BioMed Research International

Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 842674, 32 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/842674

Review Article

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

Shamkant B. Badgujar, Vainav V. Patel, and Atmaram H. Bandivdekar

Department of Biochemistry, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, ICMR, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400 012, India

Received 11 February 2014; Revised 26 May 2014; Accepted 9 June 2014; Published 3 August 2014

Academic Editor: Ronald E. Baynes

Copyright © 2014 Shamkant B. Badgujar et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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.

1. Introduction

Foeniculum vulgare is the oldest valid name within the genus Foeniculum for the plant designated by Karsten as Foeniculum Foeniculutn. However, according to the international rules of nomenclature, the binomial name Foeniculum vulgare was not validly published by Hill in his reference [1] for the reason that he did not consistently adopt the binomial system of nomenclature. In accordance with the international rules as adopted at Cambridge, the name Foeniculum vulgare must be accredited to Philip Miller, who first validly published it in the eighth edition of his “Gardeners Dictionary” in 1768. From then on, the name of this plant is written as Foeniculum vulgare Mill. It is a medicinal plant belonging to the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family, known and used by humans since antiquity, due to its flavor. It was cultivated in almost every country [2]. It is universally known as Fennel and is known by more than 100 names (Table 1). It is a traditional and popular herb with a long history of use as a medicine. A series of studies showed that F. vulgare effectively controls numerous infectious disorders of bacterial, fungal, viral, mycobacterium, and protozoal origin [3–7]. It has antioxidant, antitumor, chemopreventive, cytoprotective, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, and oestrogenic activities [8–12]. Some of the publications stated that F. vulgare has a special kind of memory-enhancing effect and can reduce stress [13]. Animal experiments and limited clinical trials suggest that chronic use of F. vulgare is not harmful. Fennel maybe consumed daily, in the raw form as salads and snacks, stewed, boiled, grilled, or baked in several dishes and even used in the preparation of herbal teas or spirits. A diet with desired quantity of fennel could bring potential health benefits due to its valuable nutritional composition with respect to presence of essential fatty acids [14]. In recent years, increased interests in improvement of agricultural yield of fennel due to its medicinal properties and essential oil content has encouraged cultivation of the plant on large scale.

Table 1: Vernacular names of Foeniculum vulgare.

Region/language/system of medicine
Local name

Alto, Bolivia
Hinojo

Arabic
Bisbas, razianaj

Aymara, Kechua
Inuju

Balikesir, Turkey
Arapsaci, rezene, malatura, hullebe

Basque
Mieloi

Bengali (Indian language)
Mauri, pānmourī

Bosnia
Komorač

Brazil
Endro, erva-doce, funcho

Catalan
Fenoll, fonoll

Central Serbia
Morac

Chinese
Hui xiang, xiao hui xiang

Czech
Fenykl

Dalmatia (southern Croatia), Poland
Komorač, koromač, kumurač, morač, moroč, morača, Koper wloski

Danish
Almindelig fennikel, fennikel

Denmark
Almindelig

Dutch
Venkel

English
Bitter fennel, common fennel, sweet fennel, wild fennel

France
Fenouille

French
Fenouil

Germany
Fenchel, fenchle, bitterfenchel, wilder fenchel, dunkler fenchel,

Guerrero, Mexico
Hinojo

Gujarati (Indian language)
Hariyal, variyali

Haryana, India
Saunf

Hindi (Indian language)
Badi, badishep, bari saunf, badi saunf, saunp, saunf, sonp, sont

Italy
Finucchio, finucchiello, finochietto, finocchiella, fenùcciu, fenucéttu-sarvègu

Jammu and Kashmir, India
Saunf

Japanese
Fenneru, uikyou, uikyou, shouikya

Java, Indonesia
Adas

Jordan
Shomar

Kallawaya
Jinuchchu

Kannada
Badi sopu, badisepu, sabbasige, dodda sopu, dodda jirige

Korea
Sohoehyang

Laotian
Phaksi

Latin
Foeniculum, maratrum

Loja, Ecuador
Hinojo

Majorcan area
Fonoll

Middle Navarra
Hinojo, cenojo

Marathi (Indian language)
Badishep, baḍ īśep, shoap

Nepalese
Madesi sauf

North Iran
Badian

North Portugal
Funcho

Norway
Fenikkel

Norwegian
Fennikel

Pakistan
Sonef, saunf

Peninsula, Spain
Hinojo

Persian
Razianeh

Polish
Fenkuł, koper włoski

Portuguese
Funcho

Rajasthan, India
Sanuf

Sanskrit (Indian language)
Madhurika, shatapushpa

Slovenian
Sladki komarček

Somali Region, Ethiopia
Kamon

South Europe
Fennel

South Africa
Vinkel, fennel

Spanish
Hinojo, hinojo amargo, fenoll, fiollo, millua

Swedish
Fänkål

Tamil (Indian language)
Perun siragum, shombu, sohikire

Telugu (Indian language)
Peddajilakurra, sopu

Thai
Phak chi, phak chi duen ha, phak chi lom, thian klaep, yira

Uttarakhand, India
Badesoppu

Research on F. vulgare with current technology has been conducted all over the world. All the available literature on F. vulgare was compiled from electronic databases such as Academic Journals (including high impact, nonimpact, and nonindexed journals), Ethnobotany, Google Scholar, Scopus link, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and library search. A review of the literature from 2001 to 2005 shows only 20% reports published on F. vulgare which increased to about 38% from 2006 to 2010. Briefly, in these 10 years a total of 89 claims appeared in the literature on various aspects of F. vulgare. It is important to note that about 39% of reports (61 articles) were collected from recent three years, that is, 2011 to 2013 (Figure 1). Some of the earlier published reviews of this plant included medicinal properties and phytochemistry [15–20], but few of them appear in all these reviews. However, there is a need for an inclusive review that bridges the gaps between traditional uses of fennel and its in vitro studies. The present review attempts to collate the available information on the botany, nation-wise common vernacular names, cultivation (propagation), nutritive value, and traditional/contemporary as well as allied applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of F. vulgare. We hope that this review may provide scientific basis that explains the ethnophytopharmacological role of F. vulgare in order to facilitate and guide future research. In particular, we aimed to answer the following questions. (1) What information is available on the traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, and toxicity of F. vulgare? (2) What pharmacological studies were performed on this plant and how do they validate its traditional uses? (3) What is the future for F. vulgare?

Figure 1: Research papers in different aspects especially traditional or ethnobotanical knowledge, phytochemistry, pharmacological, and various biological activities of Foeniculum vulgare. (Papers were collected via electronic databases such as Academic Journals, Ethnobotany, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct.)

1.1. Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae, division: Tracheophyta, subdivision: Spermatophytina, class: Magnoliopsida, order: Apiales, family: Apiaceae, genus: Foeniculum, species: vulgare, and botanical name: Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

1.2. Botanical Description

Fennel is an ancient seasonal herb. The fennel plant originated in the southern Mediterranean region and through naturalization and cultivation it grows wild throughout the Northern, Eastern, and Western hemispheres, specifically in Asia, North America, and Europe. It is cultivated in fields and also grows wild. The herb was well-known to the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Indians, and Chinese. The Romans grew it for its aromatic seeds and the edible fleshy shoots are still a very common vegetable in southern Italy [21]. Emperor Charlemagne was known to have encouraged its cultivation in Central Europe. It is an indispensable ingredient in modern French and Italian cooking. All parts of the plant are aromatic and can be used in many ways.

F. vulgare is an upright, branching perennial herb (Figure 2(a)) with soft, feathery, almost hair-like foliage growing upto 6.6 ft. (2 m) tall. This plant looks similar to dill. It is typically grown in vegetable and herb gardens (Figure 2(f)) for its anise-flavored foliage and seeds, both of which are commonly harvested for use in cooking. It is erect and cylindrical, bright green, and smooth as to seem polished, with multiple branched leaves (Figure 2(c)) cut into the finest of segments. The leaves grow upto 40 cm long; they are finely dissected, with the ultimate segments filiform (threadlike), about 0.5 mm wide. The bright golden flowers, produced in large, flat terminal umbels, with thirteen to twenty rays, bloom in July and August (Figure 2(d)).

Figure 2: Foeniculum vulgare Mill (a) in its natural habitat; (b) stem; (c) leaves; (d) inflorescences and flowers; (e) fruits; and (f) population of F. vulgare Mill.

Foliage. Stem striate, leaves 3-4 pinnate, segments filiform, upto 1.6 in. (4 cm) long; leaf bases sheathing. It has a green, sleek, and slippery stem with upright stiff branches and much divided leaves in linear segments (Figure 2(b)). Rays are 5–30 numbers with 0.39–2.4 inches (1–6 cm) long. Flowers are small, yellow, and found in large flat-topped umbels (Figure 2(d)). Fruits are oblong to ovoid with 0.12–0.2 inches (3–5 mm) long and 1.5–2.0 mm broad (Figure 2(e)). The stylopodium persists on the fruit. The fruits are elongated and have strong ribs. The most esteemed fennel seeds vary from three to five lines in length and are elliptical, slightly curved, and somewhat obtuse at the ends (Figure 3(a)). They are greenish-yellow, the colour of hay, from which the term fennel is derived. Wild fruits are short, dark coloured and blunt at their ends, and have a less agreeable flavour and odour than those of sweet fennel. Seeds ripen from September to October. This plant can reproduce from crown or root fragments but freely reproduces from seed.

(a)

(b)

Figure 3: Normal fennel seeds (a) and sugar coated and uncoated fennel seeds (b) used in mukhwas.

1.3. Chemical Composition and Nutritional Value of Fennel

Foeniculum vulgare is widely grown for its edible fruit or seeds. These are sweet and dry; a fully ripe specimen is an exquisite fruit. The fruit is often dried for later use and this dried fruit called fennel is a major item of commerce. Table 2 lists the nutrient composition of fennel (USDA data). Fennels are one of the highest plant sources of potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and calcium. According to USDA data for the Mission variety, fennels are richest in dietary fiber and vitamins, relative to human needs. They have smaller amounts of many other nutrients.

Table 2: Nutrients found in dried fennel (USDA, USA).

Composition
Quantity (Per 100 g)

Proximates

    Moisture
90.21 g

    Energy
31 kcal

    Protein
1.24 g

    Total lipid (fat)
0.2 g

    Carbohydrate
7.3 g

    Total dietary fiber
3.1 g

    Sugars
3.93 g

Minerals

    Calcium, Ca
49 mg

    Iron, Fe
0.73 mg

    Magnesium, Mg
17 mg

    Phosphorus, P
50 mg

    Potassium, K
414 mg

    Sodium, Na
52 mg

    Zinc, Zn
0.2 mg

Vitamins

    Vitamin C
12 mg

    Thiamin B-1
0.01 mg

    Riboflavin B-2
0.032 mg

    Niacin B-3
0.64 mg

    Vitamin B-6
0.047 mg

    Folate
27 g

    Vitamin A
48 g

    Vitamin E
0.58 mg

    Vitamin K
62.8 g

Lipids

    Fatty acids, total saturated
0.09 g

    Fatty acids, total monounsaturated
0.068 g

    Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated
0.169 g

Essential amino acids

    Leucine
0.63 g

    Isoleucine
0.73 g

    Phenylalanine
0.45 g

    Tryptophane
0.53 g

Nonessential amino acid

    Glycine
0.55 g

    Proline
0.53 g

Table 3 summarizes the chemical composition and the nutritional value [14] of different parts of fennel, namely, shoots, leaves, stems, and inflorescence. Leaves and stems show the highest moisture content (76.36 and 77.46 g/100 g, resp.), while inflorescence exhibits the lowest content (71.31 g/100 g). Carbohydrates are the most abundant macronutrients in all the parts and range from 18.44 to 22.82 g/100 g. Proteins, reducing sugars, and fats are the less abundant macronutrients; proteins varied between 1.08 g/100 g in stems and 1.37 g/100 g in inflorescences. The inflorescences and stems revealed the highest fat content (1.28 g/100 g) and reducing sugar content (1.49 g/100 g), respectively, amongst all the parts of fennel. On the basis of the proximate analysis, it can be calculated that a fresh portion of 100 g of these parts yields, on average, 94 Kcal of energy. The highest values were obtained for inflorescences, while leaves and stems gave the lowest energy contribution.

