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| Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Name |
Hindi Names |
Foeniculum vulgare
Mill. (Umbellifereae) / F.capillaceum Gil.
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F.officinale All.
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Fennel,
Indian Sweet Fennel |
Shatapushpa |
Sanuf, Bari-Sanuf |
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| History |
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| Hippocrates
mentioned it as a diuretic and emmenagogue, and its juice was
supposed to sharpen the eyesight. It was used by the natives
of India as a condiment and as an aromatic adjunct to medicines.
It often can be found in Arabic and Persian works on Materia
Medica. The roots were also an important medicine. |
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| Habitat |
Originally indigenous
to South Europe, it is now widely cultivated throughout the temperate
and sub-tropical regions of the world for its aromatic fruits.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
 It
is a biennial or perennial and glabrous herb that grows to a height
of 1.5-2.0 m high with fistular stem. The rootstock is perennial but
of short duration. Stem is glabrous, erect, stout and aromatic. Leaves
are 2-4 pinnate, narrow, ultimate segments linear, stiff in dry conditions
but slender in cultivatable conditions, stipulate and usually with
sheathing leaf base. Umbels are rather large and more or less glaucous
and terminal. Bracts are in the form of and involucre. Outer flowers
may be rayed and mostly protandrous. Calyx is adnate to the ovary.
Corolla lobes are 5 and margin incurved. Fruit is a cremocarp with
two indehisent carpels compressed called mericarps and have five longitudinal
ridges called primary ridges alternating with furrows. Generally,
there are 2 varieties; var. vulgareand var. dulce. But the Indian
variety is considered a distinct variety var. Panmorium (Syn. F.panmorium).
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| Principal
Constituents |
The volatile oil
content is 0.7-1.2 % in Indian variety, but it is 4-6% in Europe varieties.
Methyl chavicol was detected from oil1. Fruits also contain
pentosan, pectin, trigonelline, fenchone, seselin, anethole and choline.
The essential oil contains sesquiterpene, germacrene-D and b caryophyllene.
Anethole, seselin, fenchone are also identified from the fruits. But
the fruits from Ootagamandalum (Tamilnadu) are free from anethole.
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| Indications |
Seeds have laxative, aphrodisiac,
stomachic, appetiser, anthelmintic, alexiteric, galactogogue, diuretic
and are used in eye diseases, burning sensation, fever, thirst, wounds,
dysentery and leprosy. The fruit is also used for veneral diseases
and promotes female monthly regularity. Leaves also have diuretic
properties. Roots are regarded as a purgative. Fruits are used for
flavouring soups, meat dishes, sauces, confectionery and also pickles.
They are listed officially in the pharmacopoeia of all countries.
Aquatic extracts are given as a digestive tonic to infants and children.
It is also employed as an enema for infants.
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| Product
Range |
Abana (HeartCare),
Mentat (MindCare), Mentat syrup, Shahicool, Anxocare,
Galactin Vet.
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| References |
- Shah, Curr Sci, 38, 365, 1969.
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