
O
O
R
O
O
R
O
O
O
O
OH
OH
OH
OH
H
H
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
H
H
H
OR1
OR2
OR3
OR1
R4O
Caeoyl
3-O-Caeoylquinic acid (38)
4-O-Caeoylquinic acid (39)
5-O-Caeoylquinic acid (40)
1,3-O-Di-caeoylquinic acid (41)
1,4-O-Di-caeoylquinic acid (42)
1,5-O-Di-caeoylquinic acid (43)
Quinic acid
CH3
Exo-fenchyl acetate (55) Dillapional (56)
CH3
H3C
H3C
cis-Miyabenol C (57)
3,8-Binaringenin (44)
Undecanal (54)
Quercetin-3-glucuronide (52)
Kaempferol-3-glucuronide (53)
Quercetin-3-O-glucoside (45)
Quercetin-3-O-galactoside (46)
Quercetin-3-O-arabinoside (47)
Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (48)
Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (49)
Kaempferol-3-O-arabinoside (50)
Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (51)
H3C
R1=R3=R4=H;R2=caeoyl
R1=R2=R4=H;R3=caeoyl
R1=R2=R3=H;R4=caeoyl
R3=R4=H;= R1=R2=caeoyl
R2=R4=H;= R1=R3=caeoyl
R2=R3=H;= R1=R4=caeoyl
R=OH;R1=glucose
R=OH;R1=glucose
R=OH;R1=arabinose
R=OH;R1=glucose-rhamnose
R=OH
R=H
R=H;R1=glucose
R=H;R1=arabinose
R=H;R1=glucose-rhamnose
(c)
F : Continued.
BioMed Research International
O
O
O
O
OO
HO
HO
HO
HO
HO
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
O
O
O
O
O
O
CH3
CH3
CH3
H3C
H2C
Eriodictyol-7-rutinoside (58) Limonene-10-ol (59) Isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside (60)
(d)
F : Chemical structures of various phytoconstituents isolated from Foeniculum vulgare.
antistress, antithrombotic, anxiolytic, apoptotic, cardiovas-
cular, chemomodulatory action, cytoprotection and antitu-
mor, cytotoxicity, diuretic, estrogenic properties, expecto-
rant, galactogenic, gastrointestinal eect, hepatoprotective,
human liver cytochrome P A inhibitory, hypoglycemic,
hypolipidemic, memory-enhancing property, nootropic, and
oculohypotensive activities [,,,,,–]. Tabl e
summarizes the pharmacological studies undertaken on F.
vulgare andreportedintheliterature.Abriefreviewofthe
same is as follows.
4.1. Antimicrobial and Antiviral Activities. Foeniculum vul-
gare hasbeenusedasanethnicremedyforthecureof
numerous infectious disorders of bacterial, fungal, viral, and
mycobacterial origin. Several studies have been carried out
in the past validating its antimicrobial, antimycobacterial,,
and antiviral potential (summarized in the Tab l e ). Duˇ
sko
et al.[] investigated the antibacterial eect of the aqueous
extract of medicinal plants of Apiaceae family including
F. vu l g are. An aqueous extract of the aerial part of F.
vulgare inhibited the growth of Agrobacterium radiobacter
pv. tumefaciens,Erwinia carotovora,Pseudomonas uorescens,
and Pseudomonas glycinea (Tabl e ). An aqueous extract of
seed sample inhibited the growth of Enterococcus faecalis,
Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumo-
nia, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella
typhimurium, Shigella exneri, and Bacillus cereus with –
, –, –, -, –, -, –, –, and –
mm zone of inhibition, respectively [,]. Gulfraz et al.
[] investigated the antibacterial eect of the essential oil as
well as ethanolic and methanolic fruit extracts of F. vu l g are
against Bacillus cereus,Bacillus megaterium,Bacillus pumilus,
Bacillus subtilis,Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumonia,Micro-
coccus luteus,Pseudomonas putida,Pseudomonas syringae,
and Candida albicans. According to the results reported by
Gulfraz et al.[], essential oil of F. vul a g e had signicant
antimicrobial activities against some of microorganisms as
compared to the methanolic and ethanolic extracts. e
diameters of growth inhibition zone ranged from to mm
(including the diameter of the disc mm) with the highest
inhibition zone values observed against Bacillus megaterium
( mm) and Bacillus subtilis ( mm). Roby et al. []
investigated antimicrobial eect of the methanol, ethanol,
diethyl ether, and hexane extracts of seed of F. v u lgare against
two species of Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and
Salmonella typhi), two species of Gram positive bacteria
(Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus), one species of
yeast (Candida albicans), and one species of mold (Aspergillus
avus). e methanolic extract showed more eective antimi-
crobial activity than the other extracts. e results from
the disc diusion method, followed by measurement of
minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), indicated that
Bacillus cereus and Aspergillus avus were the most sensitive
microorganisms tested, showing the largest inhibition zones
and the lowest MIC values. Least activity was exhibited
against Escherichia coli, with the smallest inhibition zones and
the highest MIC value []. Shrivastava and Bhargava []
investigated the antibacterial eect of the crude, chloroform,
and methanol extract of leaves and owers of F. vu l g are
along with Raphanus sativus and Brassica nigrum against
Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Methanol extract
of ower of F. vu lga r e showed signicant activity against
Escherichia coli, whereas crude and chloroform extracts
failed to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus
aureus (Tab l e ). Among dierent tested bacterial strains, the
BioMed Research International
T : Volatile compounds present in essential oil of Foeniculum
vulgare.
Sr. number Compounds
𝛼-uj ene
,-Cineol
𝛽-Ocimene
Linalool
Germacrene D
Anisketone
Apiol
𝑛-Hexadecanoic acid
Cubebene
Benzene--methyl--(-methylethyl)-𝑝-cymene
,,-Octatriene, ,-dimethyl-, (E)--carene
-Heptene
-Methyl-butanal
𝛽-Pinene
Camphene
Hexanal
𝛼-Pinene
𝛽-Phellandrene
𝛼-Phellanrrene
𝛽-Myrcene
-Carene
-Heptanohe
Limonene
-Methyl-bicyclo[..]hex--ene
Eucalyptol
𝛼-Pinene
𝛾-Terpinene
-Dimethyl-,,-octriene
,-Dimethyl-benzenamine
-Carene
Cathine
-Heptanol
-Propyn--ol
,-Dimethyl-,,-octatriene
Fenchone
-Methyl--(-methylethyl)-benzene
cis-Limonene oxide
trans-Limonene oxide
-Methylene-bicyclo[..]hexane
Sabinene hydrate
Fenchyl acetate
Camphor
Benzaldehyde
,-Butanediol
Dicyclopropyl carbinol
Fenchol
-Octanol
-Methyl--heptanol
T : C o n t i n u e d .
Sr. number Compounds
Tetradecyl-oxirane
Estragole
Trans-𝑝-,-menthadien--ol
𝛽-Terp inol
cis-p-,-Menthadien
-Methyl--(methylethyl)--cyclohexen
-Methyl--(-methylethyl)--cyclohexen--one
Phenylmethyl-formic ester
,-Cyclohexen--methanol
Epi-bicyclosesquiphellardrene
cis-𝑝-Menth-,-dienol
,-Dimethoxy-benzene
-Methoxy--(-propenyl)-benzene
,,a,,,a-Hexadehyde-naphthalene
-Methyl-bicyclo[..]hept--en--ol
trans-Anethole . . .
Allantoic acid
-Methyl--(-methylethyl)-phenol
Mannoheptulose
-Methyl--(-methylethyl)--cyclohexen--ol
-Undecanol
Benzothiazole
E-Pinane
-Cyclohexen--ol
-Methyl-bezenemethanol
-Methoxy-benzaldehyde
,-Hexanediol
-Methoxycyclohexanone
𝛽-Elemenone
Mephenesin
-Methoxy-acetophenone
-Methyl--methylethyl-butanoic acid
Folic acid
-(Methoxyphenyl)--propanone
-Methyl--(-methylethyl)-benzene
-Fluorohistamine
,-Dimethoxy--(-propenyl)-benzene
(E)--Hydroxy--cyano-stilbene
-(-Methoxyphenyl)--propanone
methanolic fruit extract of F. vu l g are inhibited the growth
of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus pumilus with . and
. mm zone of inhibition, respectively [].
