Foeniculum vulgareMill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology

Abstract

Foeniculum vulgare Mill commonly called fennel has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Additionally, it is also used as a galactagogue agent for lactating mothers. The review aims to gather the fragmented information available in the literature regarding morphology, ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Foeniculum vulgare. It also compiles available scientific evidence for the ethnobotanical claims and to identify gaps required to be filled by future research. Findings based on their traditional uses and scientific evaluation indicates that Foeniculum vulgare remains to be the most widely used herbal plant. It has been used for more than forty types of disorders. Phytochemical studies have shown the presence of numerous valuable compounds, such as volatile compounds, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids. Compiled data indicate their efficacy in several in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antithrombotic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and memory enhancing property. Foeniculum vulgare has emerged as a good source of traditional medicine and it provides a noteworthy basis in pharmaceutical biology for the development/formulation of new drugs and future clinical uses.

In Vitro Inhibition of Cholera Toxin Production in <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> by Methanol Extract of Sweet Fennel Seeds and Its Components

“…Different spices including sweet fennel are already well known for their disease healing capacity. Fennel seeds are recommended to reduce or cure many ailments such as abdominal pains, colic in children, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, gastritis, irritable colon, and stomachache (12,22). In this study, we observed that sub-bactericidal concentrations of sweet fennel seed methanol extract and its major components could drastically inhibit CT production in different serogroups of V. cholerae.…”

The Use of Herbal Medicine in a Rural Community in Vitória Da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil: An Indication for Pharmacological Studies

“…Stomach and intestinal problems, influenza, tranquilizer, insomnia, hypertension, fever Tranquilizer Sedative, anxiolytic activities [64], antibacterial, antifungal [65], vasorelaxant effect was evaluated in vitro in rat superior mesenteric artery rings [37] Matricaria chamomilla Tranquilizer and insomnia Tranquilizer…”

Hepatoprotective Properties of Fennel Seeds Extract

“…Depending on the variety it may be an annual, biennial or perennial herb. Survey of published literature revealed that significant research work have been carried out on various aspects of its cultivation (propagation), nutritive value, uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of seeds and green herbs as well as toxicity of F. Vulgare [1]. Fennel has been known to controls many infectious disorders of microorganism origin [2][3][4][5].…”

“…Fennel has been known to controls many infectious disorders of microorganism origin [2][3][4][5]. Seeds and essential oil of fennel has been reported to possess antioxidant, antitumor, chemopreventive, cytoprotective, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, and oestrogenic activities [1]. In India fennel is cultivated in semi arid regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan states with an area of 760 lakh hectares and production of 129350 tonnes annually (Spice board, India).…”