3977. Fennel

Nomenclature

Large fennel; sweet fennel.

Description and references

Dried, ripe fruit of cultivated varieties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Umbelliferae. Habit. Southern Europe, Western Asia, widely cultivated. Constit. 2-6% volatile oil, fixed oil, protein, organic acids and flavonoids. Clinical trial of fennel oil emulsion in infantile colic: I. Alexandrovich et al., Altern. Ther. Health Med. 9, 58 (2003). Review: F. S. D'Amelio, Sr., Botanicals (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1999) pp 105-106.

Derivative

Volatile oil.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 8006-84-6
Oil of fennel.

Description and references

Constit. 50-70% trans-anethole, up to 20% (+)-fenchone, methylchavicol, anisaldehyde, terpenoids including α-pinene, limonene, α-phellandrene.

Properties

Colorless or pale yellow liquid with characteristic odor of fennel. d2525 0.953-0.973. αD25 +12 to +24°. nD20 1.532-1.543. Slightly sol in water; sol in 1 vol 90% or in 8 vols 80% alcohol; very sol in chloroform, ether. Keep well closed, cool and protected from light.

Use

Flavoring agent in foods. Pharmaceutic aid (flavor). Used in eye washes and in facial steams to soothe and clean skin.

Therapeutic Category

Carminative.