Foeniculum
vulgare.
Fennel
Family: Umbelliferae
Sweet Fennel is the variety generally used, sometimes referred to as var
dulce while Bitter Fennel as var vulgare. The herb and fresh bulb
are used in cooking.
PART USED:Seed-
of cultivated plants. TASTE: Sweet, aromatic. ODOR: Characteristic. ACTIONS GROUP: The Gastro- Intestinal Tract- Carminatives
1. Anti-inflammatory.[1,2,3]
2. Antiseptic. Antimicrobial.[1]
3. Aperitive. Stomachic.[2] Carminative.[1,2]
4. Aromatic.[1]
5. Galactogogue.
6. Orexigenic.[1,2]
7. Diuretic.[1] INDICATIONS- It is a popular flavouring in drinks, sweets and in cooking.
1. Flatulent colic in children.[1,2,3]
Anorexia.[1] Flatulent dyspepsia.[1]Intestinal catarrh.
2. Coughs. Colds. Asthma. Pharyngitis.
3. Nursing aid to low oestrogen levels.
4. Conjunctivitis, blepharitis.
5. Often used as a childrents medicine for its mild actions.
6. Recommended as a flea repellent.
7. Used to flavour medicines. Topically- Conjunctivitis.[1]
Blepharitis-eye wash.[1] Pharyngitis-
gargle.[1] SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Flatulence and colic in infants.[1] COMBINATIONS
- Flatulent colic, with Chamomile, Acorus,
and Alpinia.
- Bacterial cystitis, with Agathosma and
Bearberry.
- Throat inflammation- as gargle- use with Rosemary,
Sage, Witch
Hazel. PREPARATIONS
3X /day
Dried seeds 0.3-0.6 g, or as infusion 1:20.[1]
1:1 60% alcohol.[4]
Fluid extract 1:1 in 70% alcohol 0.8-2 ml.[1]
0.5-2 ml.[3]
Concentrated Fennel water (BPC1934) 0.3-1 ml.[3] PART
USED: Volatile oil ACTIONS
1. Spasmolytic.[5,6]
2. Carminative.[5,6] PREPARATIONS
Fennel Oil 0.03-0.2 mls (BPC 1949).[3] ORIGIN: Europe. Cultivated widely.
DESCRIPTION: Perennial herb. Whole plant highly aromatic. Stem; erect,
cylindrical. Basal leaves clustered, stem leaves alternate, leaves 3 or 4 times
pinnately compound, parted lobes linear. Flowers appear in the fall, yellow in
a compound umbellate inflorescence. Fruit; is about 1 cm long and 0.25 cm broad,
oblong, cylindrical and slightly curved. The fruit is about 1 cm
long and 0.25 cm broad, oblong, cylindrical and slightly curved. Each half fruit
has four longitudinal ridges, the two lateral thicker than the two dorsal. the
color varies from greenish to brown. References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 Published by the British Herbal Medicine
Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3]Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations
R.C. Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published
in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel
Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed
and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
[4] The Pharmaceutical Plant Company Pty Ltd ppcherbs.com.au
[5] Forster, H. B. et al. (1980) Planta Med. 40 (4),
309
[6] Harries, N. et al. (1978) J. Clin. Pharm. 2, 171 Images
1. plantasonya.com.br
Retrieved 24-June-14
2. claypot.com.my
Retrieved 24-June-14
3. [1]
4.
indiamart.com
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the
use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.Constituents.
Fruit: Volatile oil- up
to 8%.
