In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the activities of phytopharmaceutical products and biologically active substances of plant origin. Anethole is such a substance used from ancient times in traditional medicine in many countries. Nowadays it is widely used in food and beverage industry. Its widespread use and accessible price justify carrying out extensive scientific research in order to support the traditional uses of anethole with scientific evidence. This review article summarizes the current knowledge of the traditional use of anethole, its pharmacological activities and the possible mechanisms underlying its effects.
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