TRADITIONAL USES, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ANISUN (PIMPINELLA ANISUM L.): A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Mohd Asad1, Nehal Ashraf1, Sayeedur Rahman2, Kamal Ahmad3, Ahmed Minhajuddin4 & Mohammad Zakir6*
Pimpinella anisum (anise) is an aromatic medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family. It is known as Anisun in the Unani system of medicine. The drug Anisun consists of dried fruits of Pimpinella anisum L. In ethnomedical literature, it has been described as a stimulant, carminative, mild expectorant, diuretic, and diaphoretic showing that the plant has diverse biological and pharmacological activities. It is used as Muhallil-i Riyah (carminative), Muqawwi-i-Mi‘da (stomachic), Mushtahī (appetizer), Mufattih (deobstruent), Mufattih-i Sudad (deobstruent), Munaffith-i-Balgham (expectorant), Mudir (diuretics), and Kasir-i-Riyah (carminative) in Unani system of medicine. It is used to treat the Waja' al-Mi'da (gastralgia), Nafkh al-Mi'da (flatulence), and Dīq al-Nafas (bronchial asthma).