Several studies indicating the antifungal eect of F.
vulgare along with antibacterial eect are also reported in
the literature. Martins et al. [] investigated the antibacterial
and antifungal eects of three essential oils of Portuguese
plants, namely, Foeniculum vulgare,Mentha spicata, and Ros-
marinus ocinalis against Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia
coli,Klebsiella pneumonia,Pseudomona aeruginosa,Staphy-
lococcus epidermidis, Candida albicans, and phytopathogenic
BioMed Research International
T : Biological activities of some phytoconstituents reported in dierent parts of Foeniculum vulgare.
Sr. number Biological activities Part usedaPhytochemicals Reference
Oestrogenic SDEO Dianethole,
photoanethole []
Hepatoprotective SDEO 𝛽-Myrcene,
Limonene []
Antithrombotic SDEO trans-Ane thole []
Human liver c ytochrome
P-A inhibitory SD -Methoxypsoralen []
Antiradical scavenging FW
-Caeoylquinic acid,
quercetin--O-galactoside,
kaempferol--O-glucoside,
kaempferol--O-rutinoside,
rosmarinic acid
[]
AP
,-Dihydroxyphenethyl-
alchohol--O-caeoyl-𝛽-D-
glucopyranoside,
,-binaringenin
[]
Antioxidant FT cis-Miyabenol C []
Anticancer SDEO Anethole []
Antibacterial ST
Dillapiol,
psoralen,
bergapten,
scopoletin,
imperatorin,
dillapional,
[]
Antimycobacterial ST, LF
,-Undecadienal,
linoleic acid,
oleic acid,
,-benzenediol,
undecanal
[]
Repellent FT (z)--Octadecanoic acid,
fenchone []
Acaricidal SDEO para-Anisaldehyde []
Insecticidal SDEO ,-Cineole,
terpineol []
aAP: aerial part, FT: fruit, LF: leaf, SD: seed, SDEO: seed essential oil, ST: stem, and FW: fennel waste.
molds, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum. Essen-
tial oil of F. vulg a r e showed signicant antifungal activity
against the food spoilage fungi Aspergillus niger and Fusar-
ium oxysporum and may have important applications as
food additives. e MIC values of F. vul g a r e essential oil
were 𝜇g/mL for Fusarium oxysporum and 𝜇g/mL
for Aspergillus niger [].e oils extracted from F. v ul g a re
exhibit varying levels of antifungal eects on the experi-
mental mycelial growth of Alternaria alternata,Fusarium
oxysporum,andRhizoctonia solani []. Essential oil of F.
vulgare showed appreciable antifungal activity against strains
of pathogenic fungi, namely, Aspergillus niger,Fusarium
solani, and Rhizopus solani [].Dichloromethane extracts
and essential oils from F. v ulg a r e showed antifungal activity
against Candida albicans. It could be a potential candidate
for a new antifungal agent for candidiasis and other fungal
diseases []. In an in vitro study, aqueous and alcoholic
seed extracts of F. vul g a r e exhibited inhibitory eect against
Alternaria alternata, Mucor rouxii, and Aspergillus avus
[]. Interestingly, aqueous seed extract of F. vu l g are showed
strongest antifungal activity as compared to reference fungi-
cidal agent, that is, griseofulvin [].
All of the above mentioned studies were carried out
on the crude extracts and it is dicult to pinpoint the
active antimicrobial metabolite. A phenylpropanoid deriva-
tive called dillapional, characterized from F. vu lgar e stem, was
found to be an antimicrobial constituent with MIC values of
, , and against Bacillus subtilis,Aspergillus niger,
and Cladosporium cladosporioides, respectively. A coumarin
derivative, scopoletin, was also isolated as a marginally
antimicrobial agent []. e characterization of seven
dierent types of oxygenated monoterpenes, from methylene
BioMed Research International
T : Details of pharmacological/biological activities reported from Foeniculum vulgare.
Activity Plant part used Dosage form/type of
extract Concentration/dosages Tested living system/organ/cell/type of
study Results References
Antiinammatory Fruit Methanolic
Extract
mg/kg: oral
administration
Invivo, male ICR mice, BALB/c mice,
and Sprague-Dawley rats
Inhibitory eects against acute and
subacute inammatory diseases and
type IV allergic reactions
[]
Hepatoprotective Seed Essential oil . mL/kg
Invivo, carbon tetrachloride induced
liver injury model in male
Sprague-Dawley rats
Decreases the level of serum enzymes,
namely, aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), alanine aminotransferase
(ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP),
and bilirubin
[]
Hypoglycaemic Seed Essential oil mg/kg Invivo, streptozotocin induced diabetic
rats
Ingestionofessentialoiltodiabetic
rats corrected the hyperglycemia and
the activity of serum glutathione
peroxidase and also improved the
pathological changes noticed in their
kidney and pancreas
[]
Antihirsutism Seed Fennel extract
Creams containing %,
% of fennel extract and
placebo
female patients aged – years
with mild to moderate forms of
idiopathic hirsutism
Cream containing % fennel is better
than the cream containing % fennel
andthesetwoweremorepotentthan
placebo
[]
Cytoprotective Fruit Methanolic
extract 𝜇g/mL Normal human blood lymphocyte
Provides more cytoprotection for
normal human lymphocytes as
compared with standard sample, that
is, doxorubicin
[]
Antitumor Fruit Methanolic
extract to 𝜇g/mL BF melanoma cell line
% methanolic extract shows good
antitumour activity at the
concentration of 𝜇g/mL.
[]
Antioxidant Seed Ethanol and water
extract
𝜇g of ethanol and
water extract Invitro,notstated
.%and.%inhibitionof
peroxidation in linoleic acid system,
respectively.
[]
Oestrogenic Seed Acetone extract Not stated Invivo, female rats
Weight of mammary glands increases
also increases the weight of oviduct,
endometrium, myometrium, cervix,
and vagina
[]
Vasc u l ar ee c t s Leaf Aqueous extracts . to . mL injection Invivo, pentobarbital-anaesthetised
Sprague-Dawley rats
Signicant dose-related reduction in
arterial blood pressure, without
aecting the heart rate or respiratory
rate
[]
Antistress Fruit Aqueous extracts , and mg/kg Invivo, scopolamine-induced amnesic
rats
Signicant inhibition of the stress
induced biochemical changes in
vanillyl mandelic acid and ascorbic
acid.
[]
BioMed Research International
T : C o n t i n u e d .
Activity Plant part used Dosage form/type of
extract Concentration/dosages Tested living system/organ/cell/type of
study Results References
Memory-enhancing Fruit Aqueous extracts , , and mg/kg Invivo, scopolamine-induced amnesic
rats
e signicant reduction is achieved in
amnesia in extract-treated groups as
compared with the control group of
animals
[]
Chemopreventive Seed Test diet of fennel % and % test diets of
Fennel
In-v ivo, DMBA-induced skin and
B(a)P-induced forestomach
papillomagenesis in Swiss albino mice
Signicant reduction in the skin and
the forestomach tumor incidence and
tumor multiplicity as compared to the
control group of animal
[]
Oculohypotensive Seed Aqueous extract .%, .%, and .%
(w/v) Invivo, rabbits
It exhibits ., ., and .%
reduction of intraocular pressure
(IOP) in normotensive rabbits at .%,
.%, and .% (w/v) concentrations of
extract
[]
Anticarcinogenic Seed Methanolic extract mg/kg Invivo, Swiss albino mice
Signicant increase in
malondialdehyde levels and the
signicant decrease in catalase activity
and glutathione content in liver and
tumor tissue in mice bearing Ehrlich
ascites carcinoma
[]
Antiaging Seed Fennel extract Formulation containing
% extract
Male volunteers with mean age of
years
Formulation showed signicant eects
on skin moisture and transepidermal
water loss
[]
Apoptotic Fruit Ethanol extract to 𝜇g/mL
Nine human cell lines: ML-, J-.,
HL-, , U-B, WICL, C-,
EOL, and H-—human T cell
Highest mortality in Trypan blue test
for J cell line, % of viable cells and
for C cell line, % of mortality
[]
Antiulcerogenic Aerial parts Aqueous extract , , mg/kg Invivo, ethanol induced gastric lesions
in Sprague-Dawley rats
Pretreatment with extracts
signicantly reduced ethanol induced
gastric damage.
