Details of Medicinal Plants

Star Anise

Illicium verum Hook. F. Schisandraceae

This plant is a tropical evergreen tree, and grows wild from northern part of Vietnam to Guangxi Province in China. The plant height is 10 to 14 meters and there are two flowering periods (October to November and February to March). Shikimic acid derived from this plant is a key intermediate in the synthesis of the influenza drug (oseltamivir).

Part used: fruit
Medicinal use: aromatic stomachic
Main component: anethole

Flowers are spherical and colored light crimson, red, or white.

The dried fruit is called star anise and is used as a spice.

Japanese star anise (a close relative of star anise) grows wild in Japan and is toxic.