Table 3: Nutrient content of different parts of Foeniculum vulgare.

Composition
Contents

Leaves
Inflorescences
Stems
Shoots

76.36 ± 0.33
71.31 ± 4.01
77.46 ± 1.03
73.88 ± 0.83

Asha
3.43 ± 0.04
3.23 ± 0.02
1.62 ± 0.12
2.39 ± 0.02

Fata
0.61 ± 0.16
1.28 ± 0.28
0.45 ± 0.07
0.49 ± 0.05

Proteina
1.16 ± 0.03
1.37 ± 0.05
1.08 ± 0.00
1.33 ± 0.04

Carbohydratesa
18.44 ± 0.06
22.82 ± 3.06
19.39 ± 0.65
21.91 ± 0.55

Fructosea
0.49 ± 0.05
1.10 ± 0.04
1.49 ± 0.04
1.51 ± 0.06

Glucosea
0.76 ± 0.12
2.94 ± 0.11
3.43 ± 0.20
4.71 ± 0.15

Sucrosea
0.04 ± 0.00
0.03 ± 0.00
nd
0.35 ± 0.06

Reducing sugarsa
0.72 ± 0.04
1.20 ± 0.19
1.49 ± 0.29
1.14 ± 0.10

3 fatty acidb
43.72 ± 0.36
17.69 ± 0.01
23.04 ± 1.30
36.96 ± 0.51

6 fatty acidb
23.25 ± 0.07
38.94 ± 0.23
38.22 ± 0.68
39.99 ± 0.68

6/3
0.53 ± 0.00
2.20 ± 0.01
1.66 ± 1.12
1.08 ± 0.03

C6:0b
0.02 ± 0.00
0.41 ± 0.02
0.19 ± 0.01
0.06 ± 0.00

C8:0b
0.08 ± 0.00
0.37 ± 0.01
0.48 ± 0.03
0.33 ± 0.00

C10:0b
0.04 ± 0.00
0.09 ± 0.00
0.13 ± 0.01
0.06 ± 0.00

C11:0b
0.25 ± 0.02
0.29 ± 0.01
0.04 ± 0.00
0.07 ± 0.00

C12:0b
0.31 ± 0.02
0.43 ± 0.06
0.11 ± 0.01
0.21 ± 0.02

C14:0b
1.43 ± 0.01
1.68 ± 0.10
0.49 ± 0.06
0.75 ± 0.03

C14:1b
0.61 ± 0.04
0.28 ± 0.02
0.37 ± 0.04
0.17 ± 0.03

C15:0b
0.17 ± 0.00
0.35 ± 0.03
0.41 ± 0.04
0.18 ± 0.00

C16:0b
20.15 ± 0.09
23.89 ± 0.07
25.43 ± 0.00
12.78 ± 0.09

C17:0b
0.74 ± 0.00
0.58 ± 0.02
0.61 ± 0.04
0.24 ± 0.02

C18:0b
1.61 ± 0.08
2.62 ± 0.04
1.99 ± 0.06
1.53 ± 0.08

C18:1n9cb
4.35 ± 0.37
5.05 ± 0.00
4.35 ± 0.52
2.55 ± 0.33

C18:2n6cb
23.25 ± 0.07
38.94 ± 0.23
38.22 ± 0.68
39.99 ± 0.68

C18:3n3b
43.55 ± 0.40
17.55 ± 0.0
22.86 ± 1.31
36.84 ± 0.52

C20:0b
0.56 ± 0.00
1.78 ± 0.06
0.84 ± 0.03
1.06 ± 0.09

C20:1cb
nd
0.26 ± 0.03
0.06 ± 0.00
nd

C20:2cb
0.08 ± 0.01
0.31 ± 0.01
0.14 ± 0.00
0.38 ± 0.07

C20:3n3 + C21:0b
0.16 ± 0.02
0.15 ± 0.01
0.19 ± 0.00
0.12 ± 0.01

C22:0b
0.77 ± 0.04
1.52 ± 0.04
1.20 ± 0.03
1.12 ± 0.02

C23:0b
0.82 ± 0.13
1.89 ± 0.11
0.68 ± 0.01
0.36 ± 0.15

C24:0b
1.03 ± 0.04
1.58 ± 0.02
1.21 ± 0.02
1.20 ± 0.08

Total SFAb
27.99 ± 0.02
37.47 ± 0.25
33.81 ± 0.06
19.95 ± 0.12

Total MUFAb
4.96 ± 0.40
5.59 ± 0.13
4.78 ± 0.57
2.72 ± 0.36

Total PUFAb
67.05 ± 0.42
56.94 ± 0.12
61.41 ± 0.62
77.33 ± 0.24

Energyc
83.90 ± 1.34
108.23 ± 10.37
85.91 ± 3.02
97.37 ± 2.44

Nutrients composition (g/100 g), b3 and 6 and fatty acid content (percent), and cenergetic value (Kcal/100 g) of the different parts of fennel. nd: not detected. Values are expressed as mean ± SD, experiments in each group [14].

About twenty-one fatty acids were identified and quantified from the above mentioned parts of fennel (Table 3). These are caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, undecanoic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidic acid, eicosanoic acid, cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid, cis-11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid + heneicosanoic acid, behenic acid, tricosanoic acid, and lignoceric acid. Thus, Barros and his coworker conclude polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to be the main group of fatty acids present in all the fennel parts. On the other hand Vardavas and his coworker reported monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) as the main group of fatty acids in fennel [22]. Nevertheless, unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) range from 66% to 80% and predominate over saturated fatty acids [14]. The highest concentration of n-3 fatty acids was found in fennel leaves, while the lowest concentration was found in inflorescences. The ratio of ω6 to ω3 fatty acids has an important role in the human diet. The highest levels of n-3 fatty acids found in leaves contributed to its lowest ratio of ω6 to ω3 fatty acids. The lowest levels of n-3 fatty acids found in inflorescences contributed to its highest ratio of ω6 to ω3 fatty acids.

Fennels have smaller amounts of many other nutrients. On a weight basis, fennels contain more calcium (49 mg/100 g) as compared with apples (7.14 mg/100 g), bananas (3.88 mg/100 g), dates (25.0 mg/100 g), grapes (10.86 mg/100 g), orange (40.25 mg/100 g), prunes (18.0 mg/100 g), raisins (40.0 mg/100 g), and strawberries (14.01 mg/100 g). Phenolics are an important constituent of fruit quality because of their contribution to the taste, colour, and nutritional properties of fruit. Amongst the phenolics analyzed in the fruit of this plant are neochlorogenic acid (1.40%), chlorogenic acid (2.98%), gallic acid (0.169%), chlorogenic acid (6.873%), caffeic acid (2.960%), p-coumaric acid (4.325%), ferulic acid-7-o-glucoside (5.223%), quercetin-7-o-glucoside (3.219%), ferulic acid (3.555%), 1,5 dicaffeoylquinic acid (4.095%), hesperidin (0.203%), cinnamic acid (0.131%), rosmarinic acid (14.998%), quercetin (17.097%), and apigenin (12.558%) [23].

Thus, as a typical, seasonal fresh fruit, fennels are an important constituent of the regional diet of Europe and other regions. Different varieties of fennel parts are widely used in many of the cooking dishes all over world (Table 4). Shoots, tender leaves, and stems are chewed and sucked due to their exquisite aniseed flavor. All these parts are also commonly used as vegetables. They are added raw to salads, stewed with beans and chickpeas, used to stuff fish for grilling, and placed in soups and bread bouillons. Besides seasoning, fennel is used to preserve food. Flowering stems, sugar, and honey macerating in brandy produce a highly valorized spirit. Herbal teas prepared with fresh tender or dried flowering stems are consumed chilled or hot, depending on the season. F. vulgare is famous for its essential oil. The characteristic anise odour of F. vulgare, which is due to its essential oil, makes it an excellent flavoring agent in baked goods, meat and fish dishes, ice-cream, and alcoholic beverages. The culinary uses of fennel are so diverse/widespread that it has been exported from country to country for centuries [14].

Table 4: Uses of Foeniculum vulgare as a food ingredient as reported in the literature.

Sr. number
Region/Nation
Local name
Part used and edible application.
References

1
Campania, Italy
Finucchio, finucchiello, finochietto
Stem is used as an aromatizer for pickled olives.
[125]

2
Campania, Italy
Finocchiella, fenùcciu
Seed is employed in preparation of salted meats.
[125]

3
Spain
Hinojo, Fenoll
Tender leaves and stems, raw as a snack, are used in salads or stewed.
[126]

4
Spain
Fiallo, millau
Aerial part or seeds used for seasoning olives, as preservative for dry figs, and for preparing herbal tea or liqueur.
[126]

5
Trás-os-Montes (Northeast Portuguese)
Fialho, fionho, erva-doce
Shoots, tender leaves, and stems used in snacks, salads, soups, stews, and spices.

Flowering stems used in beverages, spirits, and spices.

Stems used as brochettes and herbal teas.

Seeds used as spices, flavour for cakes, biscuits, and sweets, and chestnuts.
[14]

6
Arrábida and Açor (Center Portuguese)
Funcho, erva-doce
Seeds used as flavour for cakes and pastries and for cooking chestnuts.
[14]

7
Alentejo and Algarve (South Portuguese)
Funcho, fialho, funcho-doce, funcho-amargo
Shoots, tender leaves, and stems are fried with eggs, used in omelettes, used in fish stuff, stewed with different kinds of beans and chickpeas, and used in fish and bread bouillons, soups, and sauces.

Tender leafy stems are used in grilled fish and fish dishes in general.

Seeds are used as spices, flavour for cakes, bread, and biscuits, and chestnuts.

Whole plant used in olives brines, figs preserves, and for aromatizing brandy.
[14]

8
Jammu and Kashmir, India
Saunf
The fruits with other ingredients are given to the animal if it stops taking food during diarrhea.
[46]

9
Liguria, Italy
Fenucéttu-sarvègu
Aerial parts of plant mixed with shoots of Clematis and Rubus used as food integrator for sheep.
[45]

2. Traditional and Contemporary Uses

Foeniculum vulgare has been extensively used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments. Fennel is used in various traditional systems of medicine like in the Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, in the Indian, and Iranian traditional systems of alternative and balancing medicine [20]. Its stem, fruit, leaves, seeds, and whole plant itself are medicinally used in different forms in the treatment of a variety of diseased conditions. The preparation methods, uses, and application of F. vulgare are well documented in the common ethnobotanical literature [24–32]. Table 5 lists the ethnomedicinal uses of F. vulgare for 43 different types of ailments in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, and USA [28, 29, 33–44]. It is used to treat simple ailments (e.g., cough/cold, cuts) to very complicated ailments (e.g., kidney ailments, cancer). It also has a wide range of veterinary uses ([45, 46] see Table  4). F. vulgare is used in many parts of the world for the treatment of a number of diseases, for example, abdominal pains, antiemetic, aperitif, arthritis, cancer, colic in children, conjunctivitis, constipation, depurative, diarrhea, dieresis, emmenagogue, fever, flatulence, gastralgia, gastritis, insomnia, irritable colon, kidney ailments, laxative, leucorrhoea, liver pain, mouth ulcer, and stomachache (Table 5).

Table 5: Traditional and contemporary applications of Foeniculum vulgare.