[]
Cytotoxic Root (ground part)
Dichloromethane and
methanol ( : )
extract
𝜇g/mL
Murine brosarcoma LsA cells and
on the human breast cancer cells
MDA-MB and MCF
Cytotoxic activity may act via
inhibition of the NFkB pathway. []
Antimycobacterial Aerial parts
Chloroform, hexane,
methanol, and
aqueous extracts
to𝜇g/mL Invitro,M. tuberculosis HRv ()
Hexane extract is active against pan
sensitive strain of M. tuberculosis
HRV
[]
BioMed Research International
T : Antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, and antiviral studies carried out on Foeniculum vulgare.
Sr. number Part usedaType of extract Active strainsbMethod Reference standard Eective concentration Reference
SD
Essential oil
S.a.,Enterococcus sp.,
P. a . ,E.c., and
Salmonella sp.
Filter paper disc diusion
method
. Mac Farland’s Standard
(. × CFU/mL) 𝜇L/disk []
FT
Essential oil
E.c., B.m.,and
phytopathogenic
bacterial species
Agar diusion method Rifampicin . mg/mL []
AP
Aqueous, ethanol
and ethyl-acetate
extracts
A.r.t.,Er.c.,P. f . , and
P. g .
Filter paper disc diusion
method
Chloramphenicol,
streptomycin, and
tetracycline
mg per disc. []
SD
Essential oil E.a.,S.t.,S.a.,St.e.,
E.c.,P. a . , and C.a.
Filter paper disc diusion
method Amoxicillin and cefazolin 𝜇L/disk []
FL, FT Essential oil A.a.,F.o. , and R.s. Filter paper disc diusion
method NS and ppm []
FL, LF, TW Essential oil
Bacilli sp., P.a . ,
Acinetobacter sp., and
A.f.
Agar diusion method Fleroxacin ,,,and𝜇Lperwell []
SD,ST,LF,RT
Essential oil
S.a.,B.s.,E.c.,P. a . ,
C.a., C.t., M.s.,M.c.,
and M.x.
Agar dilution method NS NM []
SD
Essential oil E.c.,B.s.,A.n.,F.s .,and
Rh.s.
Filter paper disc diusion
method
Amoxycillin and
umequine 𝜇g/disc []
FT
Essential oil and
ethanolic and
methanolic
extracts
B.c.,B.m.,B.p.,B.s.,
E.c.,K.p.,M.l.,P. p. ,
P. s . ,andC.a.
Filter paper disc diusion
method
Cefoperazone, sulbactam,
ooxacin, and netilmicin mg/mL []
SD Aqueous/organic
extracts
E.f.,S.a.,E.c.,K.p.,
P. a . ,Sa.t.,S.t., and S.f.
Agar well and disc diusion
method
Chloramphenicol,
gentamicin, and ampicillin NM []
SD Essential oil E.c.,P. a . ,S.a.,B.s.,
A.n., and C.a.
Filter paper disc diusion
technique
Ampicillin and miconazole
nitrate 𝜇L/disk []
SD
Ethanol, methanol,
and aqueous
extracts
E.c.,K.p.,P. v. ,E.a.,
Sa.t., B.c.,and S.a.
Agar well and disc diusion
method Streptomycin NM []
SD Essential oil E.c., P.a., S.a.,
C.a.,and A.n.
Cylinder-plate diusion
method NS . to .% []
BioMed Research International
T : C o n t i n u e d .
Sr. number Part usedaType of extract Active strainsbMethod Reference standard Eective concentration Reference
FT Essential oils S.a.,B.c.,P. a . ,E.c.,and
C.a.
Disc paper and broth
microdilution methods NS NM []
SD
Methanol, ethanol,
diethyl ether, and
hexane extract
E.c.,Sa.t.,B.c.,S.a.,
C.a.,and As.f.
Filter paper disc diusion
technique NS ., , ., , 𝜇g/disk []
LF, FL
Crude, chloroform,
and methanol
extract
E.c. and S.a. Filter paper disc diusion
method NS NM []
FT Essential oil HSV- and PI- Using Madin-Darby bovine
kidney and Vero cell lines Acyclovir . to . 𝜇g/mL []
LF Essential oil
S.a.,E.c.,K.p.,P. a . ,
S.e.,C.a. and P.m.,
A.n.,and F.o.
Filter paper disc diusion
method
Gentamicin, amoxicillin,
and nystatin 𝜇L/disk []
ST, LF Hexane extract M.t. -well sterile microtiter
plate assay NS 𝜇g/mL []
SD Essential oil S.a., E.c., K.p.,and P. a . Agar well diusion method Imipenem 𝜇L/well []
SD Essential oil S.a., E.c., S.c.,and St.f. Filter paper disc diusion
method Amoxicillin , , 𝜇L/mL []
SD Essential oil
S.a., B.s., B.m., B.c.,
S.l., S.h., Sa.t., S.d.,
S.s., Sh.s., S.b.,
E.c.,and P. a .
Filter paper disc diusion
method Streptomycin 𝜇g/mL []
FT Essential oil C.a. Agar well and lter paper
disc diusion method Fluconazole and nystatin 𝜇L/well and 𝜇L/disc []
SD Methanolic extract E.c.,P. a . ,S.a., and B.p. Agar diusion method Chloramphenicol and
ampicillin NM []
SD
Aqueous and
alcoholic
extracts
A.a.,M.r.,and A.f. Agar well diusion method NS NM []
aAP:aerialpart,FL:ower,FT:fruit,LF:leaf,RT:root,SD:seed,ST:stem,andTW:twig.
b𝐴.𝑎.: Alternaria alternate, A.f.: Alcaligenes faecalis, As.f.: Aspergillus avus, A.n.: Aspergillus niger, A.r.t.: Agrobacterium radiobacter pv. tumefaciens, B.c.: Bacillus cereus, B.m.: Bacillus megaterium, B.p.: Bacillus
pumilus,B.s.:Bacillussubtilis,C.a.:Candidaalbicans,C.t.:Candidatropicalis,E.a.:Enterobacteraerogenes,Er.c.:Erwiniacarotovora,E.c.: Escherichia coli, E.f.: Enterococcus faecalis, F.o.: Fusarium oxysporum, F.s.:
Fusarium solani, K.p.: Klebsiella pneumonia, M.c.: Mycobacterium chelonae, M.l.: Micrococcus luteus, M.r.: Mucor rouxii, M.s.: Mycobacterium smegmatis, M.t.: Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294, M.x.:
Mycobacterium xenopi, P.a.: Pseudomona aeruginosa, P.f.: Pseudomonas uorescens, P.g.: Pseudomonas glycinea, P.m.: Phytopathogenic molds, P.p.: Pseudomonas putida, P.s.: Pseudomonas syringae, P.v.:Proteus vulgaris,
R.s.: Rhizoctonia solani, Rh.s.: Rhizopus solani, S.a.: Staphylococcus aureus, S.b.: Shigella boydii, S.c.: Staphylococcus coagulase, S.d.: Shigella dysenteriae, S.e.: Salmonella enteritidis, S.e.: Staphylococcus epidermidis,
S.f.: Shigella exneri, St.f.: Streptococcus faecalis, S.h.: Streptococcus haemolyticus, S.l.: Sarcina lutea, S.s.: Shigella shiga, S.t.: Salmonella typhimurium, Sa.t.: Salmonella typhi, and Sh.s.: Shigella sonnei.HSV-:herpes
simplex virus as a representative of DNA viruses and PI-: parainuenza- virus (PI-) as representative of RNA viruses.
