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Bela, J.S. , Shetty, K. 1996Aug. In vitro developmental response of anise to growth regulators and establishment of a clonal propagation system. Acta hortic. (426): 483-487.

Bela, J. , Ueno, K. , Shetty, K. 1998. Control of hyperhydricity in anise (Pimpinella anisum) tissue culture by Pseudomonas spp. J herbs spices med plants. 6 (1):57-67.

Bela, J. , Shetty, K. 1999. Somatic embryogenesis in anise (Pimpinella anisum L.): the effect of proline on embryogenic callus formation and ABA on advanced embryo development. Journal Food Biochemistry 23 (1) :17-32.

Somatic embryos of anise (Pimpinella anisum) are an excellent system to investigate the biosynthesis of food related phenolic metabolites like anethol which is linked to differentiation. Somatic embryogenesis in anise is a two part system. The first is a 2,4 D (2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) induced embryogenic callus formation which requires optimal levels of endogenous auxin and cytokinin levels. The second is the advanced embryo development stage in the absence of 2,4 D which requires abscisic acid to stimulate embryo growth. Our work has shown that proline and the precursors of proline (ornithine and arginine), in combination with the proline analog, azetidine 2 carboxylate (A2C) significantly stimulated 2,4 D induced embryogenic callus formation and subsequent somatic embryo development in hormone free medium. Further, abscisic acid stimulated somatic embryo development in anise in the second stage. Total phenolic assays done on embryo genic tissue during 2,4 D induced embryogenic callus formation, and during abscisic acid mediated embryo development showed that levels were highest in embryogenic tissue induced in the presence of proline plus A2C. Total phenolic levels of developing embryos in the absence of 2,4 D and in the presence of abscisic acid were higher than that of the control. A hypothesis for further investigation is proposed based on the potential role of the proline linked pentose phosphate pathway in stimulating the biosynthesis of purines and phenolic metabolites during anise somatic embryogenesis.

Charles, D.J. , Simon, J.E. , Widrlechner, M.P. 1991. Characterization of essential oil of Agastache species. J Agric Food Chem. 39 (11) :1946-1949.

A collection of 19 accessions of Agastache foeniculum (anise hyssop), A. rugosa (catnip giant hyssop), A. nepetoides (Korean mint), and putative hybrids were analyzed for essential oil content and composition by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectroscopy. There was significant variation in oil content of the different lines of Agastache spp., ranging from 0.07 to 2.73 (percent volume/dry weight) for leaves and from 0.10 to 3.00 (percent volume/dry weight) for flowers. Variation in the essential oil composition was high among lines of A. foeniculum but low among lines of A. rugosa. Twenty six compounds were identified in the essential oils, with methylchavicol being the major constituent (46.7 94.6%) in 14 lines of A. foeniculum, A. rugosa, and putative hybrids. In contrast, delta cadinol was the major oil constituent (39.6%) in A. nepetoides. Additional oil constituents found in these species in concentrations above 1% include beta bourbonene, bornyl acetate, gamma cadinene, alpha cadinol, delta cadinene, alpha camphene, beta caryophyllene, damascenone, beta ionone, isomenthone, alpha limonene, linalool, methyleugenol, beta myrcene, cis ocimene, 7 octen 4 ol, pulegone, and spathulenol.

Cu,-J.Q.; Perineau,-F.; Goepfert,-G. 1990Mar/April. GC/MS analysis of star anise oil. J-Essent-Oil-Res-JEOR. 2 (2): 91-92

Dapkevicius, A. , Venskutonis, R. , Beek, T.A. van. , Linssen, J.P.H. 1998May. Antioxidant activity of extracts obtained by different isolation procedures from some aromatic herbs grown in Lithuania. Journal Science Food and Agriculture 77 (1): 140-146.

An increasing demand for natural additives has shifted the attention from synthetic to natural antioxidants. The present work examines the potential of some aromatic herbs grown in Lithuania as a source of natural antioxidants: marjoram (Majorana hortensis Moench), catnip (Nepeta cataria L), oregano (Origanum vulgare L), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L), hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L), anise hyssop (Lophantus anisatus Benth), and sage (Salvia officinalis L). Dried herb samples were submitted to extraction with supercritical CO2, acetone or methanol/water and hydrodistillation. Deodorised herb samples (after removal of essential oil) were also extracted with acetone. The antioxidant activity of these extracts, essential oils and dried deodorised aqueous extracts was assessed by the beta carotene bleaching test (diffusion and spectrophotometric methods). The highest yields of extracts were obtained using polar solvents. Thyme and sage acetone oleoresins showed high antioxidant activity in the tests performed and were regarded as the most promising sources.

Fuentes Granados, R.G. , Widrlechner, M.P. , Wilson, L.A. 1998Sept. Allozyme inheritance in anise hyssop [Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Kuntze] (Lamiaceae). J Am Soc Hortic Sci. 123 (5): 868-874.