Sr. number
Ailment/use
Part/preparation used
Locality
References

1
Mouth ulcer
Tender leaves, chewed and stuck on ulcer
Basilicata, Italy
[33]

2
Aperitif
Tender parts-raw or boiled
Rome, Italy
[32]

3
Gum disorder
Fruit and seed, used as a mouth wash for gum disorder
Central Serbia
[35]

4
Insomnia
Infusion of tea leaf
Brazil
[31]

5
Constipation
Seeds, decoction
South Europe
[127]

Seeds mixed with sugar
Jammu and Kashmir, India
[36]

6
Cancer
Leaf and flower, aqueous infusion, drink
Loja, Ecuador
[128]

7
Conjunctivitis
Leaf and flower, aqueous infusion, drink
Loja, Ecuador
[128]

8
Gastritis
Leaf, flower, aqueous infusion, drink
Loja, Ecuador
[128]

9
Diuresis
Root and seed, decoction
Miami, Florida, USA
[42]

10
Abdominal pains
Each plant part, decoction
Rome, Italy
[30]

Leaf and seeds, infusion
Northern Badia, Jordan,
[39]

Leaves, paste
Manisa, Turkey
[43]

11
Cold
Fruits and floral tops, decoction
Rome, Italy
[30]

12
Refreshing
Roots/whole plant, decoction
Rome, Italy
[30]

13
Swollen stomach
Leaves, decoction with a little honey
Rome, Italy
[129]

14
Hair grow
Seed oil
Middle Navarra
[130]

15
Antiemetic
Fruit, simple powder
Northeastern Majorcan area
[47]

16
Antihypertensive and Anti-cholesterolemic
Leaf directly chewed
north-eastern Majorcan area
[47]

17
Depurative
Leaf and stem, comestible
Iberian Peninsula, Spain
[40]

18
Hypnotic
Seed, leaf, and stem, infusion and edible
North Iran
[24]

19
Diarrhoea
Seeds, roots, and fresh leaves
Northern Portugal
[28]

Seeds grounded with Root tubers of Hemidesmus indicus and the paste taken with jaggery twice a day for three days
Bhandara, Maharashtra, India
[131]

20
Kidney ailments
Aerial part, infusion
Alto, Bolivia
[34]

Seed, decoction
Gujranwala, Pakistan
[132]

21
Colic in children
Leaf and fruit, infusion
Brazil
[133]

22
Irritable colon
Leaf and seeds, infusion
Northern Badia, Jordan,
[39]

23
Gastralgia
Leaf, decoction
southern Spain
[29]

24
Purgative
Seed, infusion and edible
Gujranwala, Pakistan
[132]

25
Laxative
Seed, infusion and edible
Gujranwala, Pakistan
[132]

26
Liver pain
Seed
Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil
[133]

27
Mosquitocidal
Root boiled and drunk as tea
Somali Region, Ethiopia
[41]

28
Arthritis
Leaf, an infusion made from the leaves is drunk
South Africa
[37]

29
Fever
Leaf, an infusion made from the leaves is drunk
South Africa
[37]

30
Fat deduction
Green fruit is chewed to reduce fat
South Africa
[37]

31
Leucorrhoea
A mixture of its 100 g seed powder, 200 g seed powder of Papaver somniferum, 100 g fruit powder of Coriander sativum, and 200 g of sugar is prepared and 50 g of this mixture is taken by the tribal ladies early in the morning
Rajasthan, India
[26]

32
Problem of repeated abortions
Mixture of its 50 g seed powder, 50 g fruit powder of Trapa natans, and 50 g sugar is given daily to pregnant ladies
Rajasthan, India
[26]

33
Digestive system
Fruits, decoction
Basilicata, Italy
[33]

Seed, decoction (drink one tea cup after food)
Balikesir, Turkey
[134]

Whole plant
Western cape of South Africa
[135]

Fruit, powder for digestive ailments
Middle, West, and South Bosnia
[136]

Seeds, decoction
South Europe
[127]

Seeds, roots, and fresh leaves
Northern Portugal.
[28]

Seed, decoction
Southern Spain
[29]

34
Carminative
Tender parts, raw or boiled
Rome, Italy
[32]

Whole plant
Western cape of South Africa
[135]

Seeds, decoction
South Europe
[127]

Seed, leaf, and stem, infusion and edible
North Iran
[24]

Leaves and/or fruits
South Africa
[27]

35
Diuretic
Tender parts, raw or boiled
Rome, Italy
[32]

Whole plant
Western cape of South Africa
[135]

Seeds, decoction
South-Europe
[127]

Seeds, roots, and fresh leaves
Northern Portugal.
[28]

Leaf, an infusion made from the leaves is drunk
South Africa
[37]

36
Emmenagogue
Aerial part, raw with carrot
Rome, Italy
[32]

Fruit, simple powder
North-eastern Majorcan area
[47]

Seed
Haryana, India
[137]

37
Milk stimulant in pregnant women (Galactagogue)
Leaf, an infusion made from the leaves is drunk
South Africa
[37]

Fruits, as condiment or chewed
Rome, Italy
[32]

Fruit, simple powder
north-eastern Majorcan area
[47]

Aerial part-infusion
Alto, Bolivia
[34]

38
Gingival wound
Fruit-paste
Uttarakhand, India
[138]

Whole plant, decoction
Andalusia, Spain
[29]

39
Eye blurry and itching
Aerial parts, inhaled into eyes
Balikesir, Turkey
[134]

Seeds, roots, and leaves
Northern Portugal
[28]

Seed, infusion, edible
Gujranwala, Pakistan
[132]

Leaves and/or fruits
South Africa
[27]

40
Cough
Whole plant, oral infusion
Guerrero, Mexico
[44]

Whole plant, decoction
Southern Spain
[29]

Whole plant
Western cape of South Africa
[135]

41
Stomachache
Whole plant, oral infusion
Guerrero, Mexico
[44]

Fruit
Middle Navarra
[130]

Seed decoction is used against stomach ache
Liguria, Italy
[45]

Seed, leaf, and stem-infusion, edible
North Iran
[24]

42
Stress removal
Apical shoots is used as sedative for children
Liguria, Italy
[45]

Southern Punjab, Pakistan
[25]

43
Flatulence
Leaf and fruit, infusion
Brazil
[133]

Leaf and seeds, infusion
Northern Badia, Jordan,
[39]

Fresh fruit, decoction
North Bengal, India
[38]

In addition to its medicinal uses, aerial parts, namely, leaf, stem, and fruit/seed of F. vulgare, are extensively used as galactagogues not only for increasing the quantity and quality of milk but also for improving the milk flow of breastfeeding mothers [32, 34, 37, 47]. From ancient times, fennel seeds have been used as an ingredient for removing any foul smell of the mouth [48]. The natural light green dye obtained from leaves is used in cosmetics, for coloring of textiles/wooden materials and as food colorant. Yellow and brown color dyes are obtained by combining the flowers and leaves of fennel [49]. In Portugal, Italy, Spain, and India, the stem, fruit, leaves, seeds, and whole plant are used as a vegetable [3, 9, 48, 50, 51]. Sugar coated and uncoated fennel seeds are used in mukhwas (Mouth freshener) (Figure 3(b)). In many parts of India and Pakistan, roasted fennel seeds are consumed as mukhwas (Mouth freshener). Mukhwas is a colorful after-meal mouth freshener or digestive aid. It can be made of various seeds and nuts but often found with fennel seeds, anise seeds, coconut, and sesame seeds. They are sweet in flavor and highly aromatic due to the presence of sugar and the addition of various essential oils. The seeds can be savory, coated in sugar, and brightly colored.

3. Phytochemistry

Phytochemical research carried out on Foeniculum vulgare has led to the isolation of fatty acids, phenolic components, hydrocarbons, volatile components, and few other classes of secondary metabolites from its different parts (Figure 4). Mostly these phytochemicals are found in essential oil (Table 6). Some of the phytoconstituents of F. vulgare were find application as coloring and antiaging agents [49, 50]. They also have noteworthy biological and pharmacological activities (Table 7).

Table 6: Volatile compounds present in essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare.

Sr. number
Compounds

1
-Thujene

2
1,8-Cineol

3
-Ocimene

4
Linalool

5
Germacrene D

6
Anisketone

7
Apiol

8
-Hexadecanoic acid

9
Cubebene

10
Benzene-1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)--cymene

11
1,3,6-Octatriene, 3,7-dimethyl-, (E)-3-carene

12
2-Heptene

13
3-Methyl-butanal

14
-Pinene

15
Camphene

16
Hexanal

17
-Pinene

18
-Phellandrene

19
-Phellanrrene

20
-Myrcene

21
4-Carene

22
2-Heptanohe

23
Limonene

24
4-Methyl-bicyclo3.1.0hex-2-ene

25
Eucalyptol

26
-Pinene

27
-Terpinene

28
7-Dimethyl-1,3,7-octriene

29
2,4-Dimethyl-benzenamine

30
3-Carene

31
Cathine

32
2-Heptanol

33
2-Propyn-1-ol

34
2,6-Dimethyl-2,4,6-octatriene

35
Fenchone

36
1-Methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-benzene

37
cis-Limonene oxide

38
trans-Limonene oxide

39
6-Methylene-bicyclo3.1.0hexane

40
Sabinene hydrate

41
Fenchyl acetate

42
Camphor

43
Benzaldehyde

44
1,3-Butanediol

45
Dicyclopropyl carbinol

46
Fenchol

47
1-Octanol

48
5-Methyl-2-heptanol

49
Tetradecyl-oxirane

50
Estragole

51
Trans--2,8-menthadien-1-ol

52
-Terpinol

53
cis-p-2,8-Menthadien

54
4-Methyl-1-(methylethyl)-3-cyclohexen

55
2-Methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one

56
Phenylmethyl-formic ester

57
2,3-Cyclohexen-1-methanol

58
Epi-bicyclosesquiphellardrene

59
cis--Menth-2,8-dienol

60
1,4-Dimethoxy-benzene

61
1-Methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-benzene

62
1,2,4a,5,8,8a-Hexadehyde-naphthalene

63
4-Methyl-bicyclo3.1.1hept-3-en-2-ol

64
trans-Anethole 73.20 73.27 66.71

65
Allantoic acid

66
2-Methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-phenol

67
Mannoheptulose

68
2-Methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-ol

69
1-Undecanol

70
Benzothiazole

71
E-Pinane

72
2-Cyclohexen-1-ol

73
2-Methyl-bezenemethanol

74
4-Methoxy-benzaldehyde

75
1,6-Hexanediol

76
2-Methoxycyclohexanone

77
-Elemenone

78
Mephenesin

79
4′-Methoxy-acetophenone

80
2-Methyl-3-methylethyl-butanoic acid

81
Folic acid

82
1-(Methoxyphenyl)-2-propanone

83
1-Methyl-3-(1-methylethyl)-benzene

84
4-Fluorohistamine

85
1,2-Dimethoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-benzene

86
(E)-2-Hydroxy-4-cyano-stilbene

87
1-(3-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone

Table 7: Biological activities of some phytoconstituents reported in different parts of Foeniculum vulgare.

Sr. number
Biological activities
Part useda
Phytochemicals
Reference

1
Oestrogenic
SDEO
Dianethole,

photoanethole
[71]

2
Hepatoprotective
SDEO
-Myrcene,

Limonene
[9]

3
Antithrombotic
SDEO
trans-Anethole
[55]

4
Human liver cytochrome P450-3A4 inhibitory
SD
5-Methoxypsoralen
[83]

5
Antiradical scavenging
FW
3-Caffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside,

kaempferol-3-O-glucoside,

kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside,

rosmarinic acid
[67]

AP
3,4-Dihydroxyphenethyl-alchohol-6-O-caffeoyl--D-glucopyranoside,

3′,8′-binaringenin
[70]

6
Antioxidant
FT
cis-Miyabenol C
[139]

7
Anticancer
SDEO
Anethole
[110]

8
Antibacterial
ST
Dillapiol,

psoralen,

bergapten,

scopoletin,

imperatorin,

dillapional,
[100]

9
Antimycobacterial
ST, LF
2,4-Undecadienal,

linoleic acid,

oleic acid,

1,3-benzenediol,

undecanal
[63]

10
Repellent
FT
(z)-9-Octadecanoic acid,

fenchone
[117]

11
Acaricidal
SDEO
para-Anisaldehyde
[118]

12
Insecticidal
SDEO
1,8-Cineole,

terpineol
[120]

AP: aerial part, FT: fruit, LF: leaf, SD: seed, SDEO: seed essential oil, ST: stem, and FW: fennel waste.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 4: Chemical structures of various phytoconstituents isolated from Foeniculum vulgare.