NS: no reference standard employed and NM: not mentioned.
BioMed Research International
chloride crude extract of F. v u l gare [], suggested that
the crude extract containing monoterpenes could be a new
medicinal resource for antibacterial agents.
A total of compounds were identied from the
active antimycobacterial fraction of F. vul g a r e with the
help of gas chromatography-mass spectra (GC-MS). Out
of these, twenty compounds were tested against one sensi-
tive and three MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
using the Alamar Blue microassay. Compounds that showed
some degree of antimycobacterial activity against all strains
tested were the following: linoleic acid (MIC 𝜇g/mL),
oleic acid (MIC 𝜇g/mL), ,-benzenediol (MIC –
𝜇g/mL), undecanal (MIC – 𝜇g/mL), and ,-
undecadienal (MIC – 𝜇g/mL). ,-Undecadienal was
themostactivecompoundagainstmultidrugresistantM.
tuberculosis species. us, the dietary intake of F. v u l gare may
lower the risk of M. tuberculosis infection [].
Orhan et al. [] studied the antiviral activity of the
essential oil of fruit sample of F. v ulg a r e along with
other Turkish medicinal plants against the DNA virus Herpes
simplex type- (HSV-) and the RNA virus parainuenza
type- (PI-). Most of the oils and compounds displayed
strong antiviral eects against HSV-1,rangingbetween.
and . 𝜇g/mL. However, the samples tested were less
eective against PI-, with results ranging between . and
. 𝜇g/mL. Only the essential oils of Anethum graveolens,
Foeniculum vulgare (fully mature), Mentha piperita,Mentha
spicata,Ocimum minutiorum,Ocimum vulgaris,andSat-
ureja cuneifolia inhibited this virus signicantly.
All these literature ndings validated the traditional uses
of Foeniculum vulgare in infectious disorders like abdomi-
nal pains, antiemetic, arthritis, conjunctivitis, constipation,
depurative, diarrhea, dieresis, fever, atulence, gastralgia, gas-
tritis, insomnia, irritable colon, mouth ulcer, stomachache,
respiratory disorders, skin diseases, and so forth. ere is
always a need for new antimicrobial agents due to rapid
development of resistance. Bioactive metabolites of F. vu l g are
may be a potential source for new antimicrobial agents.
4.2. Anti-Inammatory Activity. Oral administration of
methanol extract of F. vu l g are fruittoratandmiceexhibited
inhibitory eects against acute and subacute inammatory
diseases. e anti-inammatory activity of methanol extract
was evaluated by using three screening protocols, namely,
carrageenan-induced paw edema, arachidonic acid-induced
ear edema, and formaldehyde-induced arthritis. ese
are widely used for testing nonsteroidal anti-inammatory
drugs. For acute inammation, methanol extract ( mg/kg)
exhibits signicant inhibition of paw edema (%) induced
by carrageenan injection as compared to the control group
of animals. Methanol extract of F. vu lgar e also inhibits
ear-edema (%) induced by arachidonic acid in mice. e
level of serum transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) signicantly
increases in the presence of methanolic extract of F. vul g a r e
on inammation induced by formaldehyde as compared
to control group. e assessment of the level of AST and
ALT provides a good and simple tool to measure the anti-
inammatory activity of the target compounds []. ese
overall results seem to suggest that F. vu lga r e FME may
act on both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways
[].
4.3. Antiallergic Activity. Methanolic extract of F. vul g a r e
fruit showed signicant inhibitory eect on DNFB- (,-
dinitrouorobenzene-) induced delayed type hypersensitiv-
ity aer oral administration of mg/kg once a day for
days. e inhibitory eect on immunologically induced
swelling suggests the possible immunosuppressive properties
of F. vu l g are [].
4.4. Hepatoprotective Activity. Essential oil of F. vul g a r e
seeds revealed a potent hepatoprotective eect against acute
hepatotoxicity produced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.
Oral administration of F. v u l gare essential oil decreases the
levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and
bilirubin as compared to the control group. Ozbek et al.
suggest that the constituents (d-limonene and 𝛽-myrcene) of
essentialoilmayhaveplayedakeyroleintheprotectionof
liver from CCl4toxicity [].
4.5. Anxiolytic Activity. Anxiety is the unpleasant feeling of
fear and concern. When anxiety becomes excessive, it may
be considered as an anxiety disorder. Anxiolytic fennel is
a drug used for the treatment of anxiety and its related
psychological and physical symptoms. Naga Kishore et al.
[] investigated the anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extract of
F. vu l g are fruit with the help of elevated plus maze, rota rod,
open eld test, and whole board models. e to mg
dose of extract per kg of body weight of animal revealed
signicant activity when compared to reference anxiolytic
drug called diazepam ( mg/kg). us, fennel extract may
possess anxiolytic activity supporting its traditional claim
about anxiolytic activity reported in th edition of Pharma-
cology and Pharmacotherapeutics by Sathodkar, Bhandarkar
and Rege.
4.6. Antistress Activity. Drug and food of natural origin
play a signicant role in public healthcare systems and are
being investigated as remedies for a number of stress-related
disorders []. e whole plant extract of F. vu l gare exhibited
notable antistress eect against stress induced by forceful
swimming of test animals. e key parameters, that is,
urinary levels of vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA) and ascorbic
acid in rats were used to evaluate antistress activity. e
plant extract (, and mg/kg body weight) showed
a signicant improvement in urinary levels of VMA (𝑃<
0.001), and ascorbic acid excretion levels (𝑃 < 0.001), in test
animalswhencomparedtothenormalbasallevelsincontrol
group of animals. us, the extract of entire plant of F. vul g a re
acts as an antistress agent [].
4.7. Memory-Enhancing Property. ere are a number of
plants, whose consumption is believed to enhance memory
BioMed Research International
and intelligence. ese were usually given to children as part
of their food. F. v u l g ar is an ayurvedic rasayana (mixture)
possessing multiple neuropharmacological activities. e
antidepressant activity of fennel has been well documented
in ethnomedicine. e whole plants extract (, and
mg/kg) of F. v ul g a re exhibited memory-enhancing eect
against scopolamine-induced amnesic rats. is experiment
was evaluated by conditioned avoidance response (CAR)
technique. e CAR of rats administered with the extract
increased gradually to % over to days. e acquisition
(time to achieve % CAR) for rats administered with the
extract was dose- and time-dependent compared to control
group,whichtookdaysforacquisition.epercent
avoidance was always higher in the extract-treated groups
as compared to control group. Animals receiving mg/kg
body weight of the extract took ten days, while groups treated
with and mg/kg doses of the extract required eleven
andtwelvedays,respectively,toreachthepointofacquisition.
Administration of scopolamine produced amnesia as seen
from reduction in the observed CAR. Amnesia was greater
inthecontrolgroupthaninextract-treatedgroups.How-
ever, continued treatment with F. vul g a re produced better
retention and recovery in a dose-dependent manner than
the vehicle-treated animals. Recovery from scopolamine-
induced amnesia in the extract-treated groups took – days
when compared to normal (control) group which took over
days. is overall progress suggests that F. vulg a r e extract
possesses memory-enhancing property [].
4.8. Nootropic Activity. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurode-
generative disorder associated with a decline in cognitive
abilities. Dementia is one of the age-related mental problems
and a characteristic symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. ere
is some evidence in favor of use of F. vulg a r e for the treat-
ment of cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease. Methanol extract of the whole plant of F. vul -
gare administered for eight successive days ameliorated the
amnesic eect of scopolamine and aging-induced memory
decits in mice. is extract increased step-down latency and
acetylcholinesterase inhibition in mice signicantly. us, F.
vulgare maybeemployedintreatmentofcognitivedisorders
such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as a nootropic and
anticholinesterase agent [].