Sterols.[6] Sugars.[6] Oil: 2-8% consisting of anethole[1]
approximately 80%, in sweet fennel and 60% in Bitter fennel.[2]
Some varieties are anethole free with up to 80% estragole. These are not suitable
for normal use.[3]
Fenchone[1]~ 10-30%, higher in Bitter
than Sweet Fennel.[3,4,5]
Limonene, anisaldehyde, a- and b-
pinene, a-phellandrene, myrcene, ocimene, a-
and b-terpinene and apiole.[4,5,6]
Flavonoids; mainly rutin, quecetin and kaempferol glycosides.[7,8]
Coumarins; bergapten, imperatorin, zanthotoxin and marmesin.[9] Root: The essential oil from the root contains a substantial
amount of apiole and that from the aerial parts is similar in composition to
the oil from the fruit.[10] References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 Published by the British Herbal Medicine
Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2]Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations
R.C. Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published
in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel
Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed
and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
[3] Betts, T. J. (1968) J. Pharm. Pharacol. 20, 615
[4] Karlsen, J. et al. (1969) Planta Med. 17, 281
[5] Rothbacher, H. and Kraus, A. (1970) Pharmazie 25, 566
[6] Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used in Food Drugs and Cosmetics,
Albert Y. Leung Pub. John Wiley & Sons Inc. (1980) NY
[7] Harbone, J. B. and Williams, C. E. (1972) Phytochem. 11,
1741.
[8] Kunzemann, L. and Hermann, K. (1977) Z. Lebens. Unters Forsch. 164
194
[9] El-Khrisy, E. A. M. et al. (1980) Fitoterapia 51,
273
[10] Stahl, E. (1980) Deutsche Apoth. Ztg. 45, 2324
Research.
The volatatile oil has been shown to increase liver regeneration in partially
hepatectomized rats.[1]
Fennel is antiinflammatory in rats and also slightly oestrogenic.[2] References
[1]Gershbein, L. L (1977) Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 15 (3),
173
[2] Albert- Puleo, M. (1980) J. Ethnopharmacol. 2, 337
Clinical report: for treament of incarcerated hernia of small intestine,
use 10-20 g fennel (less for children) to make tea; drink it hot; if no effects
are shown within 15-30 minutes, repeat once more. Or, use hot water to make fennel
soul (4 to 8 g fennel seed for adults and 2 g for children), and drink the soup;
10 minutes later repeat and drink once more, then lie down of your back with your
legs together and knees half bent for 40 minutes. In general, the incarcerated
hernia should restore itself within half an hour, and the pain should dissapear
or improve, otherwise, surgery is indicated, according to this clinical report.
Among the 26 cases treated from 2 hours to 3 days, 22 cases have recovered and
4 cases have shown no effects (3 cases of incarcerated omentum majus and 1 case
of parietal necrosis). the report also indicates that the treatment results are
better in cases with a shorter history of the disease.[1] References
[1] Chinese System of Food Cures Prevention and Remedies. 1986Lu,
Henry. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York. USA. Distributed in Australia by
Capricorn Book Co. Pty Ltd. Lane Cove, NSW. ISBN 0-8069-6308-5.
Medicinal properties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. in traditional
Iranian medicine and modern phytotherapy.
Rahimi R, Ardekani MR. Abstract: Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (F. vulgare), commonly known
as Fennel, is a popular medicinal plant with various pharmacological activities
mentioned in traditional Iranian medicine (TIM) and modern phytotherapy such as
antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, bronchodilatory, estrogenic,
diuretic, lithontripic, galactogogue, emmenagogue, antithrombotic, hypotensive,
gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, memory enhancing, and antimutagenic activities.
No serious adverse events were recorded after ingestion of F. vulgare except some
cases of allergic reactions. The estrogenic activity of F. vulgare brings some
side effects such as decrease in protein concentration and acid and alkaline phosphatase
in male genital organs, increase in weight of mammary glands and reproductive
organs in women and premature thelarche in girls. However, no evidence of teratogenicity
was recorded, it is better not to use F. vulgare during pregnancy due to its estrogenic
activity. Because of inhibition of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), the pharmacokinetic
parameters of drugs mainly metabolized by this isozyme may be affected by F. vulgare.
In addition, a significant interaction between cyprofloxacin and F. vulgare was
demonstrated. The aim of current paper is to review pharmacological properties,
toxicity and adverse events, and drug interactions of vulgare and brings conclusive
results about the use of this plant in men, women and during pregnancy. Source: Chin J Integr Med. 2013 Jan;19(1):73-9. doi: 10.1007/s11655-013-1327-0.
Epub 2012 Dec 29. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Foeniculum
vulgare.
Fennel
Family: Umbelliferae
