What Is Star Anise Used For? Benefits and Risks

Star anise is a unique spice known for its distinct flavor and pungent, licorice-like aroma. Star anise is used to treat microbial infections, regulate blood sugar, fight cancer, and improve heart health.

Star anise is a unique spice known for its distinct flavor and pungent, licorice-like aroma. It forms an integral part of many Chinese recipes. Due to the presence of several health-boosting active chemicals, it has also been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries. 

Over the years, star anise has become popular among western medicine practitioners, who value it for its potent antimicrobial properties and therapeutic potential. Studies show that adding this spice to a balanced, nutritious diet can have various positive effects on your health. 

Star anise, also called star aniseed, is a well-known spice of Asian cuisine. It’s harvested from the star-shaped pods of Illicium verum — a small evergreen tree native to China and Vietnam.  

Star anise originated in Asia, but today, it’s used in various countries all around the world. If you visit these countries, you may come across these local names of star anise, which are given by the people in those regions:

• China: Chinese star anise, Bajiaohuixiang
• India: Anasphal, Sonf
• Indonesia: Bungalawang
• Japan: Hakkaku-uikyo, Dai-uikyo
• Portugal: Badiana da China, Anis estrelado
• Germany: Stenanis
• Spain: Badian, Anisestrellado
• Italy: Anice stellate

Farmers harvest star anise when it’s still green and unripe. They then dry the fruit in the sun to bring out its warm, unique flavor, which is often described as a mix of licorice, fennel seeds, and clove. 

Star anise is a multi-purpose herb that can be used in various ways. Alternative health practitioners use different parts of the plant, including its seed, fruit, and oil to make medicine. 

Both its oil and seeds are widely used in China and other South Asian countries as flavoring agents. Star anise is popular as the ingredient of the traditional Indian "garam masala" and the Chinese “five-spice” blends. 

Due to its distinct aroma, star anise’s oil also finds uses in manufacturing. It’s often used to add fragrance to perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, and toothpaste, and to mask the unpleasant smell of medicines and drugs.

Star anise has a good nutritional profile. While it has negligible amounts of carbohydrates, fats, and calories, it’s rich in minerals and potent bioactive compounds. The chemical analysis of this well-known spice shows that it contains good amounts of different macro and microelements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, iron, and manganese.

However, the most important components of this spice are its powerful chemicals. These are responsible for many of the health benefits of star anise. Studies show that these bioactive compounds belong to different phytochemical groups like flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenes, alkaloids, steroids, and tannins. 

These are some of the most studied compounds in star anise:

• Shikimic acid
• Anethole
• Linalool
• Gallic acid
• Quercetin
• Limonene

These chemicals contribute to the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of star anise. 

Thanks to its rich supply of phytochemicals, star anise has many positive effects on your health. These are some of its most well-known medicinal benefits:

Treating microbial infections. Research indicates that the bioactive compounds in star anise can help to fight different kinds of microbes. Among them, shikimic acid, linalool, and anethole have the most antimicrobial properties.

Adding this spice to your diet could help to protect you from harmful bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, ear infections, and various other diseases.  As per some test-tube studies, star anise has the ability to stop the growth of E. coli bacteria and prevent conditions like pneumonia and diarrhea. Research shows that this herb can fight against more than 60 strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The flavonoid anethole, which offers star anise its distinct flavor, is also known for its antifungal properties. Scientists studying the agricultural uses of this flavonoid found that it could protect certain edible plants from infection by harmful fungi. Some test-tube studies also indicate that the terpene linalool in star anise could be used to fight infectious fungi in humans. It can do so by interfering with the cell wall and biofilm formation in these harmful fungi. 

Star anise can also help to treat various viral infections. Currently, it’s considered the main source of shikimic acid — the primary active chemical in Tamiflu, a well-known medicine used for treating influenza. With the increasing frequency of viral pandemics, the demand for star anise is growing day by day. 

Regulating blood sugar.  Researchers have found the anethole compound in star anise to be highly effective for keeping blood sugar in check. Some animal studies show that this compound plays a vital role in carbohydrate metabolism, which, in turn, allows it to regulate the glucose levels in the blood. 

It has been seen that those with high blood sugar often experience excess weight loss, increased tiredness, and thirst, as well as kidney failure and nerve damage in some serious cases. This is why some medical experts suggest taking star anise to those who have a history of diabetes in their family.

Fighting cancer cells. Star anise has high antioxidant content. Studies show that antioxidants can protect your cells from free radical and oxidative damage, which can stop them from becoming cancerous. 

A few studies indicate that star anise is capable of reducing oxidative stress and the risk of tumors in animals. This herb has also been found to boost the levels of certain enzymes that are known for their role in cancer prevention. 

Since most of these studies were done on animals, though, more research is needed to confirm if the antioxidants in star anise can fight cancer cells in humans. 

Improving heart health. Only a limited number of studies have been done to understand the effect of star anise on heart health. However, per the available research, this herb has the potential to manage medical conditions that ultimately lead to heart disorders. 

For example, a few studies found that star anise could regulate blood pressure, control blood lipid levels, and lower the build-up of plaque in the hearts of mice. The rich antioxidant content in this spice may support heart health by protecting the heart cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage. 

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers star anise to be GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) when used as a flavoring agent or spice. However, issues arise when people use Chinese star anise products that also contain Japanese star anise.

Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) is highly toxic and is only considered safe when used for decorative purposes. Researchers have found potent neurotoxins in Japanese star anise that can cause severe medical problems like nausea, hallucinations, and seizures.  Such side effects have been most often seen in infants who are given star anise teas. 

It has been found that manufacturers often mix large amounts of Japanese star anise in Chinese star anise teas. Since it’s hard to differentiate between the two, FDA has advised people not to have brewed teas containing any kind of star anise. 

Since there’s a possibility of contamination with Japanese star anise, most star anise products are (in particular) not recommended for infants, children, pregnant women as well as nursing mothers. 

Whenever you buy any star anise product, carefully check that its ingredients are purely of the Chinese variety. If you can’t be 100% sure of the ingredients, use only small amounts of it at a time to prevent star anise poisoning. However, it’s best to avoid buying such products when you have even a little doubt regarding their source or purity.  

You may also want to avoid star anise if you have any kind of spice allergy or mugwort weed pollen allergy. 

Studies haven’t recorded star anise as interacting negatively with any FDA-approved supplements or medications, but it’s still better to confirm with your doctor if taking star anise products would be appropriate based on your medical history.

Over the years, star anise has had various uses. For centuries, it has been used as a flavor enhancer in classical Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Viatmense cuisines. 

While cooking, you can use the whole spice or just its powdered form. Since this spice has a distinct, licorice-like aroma, you can pair it with clove, cardamom, cinnamon, and coriander while flavoring your food. You can also use this spice to cook various kinds of dishes like curries, soups, and broths. 

Thanks to its distinct flavor, star anise also makes a great addition to desserts, sweet dishes, pies, muffins, and baked fruit. When using it for the first time, make sure to start with a small amount. You can then gradually increase the amount until you get your desired flavor. 

Though the FDA warns against the use of star anise tea, many still drink it. Traditional medicine practitioners believe that tea brewed with this herb can help to treat nausea, respiratory infections, constipation, and other digestive problems. If you too wish to have it in this form, make sure that you carefully check the ingredients in the star anise package. Always use high-quality products that guarantee the presence of 100% Chinese star anise.