4.9. Antihirsutism Activity. Idiopathic hirsutism is dened
as the occurrence of excessive male pattern hair growth in
women who have a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and
normal levels of serum androgens. It may be a disorder of
peripheral androgen metabolism. Traditionally, Foeniculum
vulgare hasbeenusedasanestrogenicagent.Ithasbeen
reputed to increase milk secretion, promote menstruation,
facilitate birth, and increase libido. On considering above
aspect, Javidnia and his research team evaluated the antihir-
sutism activity of ethanolic extract of F. vu lg a r e seed against
idiopathic hirsutism by preparing cream containing and %
of fennel extract. e ecacy of treatment with the cream
containing % fennel is better than the cream containing %
fennel and these two were more potent than placebo (control
group). e mean values of hair diameter reduction were
.%, .%, and −.% for patients receiving the creams
containing %, %, and % (placebo), respectively [].
4.10. Estrogenic Properties. Since the discovery of the estrus
inducing eects of some plant products in , consider-
able eort has been devoted towards the characterization
of phytoestrogens, including avonoids, isoavonoids, chal-
cones, coumestans, stilbenes, lignans, saponins, and essential
oils []. F. v ulg a r e has estrogen-like activity. In male rats,
total concentration of protein was found to be signicantly
decreased in testes and in vasa deferentia whereas increased
in seminal vesicles and in prostate gland. On the other
hand, simultaneous decrease in the activities of acid and
alkaline phosphatase in all these regions (except that alka-
line phosphatase was unchanged in vasa), due to the oral
administration of acetone extract of F. v u lga r e fruit, was
observed. In female rats oral administration of the extract for
days led to vaginal cornication and oestrus cycle []. Total
concentration of nucleic acids and protein as well as the organ
weights increased in both the tissues, namely, mammary
glands and oviducts, due to the oral administration of acetone
extract (, , and 𝜇g/ g body wt) of F. v u l gare seeds
[]. Fennel oil was reported to exhibit estrogenic activity,
promote menstruation and alleviate the symptoms of female
climacteric, and increase libido []. Administration of fennel
oil ( and 𝜇g/mL nal concentration in the organ bath)
failed to exhibit any remarkable eect in uterine contrac-
tion. While , and 𝜇g/ml concentration of fennel oil
revealed signicant inhibitory eect against prostaglandin
E. Fennel oil signicantly reduces the frequency of uterine
contraction induced by prostaglandin E. us, the extracts
of F. vu l g are have strong estrogenic activity [].
4.11. Galactogenic Activity. Foeniculum vulgare has been used
for millennia to increase milk secretion []. us, F. vul g are
belongs to galactagogue substance. Structural similarity of
its main constituent, anethole, to dopamine seems to be
responsibleforgalactogenicactivity.Dopamineactstoinhibit
the secretion of the milk-producing hormone, prolactin.
Anethole might inuence milk secretion by competing with
dopamine at the appropriate receptor sites, thereby inhibiting
the antisecretory action of dopamine on prolactin []. It was
reported that anol (demethylated anethole) causes growth
of the lobule-alveolar system in the mammary glands of
immature female rabbits and induces menstruation in mice
and other experimental animals. Anol also gave positive
results in the Jadassohn nipple test, a test which involves
the measurement of changes induced in the nipples of
guinea pigs subjected to the cutaneous application of sex
hormones. However, further research suggests that the actual
pharmacologically active agents responsible for galactogenic
activity are polymers of anethole, such as dianethole and
photoanethole, rather than anol or anethole itself [,].
4.12. Expectorant Activity. F. vulgare seeds stimulate the
ciliary motility of the respiratory apparatus and enhance the
BioMed Research International
external transport of extraneous corpuscles. is action sug-
gests a use for fennel in treating bronchial and bronchopul-
monary aictions and in particularly polluted environments
[]. e volatile oil of F. vul g a re stimulates the contraction
of the smooth muscles of the trachea, an action that could
facilitate the expectoration of mucus, bacteria, and other
corpuscles extraneous to the respiratory tracts [].
4.13. Anticolitic Activity. Essential oil of fennel regulates the
motility of smooth muscles of the intestine, while, at the
same time, reducing intestinal gas. Alone, or combined with
other plant medicinals, Foeniculum vulgare is indicated in the
treatment of spastic gastrointestinal disturbances, in some
forms of chronic colitis (which resist other treatments), in
dyspepsias from gastrointestinal atony, in dyspepsias with
the sensation of heaviness in the stomach, and so forth.e
addition of fennel to preparations containing anthraquinonic
components reduces the occurrence of abdominal pain oen
associated with this type of laxative [].
4.14. Antinociceptive Activity. Antinociceptive means any
substance that inhibits nociception which is a physiological
process underlying the sensation of pain. Briey, it reduces
the sensitivity to painful stimuli. e various extracts of
aerial part of F. v u l gare , namely, hexane, methylene chloride,
ethyl acetate, and methanolic extract showed remarkable
antinociceptive activity against acetic acid induced writhing
in mice []. e methanolic extract of the aerial parts of
F. vu l g are exhibited the highest antinociceptive activity at a
dose level of mg/kg, while the activity exhibited by the
ethyl acetate extract was at dose level mg/kg. On the other
hand, n-hexane extract ( mg/kg) and methylene chloride
extract ( mg/kg) exhibited similar antinociceptive activi-
ties, being less than peripheral antinociceptive reference drug
(acetyl salicylic acid) [].
4.15. Diuretic Activity. Adiureticisanysubstancethat
promotes the production of urine. Briey, it is an agent
that promotes diuresis. Diuretics work by promoting the
expulsion of urine (measured as the urine volume [UV]
excreted) and urinary sodium (UNa) from the body and this
helps reduce the volume of blood circulating through the
cardiovascular system. Caceres et al. []performedastudy
in conscious animals and administered a powdered extract
of the whole plant (F. v ul g a re)whichhadnoeectonUV
or UNa. e ethanolic extract of F. vulg a r e fruit revealed
excellent diuretic activity and proves the earlier folk claim
of F. vu l g are,whichwasreportedintheUnitedStateof
America (Table ). e fruit extract showed, statistically, a
highly signicant diuretic eect. F. vulg a r e induced diuresis
( mg/kg dose) was comparable to that of reference diuretic
agent urea ( mg/kg dose) in mice with a urine output
thatwasalmostdoublethatofthecontrolgroup.e
diuresis was not associated with changes in sodium and/or
potassium excretion []. In another part of the study, the
authors showed that Foeniculum vulgare had little eect on
the noradrenalin contractile responses of aortic rings, thus
suggesting that it worked mainly as a diuretic and natriuretic
with little eect on arterial vascular tone [].
4.16. Cardiovascular Activity. An aqueous extract of F. vu l -
gare leaves possesses potential cardiovascular action. is
eect was investigated using pentobarbital-anaesthetised
male albino Sprague-Dawley rats []. An intravenous
administration of the lyophilized boiled water extract of
leaves produced a signicant dose-related reduction in arte-
rial blood pressure, without aecting the heart rate or respi-
ratory rate. On the other hand the nonboiled aqueous extract
showed very little hypotensive activity. e hypotensive eect
of the boiling water extract appeared not to be mediated via
adrenergic, muscarinic, ganglionic, or serotonergic receptors;
however, histamine antagonists inhibited the hypotensive
eect in a dose-related manner [].
4.17. Oculohypotensive Activity. e aqueous seed extract of
F. vu l g are demonstrated signicant oculohypotensive activity
using water loading and steroid induced glaucoma model.
is extract exhibited ., ., and .% reduction of
intraocular pressure in normotensive rabbits at .%, .%,
and .% (w/v) concentrations, respectively. A maximum
mean dierence of .% was observed between vehicles
treated and extracts treated eyes in water loading experi-
mental animal model while a maximum mean intraocular
pressure lowering of .% was observed in steroid induced
model of glaucoma. us, the aqueous extract of F. vu lgar e
revealed oculohypotensive activity, which was found to be as
good as that of reference standard antiglaucoma drugs called
timolol [].