3.1. Volatile Compounds

Table 6 summarizes the volatile compounds present in the essential oil of F. vulgare. The anise odor of F. vulgare is due to its essential oil content. It makes an excellent flavoring agent in various types of food and food related products. The essential oil of fennel has been reported to contain more than 87 volatile compounds [51–57]. The accumulation of these volatile compounds inside the plant is variable, appearing practically in any of its parts, namely, roots, stem, shoots, flowers, and fruits [58, 59]. The molecular structures of major volatile components of F. vulgare seed essential oil have been illustrated in Figure 4.

Guillén and Manzanos [60] investigated the yield and composition of the volatile components found in the pentane extracts of leaves, stems, and seeds of F. vulgare. They identified a total of 37 volatile compounds from pentane extracts of above mentioned parts of fennel by using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. In the supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂) seed extracts of fennel, a total of 28 compounds were identified with major compounds being trans-anethole (68.6–75.0%), fenchone (8.40–14.7%), and methylchavicol (5.09–9.10%) whereas only 19 compounds were detected from hydrodistilled oil of fennel [52]. Fang et al. [53] characterizes 76 volatile components in the essential oil of F. vulgare with the help of three advanced techniques, namely, headspace solvent microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HSME-GC-MS), solid phase microextraction- (SPME-) GC-MS, and steam distillation- (SD-) GC-MS methods. In 2007 Tognolini et al. investigated the chemical composition of essential oil of fennel. GC/MS study revealed a total of 18 compounds present in it with anethole being the most abundant [55]. A comparative profile of occurrence of monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, and phenylpropanoids with respect to various maturity stages (immature, premature, mature, and fully mature) of the fruit of F. vulgare was reported by Telci et al. [56]. They concluded that the content of essential oil decreases with increasing maturity. A total of 28 components of the essential oil were identified, accounting for 98.0% of the total oil. The principal compound in the essential oil was trans-anethole (72.2%) followed by estragole (7.6%), d-limonene (6.8%), and fenchone, that is, 3.9% [61]. Overall, 60 compounds representing 90.1–98.7% of the essential oil were identified by GC and GC/MS in the two cultivars of fennel, namely, Aurelio and Sparta cocultivars. The major constituent of the essential oils is trans-anethole (59.8–90.4%). In addition, the fennel essential oils also contains minor amounts of various constituents as limonene (0.1–21.5%), neophytadiene (0–10.6%), (E)-phytol (0.1–6.0%), exo-fenchyl acetate (0.3–3.8%), estragole (0.1–2.5%), and fenchone, that is, 0.1–3.1% [62]. In addition, Zoubiri et al. [57] summarized the comparative profile of volatile compounds found in different varieties of fennel from different countries such as Estonia, Norway, Austria, Moldova, and Turkey. The chemical composition of the Algerian F. vulgare seed oil was different as compared with Turkish [51, 56], Serbian [52], Indian [54], and Chinese [53] fennels. The hexane extracts of fennel were analyzed by GC-MS and 78 compounds were identified from these extracts; the major compounds were identified as 1,3-benzenediol, 1-methoxycyclohexene, o-cymene, sorbic acid, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one, estragole, limonene-10-ol, and 3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one [63]. Diao et al. [64] identify a total of 28 components by GC and GC/MS from fennel oil, representing 95.8% of the total amount. Trans-Anethole (68.53%), a phenylpropanoid, was found to be the main component, followed by estragole (10.42%) with limonene (6.24%), fenchone (5.45%), and others as minor components.

3.2. Flavonoids

Flavonoids are generally considered as an important category of antioxidants in the human diet. Flavonoids are abundant in the plants of Apiaceae family. It has been reported that the presence of flavonol glycosides in fennel species is related to its morphological heterogeneity and variation. Total flavonoid content of hydroalcoholic extracts is about  mg/g. Flavonoids like eriodictyol-7-rutinoside, quercetin-3-rutinoside, and rosmarinic acid have been isolated from F. vulgare [65]. Amongst the flavonoids present in F. vulgare, the most prevalent are quercetin-3-glucuronide, isoquercitrin, quercetin-3-arabinoside, kaempferol-3-glucuronide and kaempferol-3-arabinoside, and isorhamnetin glucoside [66]. Quercetin-3-O-galactoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside have also been reported to occur in the aqueous extract of F. vulgare [67]. The flavonoids like isorhamnetin 3-O-α-rhamnoside, quercetin, and kaempferol were also isolated from the ethyl acetate extract, whereas quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, and quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside were isolated from the methanol extract. These flavonoids exhibit remarkable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity [68]. Further, quercetin, rutin, and isoquercitrin were reported to have the immunomodulatory activities [69].

3.3. Phenolic Compounds

There has been a growing interest in phenolic components of fruits and vegetables, which may promote human health or lower the risk of disease. Aqueous extract of fennel fruits are rich in phenolic compounds. Many of them have antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective properties. The phenolic compounds present in F. vulgare are considered to be associated with the prevention of diseases possibly induced by oxidative stress such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and inflammation. These phenolic compounds have received tremendous attention among nutritionists, food scientists, and consumers due to their role in human health. Fennel has been reported to contain hydroxyl cinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoid glycosides, and flavonoid aglycones [67]. The methanolic extract of fennel seeds contains rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acids as major phenolic compounds (14.9% and 6.8%, resp.), and quercetin and apigenin as the major flavonoids (17.1% and 12.5%, resp.). Also, the total phenolic compounds in fennel methanol extract were higher than the flavonoid compounds [23]. F. vulgare has been reported to contain phenolic acids like 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 1,3-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid, 1,4-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid, and 1,5-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid [65]. Two compounds A and B were isolated and characterized for the first time from the wild fennel and identified as 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylalchohol-6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and 3′,8′-binaringenin, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of wild fennel (2.4% and 1.2% resp.) were less as compared to cultivated fennel (3.1% and 1.6%, resp.) [70].

4. Pharmacological Activities

Foeniculum vulgare is officially noted in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia as an important part of polyherbal formulations in the treatment of different diseases and disorders. A number of biological-pharmacological studies have been undertaken to evaluate the indigenous uses of F. vulgare. Few extracts of F. vulgare and isolated compounds have been evaluated for several activities, namely, antiaging, antiallergic, anticolitic, antihirsutism, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antistress, antithrombotic, anxiolytic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory action, cytoprotection and antitumor, cytotoxicity, diuretic, estrogenic properties, expectorant, galactogenic, gastrointestinal effect, hepatoprotective, human liver cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, memory-enhancing property, nootropic, and oculohypotensive activities [11, 13, 20, 50, 68, 71–90]. Table 8 summarizes the pharmacological studies undertaken on F. vulgare and reported in the literature. A brief review of the same is as follows.

Table 8: Details of pharmacological/biological activities reported from Foeniculum vulgare.

Activity
Plant part used
Dosage form/type of extract
Concentration/dosages
Tested living system/organ/cell/type of study
Results
References

Antiinflammatory
Fruit
Methanolic

Extract
200 mg/kg: oral administration
Invivo, male ICR mice, BALB/c mice, and Sprague-Dawley rats
Inhibitory effects against acute and subacute inflammatory diseases and type IV allergic reactions
[79]

Hepatoprotective
Seed
Essential oil
0.4 mL/kg
Invivo, carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury model in male Sprague-Dawley rats
Decreases the level of serum enzymes, namely, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin
[9]

Hypoglycaemic
Seed
Essential oil
30 mg/kg
Invivo, streptozotocin induced diabetic rats
Ingestion of essential oil to diabetic rats corrected the hyperglycemia and the activity of serum glutathione peroxidase and also improved the pathological changes noticed in their kidney and pancreas
[12]

Antihirsutism
Seed
Fennel extract
Creams containing 1%, 2% of fennel extract and placebo
45 female patients aged 16–53 years with mild to moderate forms of idiopathic hirsutism
Cream containing 2% fennel is better than the cream containing 1% fennel and these two were more potent than placebo
[78]

Cytoprotective
Fruit
Methanolic

extract
200 g/mL
Normal human blood lymphocyte
Provides more cytoprotection for normal human lymphocytes as compared with standard sample, that is, doxorubicin
[11]

Antitumor
Fruit
Methanolic

extract
25 to 200 g/mL
B16F10 melanoma cell line
70% methanolic extract shows good antitumour activity at the concentration of 200 g/mL.
[11]

Antioxidant
Seed
Ethanol and water extract
100 g of ethanol and water extract
Invitro, not stated
77.5% and 99.1% inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system, respectively.
[10]

Oestrogenic
Seed
Acetone extract
Not stated
Invivo, female rats
Weight of mammary glands increases also increases the weight of oviduct, endometrium, myometrium, cervix, and vagina
[8]

Vascular effects
Leaf
Aqueous extracts
0.1 to 0.4 mL injection
Invivo, pentobarbital-anaesthetised Sprague-Dawley rats
Significant dose-related reduction in arterial blood pressure, without affecting the heart rate or respiratory rate
[75]

Antistress
Fruit
Aqueous extracts
50, 100 and 200 mg/kg
Invivo, scopolamine-induced amnesic rats
Significant inhibition of the stress induced biochemical changes in vanillyl mandelic acid and ascorbic acid.
[13]

Memory-enhancing
Fruit
Aqueous extracts
50, 100, and 200 mg/kg
Invivo, scopolamine-induced amnesic rats
The significant reduction is achieved in amnesia in extract-treated groups as compared with the control group of animals
[13]

Chemopreventive
Seed
Test diet of fennel
4% and 6% test diets of Fennel
In-vivo, DMBA-induced skin and B(a)P-induced forestomach papillomagenesis in Swiss albino mice
Significant reduction in the skin and the forestomach tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity as compared to the control group of animal
[85]

Oculohypotensive
Seed
Aqueous extract
0.3%, 0.6%, and 1.2% (w/v)
Invivo, rabbits
It exhibits 17.49, 21.16, and 22.03% reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in normotensive rabbits at 0.3%, 0.6%, and 1.2% (w/v) concentrations of extract
[84]

Anticarcinogenic
Seed
Methanolic extract
100 mg/kg
Invivo, Swiss albino mice
Significant increase in malondialdehyde levels and the significant decrease in catalase activity and glutathione content in liver and tumor tissue in mice bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma
[140]

Antiaging
Seed
Fennel extract
Formulation containing 4% extract
Male volunteers with mean age of 48 years
Formulation showed significant effects on skin moisture and transepidermal water loss
[50]

Apoptotic
Fruit
Ethanol extract
100 to 300 g/mL
Nine human cell lines: ML-1, J-45.01, HL-60, 1301, U-266B1, WICL, C-8166, EOL, and H-9—human T cell
Highest mortality in Trypan blue test for J45 cell line, 4% of viable cells and for C8166 cell line, 100% of mortality
[86]

Antiulcerogenic
Aerial parts
Aqueous extract
75, 150, 300 mg/kg
Invivo, ethanol induced gastric lesions in Sprague-Dawley rats
Pretreatment with extracts significantly reduced ethanol induced gastric damage.
[81]

Cytotoxic
Root (ground part)
Dichloromethane and methanol (1 : 1) extract
700 g/mL
Murine fibrosarcoma L929sA cells and on the human breast cancer cells MDA-MB231 and MCF7
Cytotoxic activity may act via inhibition of the NFkB pathway.
[82]

