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Illicium verum is a tree belonging to the family (Schisandraceae = Illiciaceae)
This species is known as anise or star anise, by the characteristic shape of its fruit.
The anise is native to the tropical forests of South China and northern Vietnam.
It is now grown in any warm, moist area in the Americas and even in parts of Europe.
It is an evergreen tree, characterized by white crust.
We observe a large pointed leaves foliage provided, leathery, glabrous.
The flowers, which are solitary, having between 15 and 20 petals of a white or pink.
Its fruit is brown - reddish, pedunculated and forming eight follicles.
In each of these follicles, find a seed flat and glossy, which is regarded as the drug of this fruit.
Like anise, essential oil possesses carminative action, expectorant, spasmodic and antiseptic.
In addition, pharmaceutical and food industries, is used as organoleptic corrector.
The active star anise have aroused the interest of the pharmaceutical industry.
In the case of trans-anethole, the main component of the essential oil.
It is a chemical precursor of the para-methoxy-amphetamine, more known as ecstasy.
But the most widely used active ingredient is shikimic acid.
Is the primary ingredient for obtaining a medicine for influenza known as Tamiflu (Roche Laboratories)
In 2001, there were several cases in Spain where children under three months, had severe digestive and neurological symptoms.
This event was related to consumption by infants, star anise infusions.
From the Ministry of Health took steps to counter the situation.
The problem manifested itself in several European countries, so that has made decisions on future import control in Europe.