4.18. Antithrombotic Activity. Tog n o lin i e t al . [ ]provided
evidence of potent inhibitory activity of essential oil of F. v u l -
gare against platelet aggregation induced by ADP, arachidonic
acid, and collagen in guinea pig plasma. Similar ndings
were reported by Yoshioka and Tamada []foraggregation
of rabbit platelets by an aromatic factor of fennel oil. e
essential oil and anethole (a constituent of oil) of F. v u l g are ,
tested in vitro in rat aorta with or without endothelium,
displayed comparable NO-independent vasorelaxant activity
at antiplatelet concentrations. It supports the safety of F.
vulgare, that is, free from cytotoxic eects. Anethole and F.
vulgare didnotcausecytotoxicitywhenincubatedformin
upto 𝜇g/mL in platelet viability test. is concentration
was largely compatible with those adopted in the functional
in vitro tests. In vivo,bothF. vul g a re essential oil and
anethole orally administered in a subacute treatment to mice
( mg/kg/day for days) showed signicant antithrom-
botic activity preventing the paralysis induced by collagen-
epinephrine intravenous injection (% and % protection,
resp.). us, essential oil and its main component anethole of
F. vu l g are showed a safe antithrombotic activity in guinea pig
plasma that seems due to their broad spectrum antiplatelet
activity, clot destabilizing eect, and vasorelaxant action [].
4.19. Antimutagenic Eect. Essential oil of F. vu lgare revealed
noteworthy protective eects against genotoxicity in mice
BioMed Research International
induced by cyclophosphamide. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity
were assessed by using mice bone marrow chromosomal
aberration, micronucleus, and sperm abnormality assays,
respectively. Oral administration of essential oil ( and
mL/kg) signicantly inhibited the frequencies of aberrant
metaphases, chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei forma-
tion, and cytotoxicity in mouse bone marrow cells induced
by cyclophosphamide and also produced a signicant reduc-
tion of abnormal sperm and antagonized the reduction of
cyclophosphamide induced superoxide dismutase, catalase,
and glutathione activities and inhibited increased malondi-
aldehyde content in the liver. Additionally, F. vu lgare inhibits
the oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide [].
4.20. Gastrointestinal Eect. e aqueous extract of F. v u l gare
showed remarkable antiulcerogenic eect against ethanol-
induced gastric lesions in rats. It was found that pretreatment
with aqueous extract signicantly reduced ethanol-induced
gastric damage. is eect of aqueous extract was highest and
statisticallysignicantinmg/kggroupcomparedwiththe
control (𝑃 < 0.001) group of animal. Additionally, aqueous
extract of F. vu l g are signicantly reduced the whole blood
malondialdehyde levels, while signicantly increased nitrite,
nitrate, ascorbic acid, retinol, and beta-carotene levels. us,
aqueous extract of F. vul g are fruit had clearly a protective
eect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion in rats
[].
4.21. Chemomodulatory Action. e chemopreventive eect
of dierent doses of test diet of Foeniculum vulgare seeds was
examined against ,-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene- (DMBA-
) induced skin papillomagenesis and benzo(a)pyrene-
[B(a)P-] induced forestomach papillomagenesis, at the peri-
initiational level in Swiss albino mice. Fennel seeds exhibit
a signicant reduction in the skin and the fore-stomach
tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity as compared to
the control group. Further, biochemical assays showed
a signicant increase in the content/activities of phase I
enzymes especially in the case of % test diet. A concomitant
increase in the activities of the phase II enzymes was
observed with all the doses of test diet under study. A
signicant enhancement in the activities of antioxidant
enzymes was observed especially at % and % test diets of
fennel. ese ndings were indicative of chemopreventive
potential of fennel against carcinogenesis. is is the rst
report showing chemopreventive potential of seeds of fennel
against carcinogenesis [].
4.22. Cytoprotection and Antitumor Activity. Anethole is the
principal active component of fennel seeds which has exhib-
ited anticancer activity. Al-Harbi et al. studied the antitumor
activity of anethole against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma induced
in a tumor model in Swiss albino mice. e study revealed
that anethole increased survival time, reduced tumor weight,
andreducedthevolumeandbodyweightoftheEhrlich
ascites tumour-bearing mice. It also produced a signicant
cytotoxic eect in the Ehrlich ascites tumour cells in the paw,
reduced the levels of nucleic acids and malondialdehyde, and
increased glutathione concentrations []. In vitro cytopro-
tection activity of methanolic extract of Foeniculum vulgare
was evaluated against normal human blood lymphocytes by
micronucleus assay and antitumor activity against BF
melanoma cell line by Trypan blue exclusion assay for cell
viability. Lymphocyte culture treated with % methanolic
extract of Foeniculum vulgare showed very less percentage of
micronucleus, that is, .% as compared to standard drug
doxorubicin which showed .% micronucleus. On the
other hand % methanolic extract of Foeniculum vulgare has
potent antitumor activity at the concentration of 𝜇g/mL.
e results suggest that the Foeniculum vulgare could be
considered as a natural resource of antitumor agents as well
as cytoprotective to normal cells [].
4.23. Cytotoxicity. Kaileh and his coworker investigated the
cytotoxic eect of organic extracts of selected Palestinian
medicinal plant species. e plant selection was based on
existing ethnobotanic information and interviews with local
healers. e extracts of the plants under investigation were
tested for their potential antitumor (cytotoxic) eect on the
murine brosarcoma LsA cells and on the human breast
cancer cells MDA-MB and MCF. e extract from F.
vulgare presented an IC () value at h of 700 ± 28 and
500±17𝜇g/mL, on LsA and MCF cells, respectively. e
nuclear transcription factor NFkappaB or NF𝜅B regulates
the expression of various genes. ey further investigated
the eect of nine promising plant extracts, withheld from
the rst cell viability screening on NF𝜅Bactivation.e
dichloromethane and methanol ( : ) extract of aerial part of
F. vu l g are revealed immunomodulatory NF𝜅Bactivities[].
Also, Berrington and Lall investigated the in vitro cytotoxicity
of acetone extracts of F. vulg a r e and other eight medicinal
plants against a noncancerous African green monkey kidney
(Vero) cell line and an adenocarcinoma cervical cancer
(HeLa) cell line [].
4.24. Antipyretic Activity. F. vulgare extract showed
antipyretic activity against hyperpyrexia in mice. It was
induced by S.C. administration of mL/ g of a %
aqueous suspension of brewer’s yeast. As an antipyretic
agent, ethanolic extract of F. vul g a re fruit showed a moderate
antipyretic activity that was statistically signicant aer
and min (𝑃 < 0.01)[].
4.25. Hypolipidemic Activity. e aqueous extract of F. vu l -
gare revealed notable hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic
activity against Triton WR- induced hyperlipidemia
in mice. Aqueous extract causes signicant reduction of
plasma lipid levels, that is, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-
cholesterol, and apolipoprotein-B decreased by %, %,
%, and %, respectively, and increase in HDL-cholesterol
and apolipoprotein A by % and %, respectively [].
4.26. Hypoglycemic Activity. e essential oil of F. v ul g a re
exhibits potential hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity
against streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. Essential
oil(mg/kgbodyweight)ofF. v ulg a r e works in the
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correction of hyperglycemia from 162.5 ± 3.19 mg/dL to
81.97 ± 1.97mg/dL with 𝑃 < 0.05 and the activity of serum
glutathione peroxidase from 59.72 ± 2.78U/g Hb to 99.60 ±
6.38U/g Hb with 𝑃 < 0.05.Also,essentialoiloffennel
improves the pathological changes noticed in their kidney
and pancreas as compared with the control group of animal.
is can prove its eect as antidiabetic in folk Medicine. is
makes the possibility of its inclusion in antidiabetic drug
industry [].
4.27. Antispasmodic Activity. e antispasmodic activity of
.and.mL/LofalcoholicextractofFoeniculum vulgare
along with other Germanic medicinal plants, namely, Melissa
ocinalis,Rosmarinus ocinalis,Mentha piperita,Matricaria
chamomilla,Carum carvi, and Citrus aurantium were tested
employing the guinea pig ileum and using acetylcholine and
histamine as spasmogens. An alcoholic extract of the fruits of
Foeniculum vulgare possesses antispasmodic activity, which
inhibits the acetylcholine and histamine-induced guinea
pig ileal contractions in vitro.Anessentialoilwhichis
obtained from the fruits of Foeniculum vulgare,𝜇g/mL and
𝜇g/mL, respectively, inhibited oxytocin and prostaglandin
[].