Antimycobacterial
Aerial parts
Chloroform, hexane, methanol, and aqueous extracts
100 to 200 g/mL
Invitro, M. tuberculosis H37Rv (27294)
Hexane extract is active against pan sensitive strain of M. tuberculosis H37RV
[141]

4.1. Antimicrobial and Antiviral Activities

Foeniculum vulgare has been used as an ethnic remedy for the cure of numerous infectious disorders of bacterial, fungal, viral, and mycobacterial origin. Several studies have been carried out in the past validating its antimicrobial, antimycobacterial,, and antiviral potential (summarized in the Table 9). Duško et al. [91] investigated the antibacterial effect of the aqueous extract of 12 medicinal plants of Apiaceae family including F. vulgare. An aqueous extract of the aerial part of F. vulgare inhibited the growth of Agrobacterium radiobacter pv. tumefaciens, Erwinia carotovora, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas glycinea (Table 9). An aqueous extract of seed sample inhibited the growth of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri, and Bacillus cereus with 13–22, 22–24, 14–24, 20-21, 21–24, 11-12, 14–18, 17–18, and 24–26 mm zone of inhibition, respectively [3, 4]. Gulfraz et al. [92] investigated the antibacterial effect of the essential oil as well as ethanolic and methanolic fruit extracts of F. vulgare against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas syringae, and Candida albicans. According to the results reported by Gulfraz et al. [92], essential oil of F. vulage had significant antimicrobial activities against some of microorganisms as compared to the methanolic and ethanolic extracts. The diameters of growth inhibition zone ranged from 14 to 31 mm (including the diameter of the disc 6 mm) with the highest inhibition zone values observed against Bacillus megaterium (31 mm) and Bacillus subtilis (29 mm). Roby et al. [23] investigated antimicrobial effect of the methanol, ethanol, diethyl ether, and hexane extracts of seed of F. vulgare against two species of Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi), two species of Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus), one species of yeast (Candida albicans), and one species of mold (Aspergillus flavus). The methanolic extract showed more effective antimicrobial activity than the other extracts. The results from the disc diffusion method, followed by measurement of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), indicated that Bacillus cereus and Aspergillus flavus were the most sensitive microorganisms tested, showing the largest inhibition zones and the lowest MIC values. Least activity was exhibited against Escherichia coli, with the smallest inhibition zones and the highest MIC value [23]. Shrivastava and Bhargava [93] investigated the antibacterial effect of the crude, chloroform, and methanol extract of leaves and flowers of F. vulgare along with Raphanus sativus and Brassica nigrum against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Methanol extract of flower of F. vulgare showed significant activity against Escherichia coli, whereas crude and chloroform extracts failed to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Table 9). Among different tested bacterial strains, the methanolic fruit extract of F. vulgare inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus pumilus with 11.27 and 12.67 mm zone of inhibition, respectively [7].

Table 9: Antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, and antiviral studies carried out on Foeniculum vulgare.

Sr. number
Part useda
Type of extract
Active strainsb
Method
Reference standard
Effective concentration
Reference

1
SD
Essential oil
S.a., Enterococcus sp., P.a., E.c., and Salmonella sp.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
0.5 Mac Farland’s Standard (1.5 108 CFU/mL)
10 L/disk
[142]

2
FT
Essential oil
E.c., B.m.,and 27

phytopathogenic bacterial species
Agar diffusion method
Rifampicin
1.6 mg/mL
[143]

3
AP
Aqueous, ethanol and ethyl-acetate extracts
A.r.t., Er.c., P.f.,and P.g.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
Chloramphenicol, streptomycin, and tetracycline
15 mg per disc.
[91]

4
SD
Essential oil
E.a., S.t., S.a., St.e., E.c., P.a.,and C.a.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
Amoxicillin and cefazolin
15 L/disk
[144]

5
FL, FT
Essential oil
A.a., F.o., and R.s.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
NS
10 and 40 ppm
[95]

6
FL, LF, TW
Essential oil
Bacilli sp., P.a., Acinetobacter sp., and A.f.
Agar diffusion method
Fleroxacin
30, 25, 20, 15 and 10 L per well
[145]

7
SD, ST, LF, RT
Essential oil
S.a., B.s., E.c., P.a., C.a., C.t., M.s., M.c., and M.x.
Agar dilution method
NS
NM
[146]

8
SD
Essential oil
E.c., B.s., A.n., F.s.,and Rh.s.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
Amoxycillin and flumequine
300 g/disc
[96]

9
FT
Essential oil and ethanolic and methanolic extracts
B.c., B.m., B.p., B.s., E.c., K.p., M.l., P.p., P.s., and C.a.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
Cefoperazone, sulbactam, ofloxacin, and netilmicin
30 mg/mL
[92]

10
SD
Aqueous/organic extracts
E.f., S.a., E.c., K.p., P.a., Sa.t., S.t., and S.f.
Agar well and disc diffusion method
Chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and ampicillin
NM
[3]

11
SD
Essential oil
E.c., P.a., S.a., B.s., A.n., and C.a.
Filter paper disc diffusion technique
Ampicillin and miconazole nitrate
10 L/disk
[113]

12
SD
Ethanol, methanol, and aqueous extracts
E.c., K.p., P.v., E.a., Sa.t., B.c.,and S.a.
Agar well and disc diffusion method
Streptomycin
NM
[4]

13
SD
Essential oil
E.c., P.a., S.a., C.a.,and A.n.
Cylinder-plate diffusion method
NS
0.25 to 2.0%
[147]

14
FT
Essential oils
S.a., B.c., P.a., E.c.,and C.a.
Disc paper and broth microdilution methods
NS
NM
[148]

15
SD
Methanol, ethanol, diethyl ether, and hexane extract
E.c., Sa.t., B.c., S.a., C.a.,and As.f.
Filter paper disc diffusion technique
NS
7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20 g/disk
[23]

16
LF, FL
Crude, chloroform, and methanol extract
E.c. and S.a.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
NS
NM
[93]

17
FT
Essential oil
HSV-1 and PI-3
Using Madin-Darby bovine kidney and Vero cell lines
Acyclovir
0.025 to 0.8 g/mL
[5]

18
LF
Essential oil
S.a., E.c., K.p., P.a., S.e., C.a. and P.m., A.n.,and F.o.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
Gentamicin, amoxicillin, and nystatin
5 L/disk
[94]

19
ST, LF
Hexane extract
M.t.
96-well sterile microtiter plate assay
NS
200 g/mL
[63]

20
SD
Essential oil
S.a., E.c., K.p.,and P.a.
Agar well diffusion method
Imipenem
50 L/well
[149]

21
SD
Essential oil
S.a., E.c., S.c.,and St.f.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
Amoxicillin
10, 50, 100 L/mL
[150]

22
SD
Essential oil
S.a., B.s., B.m., B.c., S.l., S.h., Sa.t., S.d., S.s., Sh.s., S.b., E.c.,and P.a.
Filter paper disc diffusion method
Streptomycin
1 g/mL
[151]

23
FT
Essential oil
C.a.
Agar well and filter paper disc diffusion method
Fluconazole and nystatin
25 L/well and 15 L/disc
[152]

24
SD
Methanolic extract
E.c., P.a., S.a., and B.p.
Agar diffusion method
Chloramphenicol and ampicillin
NM
[7]

25
SD
Aqueous and alcoholic

extracts
A.a., M.r.,and A.f.
Agar well diffusion method
NS
NM
[98]

AP: aerial part, FL: flower, FT: fruit, LF: leaf, RT: root, SD: seed, ST: stem, and TW: twig.

.: Alternaria alternate, A.f.: Alcaligenes faecalis, As.f.: Aspergillus flavus, A.n.: Aspergillus niger, A.r.t.: Agrobacterium radiobacter pv. tumefaciens, B.c.: Bacillus cereus, B.m.: Bacillus megaterium, B.p.: Bacillus pumilus, B.s.: Bacillus subtilis, C.a.: Candida albicans, C.t.: Candida tropicalis, E.a.: Enterobacter aerogenes, Er.c.: Erwinia carotovora, E.c.: Escherichia coli, E.f.: Enterococcus faecalis, F.o.: Fusarium oxysporum, F.s.: Fusarium solani, K.p.: Klebsiella pneumonia, M.c.: Mycobacterium chelonae, M.l.: Micrococcus luteus, M.r.: Mucor rouxii, M.s.: Mycobacterium smegmatis, M.t.: Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294, M.x.: Mycobacterium xenopi, P.a.: Pseudomona aeruginosa, P.f.: Pseudomonas fluorescens, P.g.: Pseudomonas glycinea, P.m.: Phytopathogenic molds, P.p.: Pseudomonas putida, P.s.: Pseudomonas syringae, P.v.: Proteus vulgaris, R.s.: Rhizoctonia solani, Rh.s.: Rhizopus solani, S.a.: Staphylococcus aureus, S.b.: Shigella boydii, S.c.: Staphylococcus coagulase, S.d.: Shigella dysenteriae, S.e.: Salmonella enteritidis, S.e.: Staphylococcus epidermidis, S.f.: Shigella flexneri, St.f.: Streptococcus faecalis, S.h.: Streptococcus haemolyticus, S.l.: Sarcina lutea, S.s.: Shigella shiga, S.t.: Salmonella typhimurium, Sa.t.: Salmonella typhi, and Sh.s.: Shigella sonnei. HSV-1: herpes simplex virus 1 as a representative of DNA viruses and PI-3: parainfluenza-3 virus (PI-3) as representative of RNA viruses.

NS: no reference standard employed and NM: not mentioned.

Several studies indicating the antifungal effect of F. vulgare along with antibacterial effect are also reported in the literature. Martins et al. [94] investigated the antibacterial and antifungal effects of three essential oils of Portuguese plants, namely, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha spicata, and Rosmarinus officinalis against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Candida albicans, and phytopathogenic molds, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum. Essential oil of F. vulgare showed significant antifungal activity against the food spoilage fungi Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum and may have important applications as food additives. The MIC values of F. vulgare essential oil were 250 μg/mL for Fusarium oxysporum and 750 μg/mL for Aspergillus niger [94]. The oils extracted from F. vulgare exhibit varying levels of antifungal effects on the experimental mycelial growth of Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani [95]. Essential oil of F. vulgare showed appreciable antifungal activity against strains of pathogenic fungi, namely, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, and Rhizopus solani [96]. Dichloromethane extracts and essential oils from F. vulgare showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans. It could be a potential candidate for a new antifungal agent for candidiasis and other fungal diseases [97]. In an in vitro study, aqueous and alcoholic seed extracts of F. vulgare exhibited inhibitory effect against Alternaria alternata, Mucor rouxii, and Aspergillus flavus [98]. Interestingly, aqueous seed extract of F. vulgare showed strongest antifungal activity as compared to reference fungicidal agent, that is, griseofulvin [99].

All of the above mentioned studies were carried out on the crude extracts and it is difficult to pinpoint the active antimicrobial metabolite. A phenylpropanoid derivative called dillapional, characterized from F. vulgare stem, was found to be an antimicrobial constituent with MIC values of 125, 250, and 125 against Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, and Cladosporium cladosporioides, respectively. A coumarin derivative, scopoletin, was also isolated as a marginally antimicrobial agent [100]. The characterization of seven different types of oxygenated monoterpenes, from methylene chloride crude extract of F. vulgare [101], suggested that the crude extract containing monoterpenes could be a new medicinal resource for antibacterial agents.

A total of 78 compounds were identified from the active antimycobacterial fraction of F. vulgare with the help of gas chromatography-mass spectra (GC-MS). Out of these, twenty compounds were tested against one sensitive and three MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the Alamar Blue microassay. Compounds that showed some degree of antimycobacterial activity against all strains tested were the following: linoleic acid (MIC 100 μg/mL), oleic acid (MIC 100 μg/mL), 1,3-benzenediol (MIC 100–200 μg/mL), undecanal (MIC 50–200 μg/mL), and 2,4-undecadienal (MIC 25–50 μg/mL). 2,4-Undecadienal was the most active compound against multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis species. Thus, the dietary intake of F. vulgare may lower the risk of M. tuberculosis infection [63].

