Pimpinella anisum is a member of the Umbelliferae and is found in the North-Eastern Anatolia. In Turkish folk medicine, Pimpinella species have been used as analgesic, antiinflammatory, appetizing, hypnotic, expectorant, antibacterial and hepatoprotective agents and to increase milk secretion. The seeds of P. anisum contain 1.5-6% essential oil, 10-20% fixed oil and 18% protein. The main constituents of the essential oil are 90% anethole, 2-4% gamma-himachalene, <1% p-anisaldehyde, 0.9-1.5% methylchavicol, 3% cis-pseudoisoeugenyl 2-methylbutyrate and 1.3% trans-pseudoisoeugenyl 2-methylbutyrate. The essential oil of P. anisum was not found effective against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Hypoglycemic effect of the essential oil of P. anisum has been reported by Ceylan et al. It was found acaricidal against Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Its anti-diuretic effect was reported by Kreydiyyeh et al. Essential oil of P. anisum was found effective some bacteriae. Sahraei et al. reported that the essential oil of the P. anisum may reduce the morphine effects via a GABAergic mechanism.
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