Description
Trans-anethole is a phenylpropene derivative found in many essential oils, including anise oil. Trans-anethole is commercially used as an insecticide and flavorant. This compound exhibits neuromodulatory, anxiolytic, antioxidative, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. Trans-anethole activates NMDA receptors, decreasing Ca2+ overload and ROS levels and protecting against cerebral ischemia-induced neurodegeneration. Trans-anethole also inhibits growth of Aspergillus and Saccharomyces. In vivo, this compound decreases expression of TNF-α, IL-6, HMGB-1, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and MyD88 and suppresses activation of ERK, p38 MAPK, JNK, c-Jun, and NF-κB.
References
Miyagawa M, Satou T, Yukimune C, et al. Anxiolytic-Like Effect of Illicium verum Fruit Oil, trans-Anethole and Related Compounds in Mice. Phytother Res. 2014 Jun 11. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 24919985.
Ryu S, Seol GH, Park H, et al. Trans-anethole protects cortical neuronal cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation. Neurol Sci. 2014 Oct;35(10):1541-7. PMID: 24777545.
Fujita KI, Tatsumi M, Ogita A, et al. Anethole induces apoptotic cell death accompanied by reactive oxygen species production and DNA fragmentation in Aspergillus fumigatus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEBS J. 2014 Jan 2. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 24393541.
Cho HI, Kim KM, Kwak JH, et al. Protective mechanism of anethole on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice. J Nat Prod. 2013 Sep 27;76(9):1717-23. PMID: 23962021.