Orhan et al. [5] studied the antiviral activity of the essential oil of fruit sample of F. vulgare along with 12 other Turkish medicinal plants against the DNA virus Herpes simplex type-1 (HSV-1) and the RNA virus parainfluenza type-3 (PI-3). Most of the oils and compounds displayed strong antiviral effects against HSV-1, ranging between 0.8 and 0.025 μg/mL. However, the samples tested were less effective against PI-3, with results ranging between 1.6 and 0.2 μg/mL. Only the essential oils of Anethum graveolens, Foeniculum vulgare (fully mature), Mentha piperita, Mentha spicata, Ocimum minutiflorum, Ocimum vulgaris, and Satureja cuneifolia inhibited this virus significantly.

All these literature findings validated the traditional uses of Foeniculum vulgare in infectious disorders like abdominal pains, antiemetic, arthritis, conjunctivitis, constipation, depurative, diarrhea, dieresis, fever, flatulence, gastralgia, gastritis, insomnia, irritable colon, mouth ulcer, stomachache, respiratory disorders, skin diseases, and so forth. There is always a need for new antimicrobial agents due to rapid development of resistance. Bioactive metabolites of F. vulgare may be a potential source for new antimicrobial agents.

4.2. Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Oral administration of methanol extract of F. vulgare fruit to rat and mice exhibited inhibitory effects against acute and subacute inflammatory diseases. The anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract was evaluated by using three screening protocols, namely, carrageenan-induced paw edema, arachidonic acid-induced ear edema, and formaldehyde-induced arthritis. These are widely used for testing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For acute inflammation, methanol extract (200 mg/kg) exhibits significant inhibition of paw edema (69%) induced by carrageenan injection as compared to the control group of animals. Methanol extract of F. vulgare also inhibits ear-edema (70%) induced by arachidonic acid in mice. The level of serum transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly increases in the presence of methanolic extract of F. vulgare on inflammation induced by formaldehyde as compared to control group. The assessment of the level of AST and ALT provides a good and simple tool to measure the anti-inflammatory activity of the target compounds [102]. These overall results seem to suggest that F. vulgare FME may act on both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways [79].

4.3. Antiallergic Activity

Methanolic extract of F. vulgare fruit showed significant inhibitory effect on DNFB- (2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-) induced delayed type hypersensitivity after oral administration of 200 mg/kg once a day for 7 days. The inhibitory effect on immunologically induced swelling suggests the possible immunosuppressive properties of F. vulgare [79].

4.4. Hepatoprotective Activity

Essential oil of F. vulgare seeds revealed a potent hepatoprotective effect against acute hepatotoxicity produced by carbon tetrachloride in rats. Oral administration of F. vulgare essential oil decreases the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin as compared to the control group. Ozbek et al. suggest that the constituents (d-limonene and β-myrcene) of essential oil may have played a key role in the protection of liver from CCl₄ toxicity [9].

4.5. Anxiolytic Activity

Anxiety is the unpleasant feeling of fear and concern. When anxiety becomes excessive, it may be considered as an anxiety disorder. Anxiolytic fennel is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety and its related psychological and physical symptoms. Naga Kishore et al. [89] investigated the anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extract of F. vulgare fruit with the help of elevated plus maze, rota rod, open field test, and whole board models. The 100 to 200 mg dose of extract per kg of body weight of animal revealed significant activity when compared to reference anxiolytic drug called diazepam (1 mg/kg). Thus, fennel extract may possess anxiolytic activity supporting its traditional claim about anxiolytic activity reported in 19th edition of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics by Sathodkar, Bhandarkar and Rege.

4.6. Antistress Activity

Drug and food of natural origin play a significant role in public healthcare systems and are being investigated as remedies for a number of stress-related disorders [103]. The whole plant extract of F. vulgare exhibited notable antistress effect against stress induced by forceful swimming of test animals. The key parameters, that is, urinary levels of vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA) and ascorbic acid in rats were used to evaluate antistress activity. The plant extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) showed a significant improvement in urinary levels of VMA (), and ascorbic acid excretion levels (), in test animals when compared to the normal basal levels in control group of animals. Thus, the extract of entire plant of F. vulgare acts as an antistress agent [13].

4.7. Memory-Enhancing Property

There are a number of plants, whose consumption is believed to enhance memory and intelligence. These were usually given to children as part of their food. F. vulgaris an ayurvedic rasayana (mixture) possessing multiple neuropharmacological activities. The antidepressant activity of fennel has been well documented in ethnomedicine. The whole plants extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of F. vulgare exhibited memory-enhancing effect against scopolamine-induced amnesic rats. This experiment was evaluated by conditioned avoidance response (CAR) technique. The CAR of rats administered with the extract increased gradually to 95% over 7 to 12 days. The acquisition (time to achieve 95% CAR) for rats administered with the extract was dose- and time-dependent compared to control group, which took 12 days for acquisition. The percent avoidance was always higher in the extract-treated groups as compared to control group. Animals receiving 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract took ten days, while groups treated with 100 and 50 mg/kg doses of the extract required eleven and twelve days, respectively, to reach the point of acquisition. Administration of scopolamine produced amnesia as seen from reduction in the observed CAR. Amnesia was greater in the control group than in extract-treated groups. However, continued treatment with F. vulgare produced better retention and recovery in a dose-dependent manner than the vehicle-treated animals. Recovery from scopolamine-induced amnesia in the extract-treated groups took 3–5 days when compared to normal (control) group which took over 6 days. This overall progress suggests that F. vulgare extract possesses memory-enhancing property [13].

4.8. Nootropic Activity

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a decline in cognitive abilities. Dementia is one of the age-related mental problems and a characteristic symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. There is some evidence in favor of use of F. vulgare for the treatment of cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Methanol extract of the whole plant of F. vulgare administered for eight successive days ameliorated the amnesic effect of scopolamine and aging-induced memory deficits in mice. This extract increased step-down latency and acetylcholinesterase inhibition in mice significantly. Thus, F. vulgare may be employed in treatment of cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as a nootropic and anticholinesterase agent [80].

4.9. Antihirsutism Activity

Idiopathic hirsutism is defined as the occurrence of excessive male pattern hair growth in women who have a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and normal levels of serum androgens. It may be a disorder of peripheral androgen metabolism. Traditionally, Foeniculum vulgare has been used as an estrogenic agent. It has been reputed to increase milk secretion, promote menstruation, facilitate birth, and increase libido. On considering above aspect, Javidnia and his research team evaluated the antihirsutism activity of ethanolic extract of F. vulgare seed against idiopathic hirsutism by preparing cream containing 1 and 2% of fennel extract. The efficacy of treatment with the cream containing 2% fennel is better than the cream containing 1% fennel and these two were more potent than placebo (control group). The mean values of hair diameter reduction were 7.8%, 18.3%, and −0.5% for patients receiving the creams containing 1%, 2%, and 0% (placebo), respectively [78].

4.10. Estrogenic Properties

Since the discovery of the estrus inducing effects of some plant products in 1926, considerable effort has been devoted towards the characterization of phytoestrogens, including flavonoids, isoflavonoids, chalcones, coumestans, stilbenes, lignans, saponins, and essential oils [16]. F. vulgare has estrogen-like activity. In male rats, total concentration of protein was found to be significantly decreased in testes and in vasa deferentia whereas increased in seminal vesicles and in prostate gland. On the other hand, simultaneous decrease in the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase in all these regions (except that alkaline phosphatase was unchanged in vasa), due to the oral administration of acetone extract of F. vulgare fruit, was observed. In female rats oral administration of the extract for 10 days led to vaginal cornification and oestrus cycle [8]. Total concentration of nucleic acids and protein as well as the organ weights increased in both the tissues, namely, mammary glands and oviducts, due to the oral administration of acetone extract (50, 150, and 250 μg/100 g body wt) of F. vulgare seeds [104]. Fennel oil was reported to exhibit estrogenic activity, promote menstruation and alleviate the symptoms of female climacteric, and increase libido [71]. Administration of fennel oil (25 and 50 μg/mL final concentration in the organ bath) failed to exhibit any remarkable effect in uterine contraction. While 10, 20 and 40 μg/ml concentration of fennel oil revealed significant inhibitory effect against prostaglandin E2. Fennel oil significantly reduces the frequency of uterine contraction induced by prostaglandin E2. Thus, the extracts of F. vulgare have strong estrogenic activity [76].

4.11. Galactogenic Activity

Foeniculum vulgare has been used for millennia to increase milk secretion [105]. Thus, F. vulgare belongs to galactagogue substance. Structural similarity of its main constituent, anethole, to dopamine seems to be responsible for galactogenic activity. Dopamine acts to inhibit the secretion of the milk-producing hormone, prolactin. Anethole might influence milk secretion by competing with dopamine at the appropriate receptor sites, thereby inhibiting the antisecretory action of dopamine on prolactin [71]. It was reported that anol (demethylated anethole) causes growth of the lobule-alveolar system in the mammary glands of immature female rabbits and induces menstruation in mice and other experimental animals. Anol also gave positive results in the Jadassohn nipple test, a test which involves the measurement of changes induced in the nipples of guinea pigs subjected to the cutaneous application of sex hormones. However, further research suggests that the actual pharmacologically active agents responsible for galactogenic activity are polymers of anethole, such as dianethole and photoanethole, rather than anol or anethole itself [20, 76].

4.12. Expectorant Activity

F. vulgare seeds stimulate the ciliary motility of the respiratory apparatus and enhance the external transport of extraneous corpuscles. This action suggests a use for fennel in treating bronchial and bronchopulmonary afflictions and in particularly polluted environments [106]. The volatile oil of F. vulgare stimulates the contraction of the smooth muscles of the trachea, an action that could facilitate the expectoration of mucus, bacteria, and other corpuscles extraneous to the respiratory tracts [74].

4.13. Anticolitic Activity

Essential oil of fennel regulates the motility of smooth muscles of the intestine, while, at the same time, reducing intestinal gas. Alone, or combined with other plant medicinals, Foeniculum vulgare is indicated in the treatment of spastic gastrointestinal disturbances, in some forms of chronic colitis (which resist other treatments), in dyspepsias from gastrointestinal atony, in dyspepsias with the sensation of heaviness in the stomach, and so forth.The addition of fennel to preparations containing anthraquinonic components reduces the occurrence of abdominal pain often associated with this type of laxative [73].

4.14. Antinociceptive Activity

Antinociceptive means any substance that inhibits nociception which is a physiological process underlying the sensation of pain. Briefly, it reduces the sensitivity to painful stimuli. The various extracts of aerial part of F. vulgare, namely, hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and methanolic extract showed remarkable antinociceptive activity against acetic acid induced writhing in mice [68]. The methanolic extract of the aerial parts of F. vulgare exhibited the highest antinociceptive activity at a dose level of 2000 mg/kg, while the activity exhibited by the ethyl acetate extract was at dose level 800 mg/kg. On the other hand, n-hexane extract (700 mg/kg) and methylene chloride extract (500 mg/kg) exhibited similar antinociceptive activities, being less than peripheral antinociceptive reference drug (acetyl salicylic acid) [68].

4.15. Diuretic Activity

A diuretic is any substance that promotes the production of urine. Briefly, it is an agent that promotes diuresis. Diuretics work by promoting the expulsion of urine (measured as the urine volume [UV] excreted) and urinary sodium (UNa) from the body and this helps reduce the volume of blood circulating through the cardiovascular system. Caceres et al. [107] performed a study in conscious animals and administered a powdered extract of the whole plant (F. vulgare) which had no effect on UV or UNa. The ethanolic extract of F. vulgare fruit revealed excellent diuretic activity and proves the earlier folk claim of F. vulgare, which was reported in the United State of America (Table 5). The fruit extract showed, statistically, a highly significant diuretic effect. F. vulgare induced diuresis (500 mg/kg dose) was comparable to that of reference diuretic agent urea (960 mg/kg dose) in mice with a urine output that was almost double that of the control group. The diuresis was not associated with changes in sodium and/or potassium excretion [108]. In another part of the study, the authors showed that Foeniculum vulgare had little effect on the noradrenalin contractile responses of aortic rings, thus suggesting that it worked mainly as a diuretic and natriuretic with little effect on arterial vascular tone [77].