4.28. Apoptotic Activity. eapoptoticactivitiesofethanol
extracts from fruits of seven species of Apiaceae family,
namely, Eryngium planum,Archangelica ocinalis,Pasti-
naca sativa,Heracleum sibiricum,Carum carvi,Foenicu-
lum vulgare, and Levisticum ocinale against ML-—human
acute myeloblastic leukaemia, J-.—human acute T
cell leukaemia, EOL—human eosinophilic leukaemia, HL-
—human Caucasian promyelocytic leukaemia, —
human T cell leukaemia lymphoblast, C-—human T
cell leukaemia, U-B—human myeloma, WICL—human
Caucasian normal B cell, and H-—human T cell were
investigated with the help of Trypan blue assay and Annexin
Vuosassay[]. e ethanol extract from fruit F. v ulg a r e
showedthehighestmortalityinTrypanbluetestforJ
cell line—% of viable cells and for C cell line—%
of mortality. However the cells of other lines showed the
highest viability: HL—%, EOL—%, and ML—–%.
e normal cell line H and WICL showed % and %
of viable cells, respectively. C cell line and J- cell line
showed the highest level of the apoptotic cells detected by
Annexin V method—% and %, respectively. However
thecellsoftwolinesHLandEOL-showedthelower
levels of apoptotic cells—% and %, respectively. High
percentageofapoptoticcellswasobservedinHandWICL—
% and %, respectively [].
4.29. Human Liver Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitory Activity.
irteen compounds isolated from the methanolic extract of
fennel have been found to possess human liver cytochrome
P A inhibitory activity. Among these compounds -
methoxypsoralen (-MoP) showed the strongest inhibition
with an IC value of . 𝜇mandwithamixedtypeof
inhibition [].
4.30. Antiaging Eects. Rasul and his coworker developed
a base and formulation containing % concentrated seed
extract of F. vu l g are.isformulationshowsnotableantiag-
ing eect with supporting experimental data related to skin
moisture and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). e base
was insignicant, while the formulation showed signicant
eects on skin moisture and TEWL. e texture parameter
energy showed a signicant increase proving that the formu-
lation possesses potential antiaging eects [].
4.31. Bronchodilatory Eect. Ethanol extract and essential oil
from F. vu lga r e exhibited bronchodilatory activity on con-
tracted tracheal chains of guinea pig. e potassium channel
opening eect of fennel may contribute on its relaxant eect
on guinea pig tracheal chains []. Moreover, anethole bears
a striking resemblance to the catecholamines epinephrine,
norepinephrine, and dopamine. is structural similarity
appears to be responsible for the various sympathomimetic
activities of F. vu lgare such as bronchodilatory eect [].
4.32. Antioxidant Activities. Naturally occurring antioxi-
dants can be used to protect human beings from oxidative
stress damage []. Fennel was known as excellent source of
natural antioxidants and contributed to the daily antioxidant
diet []. Wild fennel was found to exhibit a free radical scav-
enging activity with higher content phenolic and avonoid
than medicinal and edible fennel, and the aerial parts of
the Italian fennel populations showed the highest DPPH
scavenging activity []. Phenolic compounds of fennel,
including caeoylquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, eriodictyol-
-orutinoside, quercetin--O-galactoside, and kaempferol--
O-glucoside, showed antioxidant activities []. e volatile
oil showed strong antioxidant activity in comparison with
butyrated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene.
Ethanol and water extracts of fennel showed less antioxidant
activity compared with essential oil [].
5. Environmental Application
Foeniculum vulgare, that is, fennel, not only exhibited phar-
macological activities but also revealed a few environmental
activities. ese activities play a key role in the management
of nematode, insect, mosquitoes, and some harmful larvae of
malaria producing vector. us, the extracts of F. v u lgar e and
isolated biologically active compounds have been evaluated
for their insecticidal, repellent, acaricidal, larvicidal, and
nematicidal activity [–]. A brief review on the dierent
type of ecofriendly environmental activities as reported on
this plant is summarized below.
5.1. Insecticidal Activities. e fruit derived phytoconstitu-
ents of F. vulg a r e exhibited prominent insecticidal activi-
ties against Sitophilus oryzae,Callosobruchus chinensis, and
Lasioderma serricorne. is activity was examined using
direct contact application and fumigation methods. e
biologically active constituents, that is, phenylpropenes (E)-
anethole and estragole, and the monoterpene (+)-fenchone
were characterized from Foeniculum fruit. By using a lter
BioMed Research International
paper diusion test, estragole (. mg cm−2)caused%
mortality to S. oryzae within day aer treatment whereas
(+)-fenchone and (E)-anethole gave over % mortality at
and day aer treatment, respectively.
Aer days of treatment, all test compounds (.
mg cm−2 concentration) revealed potent insecticidal activity
against C. chinensis. Whereas aer day of treatment, (E)-
anethole (. mg cm−2) gave % mortality of L. serricorne
whereas and % mortality at day aer treatment was
achieved with estragole and (+)-fenchone, respectively. In a
fumigation test, the compounds were much more eective
against adults of S. oryzae,C. chinensis, and L. serricorne in
closed cups than in open ones, indicating that the insecticidal
activity of test compounds was largely attributable to fumi-
gant action. As naturally occurring insect-control agents, the
F. vu l g are fruit-derived materials described could be useful
for managing eld populations of S. oryzae,C. chinensis, and
L. serricorne [].
5.2. Acaricidal Activity. Fennel oil shows signicant acaricid-
al activity against Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatoph-
agoides pteronyssinus. (+)-fenchone and p-anisaldehyde are
major constituents of fruit oil of F. v ul g a re .P-anisaldehyde
was the most toxic compound against D. farinae and is much
more eective compared with benzyl benzoate, thymol, and
estragol [].
5.3. Repellent Activity. e methanolic extract of fruits of
F. vu l g are wasspectroscopicallycharacterizedforthepres-
ence of biologically active constituents called (+)-fenchone
and (E)--octadecenoic acid. e repellent activity of these
constituents was tested against hungry Aedes aegypti females
with the help of skin and patch tests and compared with
that of the commercial repellent agent called N,N-diethyl-
m-toluamide (DEET) and (Z)--octadecenoic acid. In a
skin test with female mosquitoes (+)-fenchone and (Z)--
octadecenoic acid (. mg/cm2) exhibited moderate repellent
activity at min aer treatment, whereas DEET provided
> h of protection against adult mosquitoes at (. mg/cm2).
us, (+)-Fenchone and (E)--octadecenoic acid are poten-
tial mosquito repellent agents or lead compounds [].
5.4. Larvicidal Activity. Plant extracts and oils may act as
alternatives to conventional pesticides for malaria vector
control. By considering this aspect, Sedaghat et al. []inves-
tigated the larvicidal activity of essential oils of three plants
of Apiaceae family against malaria vector called Anophe-
les stephensi.elarvicidalactivitywasevaluatedagainst
laboratory-reared larvae by standard method of WHO. e
F. vu l g are oil was the most eective against A. stephensi
with LC() and LC() values of . and . ppm,
respectively []. Additionally, the essential oil extracts from
leaves, owers, and roots of F. vu l g are exhibit noticeable
larvicidal activity against fourth-instar larvae of the mosquito
Culex pipiens molestus. Terpineol and ,-cineole content of F.
vulgare are the most eective phytoconstituent against Culex
pipiens molestus bites oering complete protection for . and
h, respectively [].Recently,Zoubirietal.[]reported
thelarvicidalactivityofessentialoiloffennelseedagainst
Culex pipiens mosquito. us, F. v u l gare can serve as a natural
larvicidal agent.