4.16. Cardiovascular Activity

An aqueous extract of F. vulgare leaves possesses potential cardiovascular action. This effect was investigated using pentobarbital-anaesthetised male albino Sprague-Dawley rats [75]. An intravenous administration of the lyophilized boiled water extract of leaves produced a significant dose-related reduction in arterial blood pressure, without affecting the heart rate or respiratory rate. On the other hand the nonboiled aqueous extract showed very little hypotensive activity. The hypotensive effect of the boiling water extract appeared not to be mediated via adrenergic, muscarinic, ganglionic, or serotonergic receptors; however, histamine antagonists inhibited the hypotensive effect in a dose-related manner [75].

4.17. Oculohypotensive Activity

The aqueous seed extract of F. vulgare demonstrated significant oculohypotensive activity using water loading and steroid induced glaucoma model. This extract exhibited 17.49, 21.16, and 22.03% reduction of intraocular pressure in normotensive rabbits at 0.3%, 0.6%, and 1.2% (w/v) concentrations, respectively. A maximum mean difference of 31.20% was observed between vehicles treated and extracts treated eyes in water loading experimental animal model while a maximum mean intraocular pressure lowering of 31.29% was observed in steroid induced model of glaucoma. Thus, the aqueous extract of F. vulgare revealed oculohypotensive activity, which was found to be as good as that of reference standard antiglaucoma drugs called timolol [84].

4.18. Antithrombotic Activity

Tognolini et al. [55] provided evidence of potent inhibitory activity of essential oil of F. vulgare against platelet aggregation induced by ADP, arachidonic acid, and collagen in guinea pig plasma. Similar findings were reported by Yoshioka and Tamada [109] for aggregation of rabbit platelets by an aromatic factor of fennel oil. The essential oil and anethole (a constituent of oil) of F. vulgare, tested in vitro in rat aorta with or without endothelium, displayed comparable NO-independent vasorelaxant activity at antiplatelet concentrations. It supports the safety of F. vulgare, that is, free from cytotoxic effects. Anethole and F. vulgare did not cause cytotoxicity when incubated for 30 min upto 300 μg/mL in platelet viability test. This concentration was largely compatible with those adopted in the functional in vitro tests. In vivo, both F. vulgare essential oil and anethole orally administered in a subacute treatment to mice (30 mg/kg/day for 5 days) showed significant antithrombotic activity preventing the paralysis induced by collagen-epinephrine intravenous injection (70% and 83% protection, resp.). Thus, essential oil and its main component anethole of F. vulgare showed a safe antithrombotic activity in guinea pig plasma that seems due to their broad spectrum antiplatelet activity, clot destabilizing effect, and vasorelaxant action [55].

4.19. Antimutagenic Effect

Essential oil of F. vulgare revealed noteworthy protective effects against genotoxicity in mice induced by cyclophosphamide. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were assessed by using mice bone marrow chromosomal aberration, micronucleus, and sperm abnormality assays, respectively. Oral administration of essential oil (1 and 2 mL/kg) significantly inhibited the frequencies of aberrant metaphases, chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei formation, and cytotoxicity in mouse bone marrow cells induced by cyclophosphamide and also produced a significant reduction of abnormal sperm and antagonized the reduction of cyclophosphamide induced superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione activities and inhibited increased malondialdehyde content in the liver. Additionally, F. vulgare inhibits the oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide [90].

4.20. Gastrointestinal Effect

The aqueous extract of F. vulgare showed remarkable antiulcerogenic effect against ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. It was found that pretreatment with aqueous extract significantly reduced ethanol-induced gastric damage. This effect of aqueous extract was highest and statistically significant in 300 mg/kg group compared with the control () group of animal. Additionally, aqueous extract of F. vulgare significantly reduced the whole blood malondialdehyde levels, while significantly increased nitrite, nitrate, ascorbic acid, retinol, and beta-carotene levels. Thus, aqueous extract of F. vulgare fruit had clearly a protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion in rats [81].

4.21. Chemomodulatory Action

The chemopreventive effect of different doses of test diet of Foeniculum vulgare seeds was examined against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene- (DMBA-) induced skin papillomagenesis and benzo(a)pyrene- [B(a)P-] induced forestomach papillomagenesis, at the peri-initiational level in Swiss albino mice. Fennel seeds exhibit a significant reduction in the skin and the fore-stomach tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity as compared to the control group. Further, biochemical assays showed a significant increase in the content/activities of phase I enzymes especially in the case of 6% test diet. A concomitant increase in the activities of the phase II enzymes was observed with all the doses of test diet under study. A significant enhancement in the activities of antioxidant enzymes was observed especially at 4% and 6% test diets of fennel. These findings were indicative of chemopreventive potential of fennel against carcinogenesis. This is the first report showing chemopreventive potential of seeds of fennel against carcinogenesis [85].

4.22. Cytoprotection and Antitumor Activity

Anethole is the principal active component of fennel seeds which has exhibited anticancer activity. Al-Harbi et al. studied the antitumor activity of anethole against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma induced in a tumor model in Swiss albino mice. The study revealed that anethole increased survival time, reduced tumor weight, and reduced the volume and body weight of the Ehrlich ascites tumour-bearing mice. It also produced a significant cytotoxic effect in the Ehrlich ascites tumour cells in the paw, reduced the levels of nucleic acids and malondialdehyde, and increased glutathione concentrations [110]. In vitro cytoprotection activity of methanolic extract of Foeniculum vulgare was evaluated against normal human blood lymphocytes by micronucleus assay and antitumor activity against B16F10 melanoma cell line by Trypan blue exclusion assay for cell viability. Lymphocyte culture treated with 70% methanolic extract of Foeniculum vulgare showed very less percentage of micronucleus, that is, 0.006% as compared to standard drug doxorubicin which showed 0.018% micronucleus. On the other hand 70% methanolic extract of Foeniculum vulgare has potent antitumor activity at the concentration of 200 μg/mL. The results suggest that the Foeniculum vulgare could be considered as a natural resource of antitumor agents as well as cytoprotective to normal cells [11].

4.23. Cytotoxicity

Kaileh and his coworker investigated the cytotoxic effect of organic extracts of 24 selected Palestinian medicinal plant species. The plant selection was based on existing ethnobotanic information and interviews with local healers. The extracts of the plants under investigation were tested for their potential antitumor (cytotoxic) effect on the murine fibrosarcoma L929sA cells and on the human breast cancer cells MDA-MB231 and MCF7. The extract from F. vulgare presented an IC (50) value at 24 h of and  μg/mL, on L929sA and MCF7 cells, respectively. The nuclear transcription factor NFkappaB or NFκB regulates the expression of various genes. They further investigated the effect of nine promising plant extracts, withheld from the first cell viability screening on NFκB activation. The dichloromethane and methanol (1 : 1) extract of aerial part of F. vulgare revealed immunomodulatory NFκB activities [82]. Also, Berrington and Lall investigated the in vitro cytotoxicity of acetone extracts of F. vulgare and other eight medicinal plants against a noncancerous African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell line and an adenocarcinoma cervical cancer (HeLa) cell line [87].

4.24. Antipyretic Activity

F. vulgare extract showed antipyretic activity against hyperpyrexia in mice. It was induced by S.C. administration of 2 mL/100 g of a 20% aqueous suspension of brewer’s yeast. As an antipyretic agent, ethanolic extract of F. vulgare fruit showed a moderate antipyretic activity that was statistically significant after 30 and 90 min () [108].

4.25. Hypolipidemic Activity

The aqueous extract of F. vulgare revealed notable hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic activity against Triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemia in mice. Aqueous extract causes significant reduction of plasma lipid levels, that is, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein-B decreased by 40%, 23%, 61%, and 61%, respectively, and increase in HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 by 85% and 58%, respectively [88].

4.26. Hypoglycemic Activity

The essential oil of F. vulgare exhibits potential hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity against streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. Essential oil (30 mg/kg body weight) of F. vulgare works in the correction of hyperglycemia from  mg/dL to  mg/dL with and the activity of serum glutathione peroxidase from  U/g Hb to  U/g Hb with . Also, essential oil of fennel improves the pathological changes noticed in their kidney and pancreas as compared with the control group of animal. This can prove its effect as antidiabetic in folk Medicine. This makes the possibility of its inclusion in antidiabetic drug industry [12].

4.27. Antispasmodic Activity

The antispasmodic activity of 2.5 and 10.0 mL/L of alcoholic extract of Foeniculum vulgare along with other Germanic medicinal plants, namely, Melissa officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha piperita, Matricaria chamomilla, Carum carvi, and Citrus aurantium were tested employing the guinea pig ileum and using acetylcholine and histamine as spasmogens. An alcoholic extract of the fruits of Foeniculum vulgare possesses antispasmodic activity, which inhibits the acetylcholine and histamine-induced guinea pig ileal contractions in vitro. An essential oil which is obtained from the fruits of Foeniculum vulgare, 25 μg/mL and 10 μg/mL, respectively, inhibited oxytocin and prostaglandin [72].

4.28. Apoptotic Activity

The apoptotic activities of ethanol extracts from fruits of seven species of Apiaceae family, namely, Eryngium planum, Archangelica officinalis, Pastinaca sativa, Heracleum sibiricum, Carum carvi, Foeniculum vulgare, and Levisticum officinale against ML-1—human acute myeloblastic leukaemia, J-45.01—human acute T cell leukaemia, EOL—human eosinophilic leukaemia, HL-60—human Caucasian promyelocytic leukaemia, 1301—human T cell leukaemia lymphoblast, C-8166—human T cell leukaemia, U-266B1—human myeloma, WICL—human Caucasian normal B cell, and H-9—human T cell were investigated with the help of Trypan blue assay and Annexin V fluos assay [86]. The ethanol extract from fruit F. vulgare showed the highest mortality in Trypan blue test for J45 cell line—4% of viable cells and for C8166 cell line—100% of mortality. However the cells of other lines showed the highest viability: HL60—60%, EOL—48%, and ML—1–42%. The normal cell line H9 and WICL showed 35% and 25% of viable cells, respectively. C8166 cell line and J-45 cell line showed the highest level of the apoptotic cells detected by Annexin V method—100% and 93%, respectively. However the cells of two lines HL60 and EOL-1 showed the lower levels of apoptotic cells—52% and 60%, respectively. High percentage of apoptotic cells was observed in H9 and WICL—76% and 93%, respectively [86].

4.29. Human Liver Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitory Activity

Thirteen compounds isolated from the methanolic extract of fennel have been found to possess human liver cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitory activity. Among these compounds 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MoP) showed the strongest inhibition with an IC50 value of 18.3 μm and with a mixed type of inhibition [83].

4.30. Antiaging Effects

Rasul and his coworker developed a base and formulation containing 4% concentrated seed extract of F. vulgare. This formulation shows notable antiaging effect with supporting experimental data related to skin moisture and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The base was insignificant, while the formulation showed significant effects on skin moisture and TEWL. The texture parameter energy showed a significant increase proving that the formulation possesses potential antiaging effects [50].

4.31. Bronchodilatory Effect

Ethanol extract and essential oil from F. vulgare exhibited bronchodilatory activity on contracted tracheal chains of guinea pig. The potassium channel opening effect of fennel may contribute on its relaxant effect on guinea pig tracheal chains [111]. Moreover, anethole bears a striking resemblance to the catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This structural similarity appears to be responsible for the various sympathomimetic activities of F. vulgare such as bronchodilatory effect [71].

4.32. Antioxidant Activities

Naturally occurring antioxidants can be used to protect human beings from oxidative stress damage [112]. Fennel was known as excellent source of natural antioxidants and contributed to the daily antioxidant diet [113]. Wild fennel was found to exhibit a free radical scavenging activity with higher content phenolic and flavonoid than medicinal and edible fennel, and the aerial parts of the Italian fennel populations showed the highest DPPH scavenging activity [65]. Phenolic compounds of fennel, including caffeoylquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, eriodictyol-7-orutinoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, showed antioxidant activities [67]. The volatile oil showed strong antioxidant activity in comparison with butyrated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene. Ethanol and water extracts of fennel showed less antioxidant activity compared with essential oil [114].

5. Environmental Application

Foeniculum vulgare, that is, fennel, not only exhibited pharmacological activities but also revealed a few environmental activities. These activities play a key role in the management of nematode, insect, mosquitoes, and some harmful larvae of malaria producing vector. Thus, the extracts of F. vulgare and isolated biologically active compounds have been evaluated for their insecticidal, repellent, acaricidal, larvicidal, and nematicidal activity [115–119]. A brief review on the different type of ecofriendly environmental activities as reported on this plant is summarized below.

5.1. Insecticidal Activities

The fruit derived phytoconstituents of F. vulgare exhibited prominent insecticidal activities against Sitophilus oryzae, Callosobruchus chinensis, and Lasioderma serricorne. This activity was examined using direct contact application and fumigation methods. The biologically active constituents, that is, phenylpropenes (E)-anethole and estragole, and the monoterpene (+)-fenchone were characterized from Foeniculum fruit. By using a filter paper diffusion test, estragole (0.168 mg cm⁻²) caused 91% mortality to S. oryzae within 1 day after treatment whereas (+)-fenchone and (E)-anethole gave over 90% mortality at 2 and 4 day after treatment, respectively.

After 2 days of treatment, all test compounds (0.021 mg cm⁻² concentration) revealed potent insecticidal activity against C. chinensis. Whereas after 1 day of treatment, (E)-anethole (0.105 mg cm⁻²) gave 100% mortality of L. serricorne whereas 90 and 60% mortality at 4 day after treatment was achieved with estragole and (+)-fenchone, respectively. In a fumigation test, the compounds were much more effective against adults of S. oryzae, C. chinensis, and L. serricorne in closed cups than in open ones, indicating that the insecticidal activity of test compounds was largely attributable to fumigant action. As naturally occurring insect-control agents, the F. vulgare fruit-derived materials described could be useful for managing field populations of S. oryzae, C. chinensis, and L. serricorne [116].

5.2. Acaricidal Activity

Fennel oil shows significant acaricidal activity against Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. (+)-fenchone and p-anisaldehyde are major constituents of fruit oil of F. vulgare. P-anisaldehyde was the most toxic compound against D. farinae and is much more effective compared with benzyl benzoate, thymol, and estragol [118].

5.3. Repellent Activity

The methanolic extract of fruits of F. vulgare was spectroscopically characterized for the presence of biologically active constituents called (+)-fenchone and (E)-9-octadecenoic acid. The repellent activity of these constituents was tested against hungry Aedes aegypti females with the help of skin and patch tests and compared with that of the commercial repellent agent called N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid. In a skin test with female mosquitoes (+)-fenchone and (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (0.4 mg/cm²) exhibited moderate repellent activity at 30 min after treatment, whereas DEET provided >1 h of protection against adult mosquitoes at (0.2 mg/cm²). Thus, (+)-Fenchone and (E)-9-octadecenoic acid are potential mosquito repellent agents or lead compounds [117].

5.4. Larvicidal Activity

Plant extracts and oils may act as alternatives to conventional pesticides for malaria vector control. By considering this aspect, Sedaghat et al. [119] investigated the larvicidal activity of essential oils of three plants of Apiaceae family against malaria vector called Anopheles stephensi. The larvicidal activity was evaluated against laboratory-reared larvae by standard method of WHO. The F. vulgare oil was the most effective against A. stephensi with LC(50) and LC(90) values of 20.10 and 44.51 ppm, respectively [119]. Additionally, the essential oil extracts from leaves, flowers, and roots of F. vulgare exhibit noticeable larvicidal activity against fourth-instar larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens molestus. Terpineol and 1,8-cineole content of F. vulgare are the most effective phytoconstituent against Culex pipiens molestus bites offering complete protection for 1.6 and 2 h, respectively [120]. Recently, Zoubiri et al. [57] reported the larvicidal activity of essential oil of fennel seed against Culex pipiens mosquito. Thus, F. vulgare can serve as a natural larvicidal agent.

5.5. Nematicidal Activity

Oka et al. investigated the in vitro nematicidal activity of essential oils extracted from 27 spices and aromatic plants in pot experiments. Twelve of the twenty-seven essential oils immobilized more than 80% of juveniles of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica at a concentration of 1000 μL/liter. At this concentration, most of these oils also inhibited nematode hatching. Essential oils of Carum carvi, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha rotundifolia, and Mentha spicata showed the highest nematicidal activity among the in vitro tested oils. In 3-liter pot experiments, nematicidal activity of the essential oils and their components was confirmed at 200 and 150 mg/kg, respectively. The results suggest that the essential oils and their main components may serve as nematicides [115].

6. Toxicity

The long history of ethnomedicinal application, with no reports of any serious side effects, suggests that F. vulgare could be considered as safe. In most toxicity experiments carried out on F. vulgare, no sign of toxicity was observed. Shah and his coworker in 1991 investigated the detailed toxicity account of ethanolic extract of fennel fruit in experimental mice with respect to acute and 90 days longer term toxicity [121]. In experimentation, Shah and his coworker observed the general symptoms of toxicity and mortality for only 24 h in acute toxicity. Whereas, in another part of toxicity they studied the effect of fennel extract on mice with 90 days long term treatment. Acute toxicity of ethanolic extract of F. vulgare was assessed in 35 mice by using three concentrations, namely, 0.5, 1, and 3 g/kg body weight. In this investigation, F. vulgare exhibited no signs of toxicity and no mortality was observed upto the dose level 3 g/kg body weight. In case of longer term toxicity, ethanolic extract of F. vulgare (100 mg/kg body weight/day) was given in drinking water of animals (30 male and 30 female mice). All external morphological, haematological, and spermatogenic changes, in addition to body and vital organ weights, were recorded. The extract caused no significant chronic mortality as compared to controls during this investigation. The treated male mice gained significant weight during chronic treatment while a loss or no significant change in weight was noticed in the female mice treated with the same extract. The extracts did not show spermatotoxic effects. Thus, Shah and his coworker concluded that fennel extract is safe based on both acute and/or long term toxicity studies [121]. Additionally, the plant extract in doses of 0.5, 1, and 3 g/kg (orally) did not cause any deaths. These doses do not show any type of toxicity against several parameters tested, namely, locomotor activity, bizarre reactions, sensitivity to sound, social interaction, tail posture, aggressive behaviour, ataxia, paralysis, convulsions, tremors, prostration, exophthalmos, pupil size, defecation, salivation, urination, pattern of respiration, nasal discharge, cyanosis, and piloerection. Exceptionally, only the 3 g/kg dose showed signs of reduced locomotor activity and piloerection. Otherwise, all other parameters were negative [108]. In another experiment of acute toxicity, different solvent extracts, namely, n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of F. vulgare upto 5.5 g/kg concentration, did not revealed any kind of toxicity in mice, LD50 being: 6.75, 11.0, 6.92, and 15 g/kg for n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts, respectively [68]. The plant extract of F. vulgare was administered orally at a dose of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg of body weight of mice. Each group of animals was under visual observation for 10 days for the external behavior of neurological toxicity created by plant extract. Even the mice receiving highest dose of F. vulgare extract did not show any mortality or toxicity demonstrating the safety profile of the plant extract [89].

The acute oral 50% LD50 for anethole in rats was found to be 2090 mg/kg. Repeated doses of one-third the LD50 of anethole (695 mg/kg) given to rat caused mild liver lesions. It would therefore appear that in normal therapeutic dosages anethole would have minimal hepatotoxicity. When anethole was fed to rats daily for one year as 0.25% of the diet, no hepatic damage was seen [122]. The acute oral LD50 of essential oil in rats is 1326 mg/kg [76]. The use of F. vulgare essential oil as a remedy for control of primary dysmenorrhea increases concern about its potential teratogenicity due to its estrogen like activity. Evaluation of teratogenicity of essential oil using limb bud mesenchymal cells showed that the essential oil may have toxic effect on fetal cells, but there was no evidence of teratogenicity upto concentration of 9.3 mg/mL of culture medium [123]. The overall toxicity studies carried out on F. vulgare accounts for its safety at the recommended therapeutic doses.

7. Conclusions

The available scientific research on Foeniculum vulgare has shown that it is an important medicinal plant used in a wide range of ethnomedical treatments, especially for abdominal pains, antiemetic, aperitif, arthritis, cancer, colic in children, conjunctivitis, constipation, depurative, diarrhea, dieresis, emmenagogue, fever, flatulence, gastralgia, gastritis, insomnia, irritable colon, kidney ailments, as a laxative, leucorrhoea, liver pain, mouth ulcer, and stomachache. This plant has been in use for a long period of time without any documented serious adverse effects. Studies carried out in the past and present indicate that fennel possesses diverse health benefits and are an important constituent of food. Studies have shown that various extracts of fennel possess a range of pharmacological actions, such as antiaging, antiallergic, anticolitic, antihirsutism, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antistress, antithrombotic, anxiolytic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory action, cytoprotection and antitumor, cytotoxicity, diuretic, estrogenic properties, expectorant, galactogenic, gastrointestinal effect, hepatoprotective, human liver cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, memory-enhancing property, nootropic, and oculohypotensive activity supporting its traditional use. However, the most prominent and the well studied effects are the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of essential oil of fennel in different experimental models. The observed health benefits may be credited to the presence of the various phytochemicals like volatile compounds, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids.

Fennel also contains mineral and trace elements like aluminum, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, strontium, and zinc [124]; fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, E, and K; water soluble vitamins like ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and pyridoxine; essential amino acids like leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and tryptophane may contribute to the myriad health beneficial effects at least in part.

Most of the pharmacological studies were conducted using uncharacterized crude extracts of fennel. It is difficult to reproduce the results of these studies and pinpoint the bioactive compounds. Hence, there is a need for chemical standardization and bioactivity-guided identification of bioactive compounds. Among several classes of chemical constituents identified in fennel, volatile components of fennel essential oil and phenolic compounds are assumed to be the main bioactive compounds responsible for the majority of its pharmacological effects. However, the vast traditional use and proven pharmacological activities of fennel indicate that an immense scope still exists for its chemical exploration. Future studies should be focused on validating the mechanism of action responsible for the various beneficial effects and also on understanding which plant based compounds are responsible for the reported effects. The required information when available will enhance our knowledge and appreciation for the use of fennel in our daily diet. Also, the outcome of such chemical studies may further expand its existing therapeutic potential.

Thus, there are many areas of research related to this plant that need to be further explored to fully recognize its beneficial effects for society. Factors such as geographical and seasonal variation play an important role in the authentication of the chemical constituents responsible for the activity which also can be an area of interest. Thus, it is incumbent on researchers to fill the huge gap of insufficient knowledge and create awareness among pharmacologists as well as investigators towards providing better medicinal value derived from this plant. This can be fulfilled only by generating interest among the research community through writing of critical appraisals (paper) and extending the interdisciplinary research area to focused studies on Foeniculum vulgare.

Conflict of Interests

The authors confirm that this paper's content has no conflict of interests.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, for providing Centenary Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to Dr. Shamkant B. Badgujar. The authors are grateful to Professor V. S. Kanchi (Librarian, Moolji Jaitha College, Jalgaon, India) for his instructive suggestion in the revised version of the paper. The authors would like to thank all the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and thoughtful implications on the paper.

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