5.5. Nematicidal Activity. Oka et al. investigated the in vitro
nematicidal activity of essential oils extracted from spices
and aromatic plants in pot experiments. Twelve of the
twenty-seven essential oils immobilized more than % of
juveniles of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica at
a concentration of 𝜇L/liter. At this concentration, most
of these oils also inhibited nematode hatching. Essential oils
of Carum carvi,Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha rotundifolia,
and Mentha spicata showed the highest nematicidal activity
among the in vitro tested oils. In -liter pot experiments,
nematicidal activity of the essential oils and their components
was conrmed at and mg/kg, respectively. e results
suggest that the essential oils and their main components may
serve as nematicides [].
6. Toxicity
e long history of ethnomedicinal application, with no
reports of any serious side eects, suggests that F. vu lgare
could be considered as safe. In most toxicity experiments car-
ried out on F. vu lgare , no sign of toxicity was observed. Shah
and his coworker in investigated the detailed toxicity
account of ethanolic extract of fennel fruit in experimental
micewithrespecttoacuteanddayslongertermtoxicity
[]. In experimentation, Shah and his coworker observed
the general symptoms of toxicity and mortality for only h
in acute toxicity. Whereas, in another part of toxicity they
studied the eect of fennel extract on mice with days
long term treatment. Acute toxicity of ethanolic extract of F.
vulgare was assessed in mice by using three concentrations,
namely, ., , and g/kg body weight. In this investigation, F.
vulgare exhibited no signs of toxicity and no mortality was
observeduptothedoselevelg/kgbodyweight.Incaseof
longer term toxicity, ethanolic extract of F. v u lgar e ( mg/kg
body weight/day) was given in drinking water of animals
( male and female mice). All external morphological,
haematological, and spermatogenic changes, in addition to
body and vital organ weights, were recorded. e extract
caused no signicant chronic mortality as compared to
controls during this investigation. e treated male mice
gained signicant weight during chronic treatment while a
loss or no signicant change in weight was noticed in the
female mice treated with the same extract. e extracts did
not show spermatotoxic eects. us, Shah and his coworker
concluded that fennel extract is safe based on both acute
and/or long term toxicity studies []. Additionally, the plant
extract in doses of ., , and g/kg (orally) did not cause
any deaths. ese doses do not show any type of toxicity
against several parameters tested, namely, locomotor activity,
bizarre reactions, sensitivity to sound, social interaction, tail
posture, aggressive behaviour, ataxia, paralysis, convulsions,
tremors, prostration, exophthalmos, pupil size, defecation,
salivation, urination, pattern of respiration, nasal discharge,
cyanosis, and piloerection. Exceptionally, only the g/kg dose
BioMed Research International
showed signs of reduced locomotor activity and piloerec-
tion. Otherwise, all other parameters were negative [].
In another experiment of acute toxicity, dierent solvent
extracts, namely, n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate,
and methanol extracts of F. vu l g are upto . g/kg concentra-
tion, did not revealed any kind of toxicity in mice, LD
being: ., ., ., and g/kg for n-hexane, methylene
chloride, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts, respectively
[]. e plant extract of F. vulg a r e was administered orally
at a dose of , , , , , , and mg/kg
of body weight of mice. Each group of animals was under
visual observation for days for the external behavior of
neurological toxicity created by plant extract. Even the mice
receiving highest dose of F. vul g a re extract did not show any
mortality or toxicity demonstrating the safety prole of the
plant extract [].
e acute oral % LD for anethole in rats was found
to be mg/kg. Repeated doses of one-third the LD of
anethole ( mg/kg) given to rat caused mild liver lesions.
It would therefore appear that in normal therapeutic dosages
anethole would have minimal hepatotoxicity. When anethole
was fed to rats daily for one year as .% of the diet,
no hepatic damage was seen []. e acute oral LD of
essential oil in rats is mg/kg []. e use of F. v ulg a r e
essential oil as a remedy for control of primary dysmenorrhea
increases concern about its potential teratogenicity due to
its estrogen like activity. Evaluation of teratogenicity of
essential oil using limb bud mesenchymal cells showed that
the essential oil may have toxic eect on fetal cells, but
there was no evidence of teratogenicity upto concentration
of . mg/mL of culture medium []. e overall toxicity
studies carried out on F. vu lg a r e accounts for its safety at the
recommended therapeutic doses.
7. Conclusions
e available scientic research on Foeniculum vulgare
has shown that it is an important medicinal plant used in
a wide range of ethnomedical treatments, especially for
abdominal pains, antiemetic, aperitif, arthritis, cancer, colic
in children, conjunctivitis, constipation, depurative, diarrhea,
dieresis, emmenagogue, fever, atulence, gastralgia, gastritis,
insomnia, irritable colon, kidney ailments, as a laxative,
leucorrhoea, liver pain, mouth ulcer, and stomachache. is
plant has been in use for a long period of time without
any documented serious adverse eects. Studies carried
out in the past and present indicate that fennel possesses
diverse health benets and are an important constituent
of food. Studies have shown that various extracts of
fennel possess a range of pharmacological actions, such as
antiaging, antiallergic, anticolitic, antihirsutism, anti-inam-
matory, antimicrobial and antiviral, antimutagenic, antino-
ciceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antistress, antithromb-
otic, anxiolytic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory
action, cytoprotection and antitumor, cytotoxicity, diuretic,
estrogenic properties, expectorant, galactogenic, gastrointes-
tinal eect, hepatoprotective, human liver cytochrome P
A inhibitory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, memory-en-
hancing property, nootropic, and oculohypotensive activity
supporting its traditional use. However, the most prominent
and the well studied eects are the antimicrobial and
antioxidant eects of essential oil of fennel in dierent
experimental models. e observed health benets may be
credited to the presence of the various phytochemicals like
volatile compounds, avonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty
acids, and amino acids.
Fennel also contains mineral and trace elements like
aluminum, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium,
copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, strontium,
and zinc []; fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, E,
and K; water soluble vitamins like ascorbic acid, thiamine,
riboavin, niacin, and pyridoxine; essential amino acids
like leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and tryptophane may
contribute to the myriad health benecial eects at least in
part.
Most of the pharmacological studies were conducted
using uncharacterized crude extracts of fennel. It is dicult
to reproduce the results of these studies and pinpoint the
bioactive compounds. Hence, there is a need for chemi-
cal standardization and bioactivity-guided identication of
bioactive compounds. Among several classes of chemical
constituents identied in fennel, volatile components of fen-
nel essential oil and phenolic compounds are assumed to be
the main bioactive compounds responsible for the majority
of its pharmacological eects. However, the vast traditional
use and proven pharmacological activities of fennel indicate
that an immense scope still exists for its chemical exploration.
Futurestudiesshouldbefocusedonvalidatingthemecha-
nism of action responsible for the various benecial eects
andalsoonunderstandingwhichplantbasedcompoundsare
responsible for the reported eects. e required information
when available will enhance our knowledge and appreciation
fortheuseoffennelinourdailydiet.Also,theoutcome
of such chemical studies may further expand its existing
therapeutic potential.
us, there are many areas of research related to this
plantthatneedtobefurtherexploredtofullyrecognizeits
benecial eects for society. Factors such as geographical and
seasonal variation play an important role in the authentica-
tion of the chemical constituents responsible for the activity
which also can be an area of interest. us, it is incumbent
onresearcherstollthehugegapofinsucientknowledge
andcreateawarenessamongpharmacologistsaswellasinves-
tigators towards providing better medicinal value derived
from this plant. is can be fullled only by generating
interest among the research community through writing of
critical appraisals (paper) and extending the interdisciplinary
research area to focused studies on Foeniculum vulgare.
Conflict of Interests
e authors conrm that this paper’s content has no conict
of interests.
Acknowledgments
e authors acknowledge the Indian Council of Medical
Research, New Delhi, for providing Centenary Postdoctoral
BioMed Research International
Research Fellowship to Dr. Shamkant B. Badgujar. e
authors are grateful to Professor V. S. Kanchi (Librarian,
Moolji Jaitha College, Jalgaon, India) for his instructive
suggestion in the revised version of the paper. e authors
would like to thank all the anonymous reviewers for their
constructive comments and thoughtful implications on the
paper.
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