The inheritance of five allozymes was studied in anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) by analyzing the progeny of controlled crosses. The loci studied [Cat 1, Got 2, Pgm 2, Tpi 1, and Tpi 2] were scored by using starch gel electrophoresis. Segregation analyses of families polymorphic at each of these loci support the following hypotheses: Cat 1 is controlled by a single gene with codominant alleles , Got 2 is controlled by a single gene with codominant alleles coding for dimeric protein products , Pgm 2 is controlled by a single gene with codominant alleles coding for monomeric proteins , and Tpi 1 and Tpi 2 are each controlled by a single gene with codominant alleles coding dimeric protein products. Distorted segregation ratios were observed in some families segregating for Got 2 and Pgm 2. No linkges were detected among any of the cosegregating loci.

Fukuba,-H.; Murota,-T. 1985. Application of Sep-pak cartridges for the elimination of interfering components in the determination of tocopherols by high-performance liquid chromatography. J-Micronutrient-Anal. 1 (2): 107-120.

Kubo, I. , Kinst Hori, I. 1998. Tyrosinase inhibitors from anise oil. Journal Agriculture and Food Chemistry 46 (4): 1268-1271.

Anisaldehyde characterized in the seeds of Pimpinella anisum L. (Umbelliferae), also known as aniseed, was found to inhibit the oxidation of L 3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (L DOPA) by mushroom tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) with an ID50 of 43 micrograms/mL (0.32 mM). The inhibition kinetics analyzed by a Lineweaver Burk plot established anisaldehyde to be a noncompetitive inhibitor for this oxidation. On the basis of this finding, various related analogues were also tested in order to gain new insights into their structural functions.

Kubo,-I.; Kinst-Hori,-I. 1998. Tyrosinase inhibitors from anise oil. Journal Agriculture and Food Chemistry 46 (4) :1268-1271.

Porta, G.D. , Taddeo, R. , D'Urso, E. , Reverchon, E. 1998. Isolation of clove bud and star anise essential oil by supercritical CO2 extraction. Lebensm Wiss Technology 31 (5): 454-460.

Radetzky, R. , Langheinrich, U. 1994. Induction of accumulation and degradation of the 18.4 kDa oleosin in a triacylglycerol storing cell culture of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.). Planta. 194 (1): 1-8.

Two closely related anise cell culture lines, Pa15 and Pa19, differ considerably in growth rate, potential to form somatic embryoids, triacylglycerol (TAG) storage and pattern of lipid body proteins. Line Pa15 grows very fast (doubling rate: 3 d), mainly as single cells, exhibits a low potential for somatic embryogenesis and its TAG content is relatively low (5 20 mg TAG per g dry weight). In contrast, the line Pa19 shows lower growth rates (doubling rate: 8 d), tends to form clusters of somatic cells, has a higher TAG content (100 150 mg TAG per g dry weight), and somatic embryoids are easily induced. Under defined culture conditions, the TAG content of the line Pa19 can be increased to approximately 70% of that of ripe anise seeds (150 and 220 mg TAG per g dry weight, respectively). Polyclonal antibodies prepared against the most abundant protein (relative molecular mass 18.4 kDa) from the lipid body fraction of anise seeds (Radetzky et al. 1993, Planta 191, 166 172) react also with a 18.4 kDa protein from the lipid body fraction of cells of the Pa19 culture. In contrast, only fairly low levels of the 18.4 kDa oleosin were detected in Pa15. Limited sucrose supply in the medium resulted in TAG degradation and the concomitant decrease in the amount of immunodetectable 18.4 kDa protein in the Pa19 cell culture. Treatment with sorbitol, or abscisic acid and sorbitol in combination, enhanced TAG contents and also the amount of immunostained 18.4 kDa protein in the cell culture Pa19, whereas no effect was found on either TAG content or 18.4 kDa protein in the cell culture line Pa15. The 18.4 kDa protein can be classified as an oleosin, a proposal which is supported by the similarity in molecular mass compared with other known oleosins, its occurrence in the lipid body fraction and the fact that its amount correlates with the TAG content. The results of this study indicate that the Pa19 cell culture provides a valid model system for investigations of lipid storage and mobilization in higher plant cells.

Radetzky, R. , Feussner, I. , Theimer, R.R. , Kindl, H. 1993. Transient occurrence of lipoxygenase and glycoprotein gp49 in lipid bodies during fat mobilization in anise seedlings. Planta. 191 (2):166-172.

The patterns of lipid body proteins prepared at different stages of germination from seedlings of anise (Pimpinella ansium L.) were investigated. During the stage of fat mobilization, a set of proteins is synthesized de novo and transferred to existing lipid bodies. Analysis of the protein constituents, detected either by protein staining, concanavalin A/peroxidase staining or immunoreaction on Western blots showed three distinct protein species: a lipoxygenase firmly integrated into the lipid bodies, a glycoprotein gp50 only extractable from the lipid bodies by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate and a glycoprotein gp49 solubilized by diethyl ether treatment of lipid bodies. Both the lipoxygenase immunodetected on Western blots and gp49 stained with concanavalin A/peroxidase conjugate occurred transiently in the lipid body fraction, reaching maximum concentrations between days 6 and 13 of germination. This behavior was in contrast to the decreasing level of the 18.4 kD a oleosin already present at the beginning of germination.

UNITED FRESH FRUIT & VEGETABLE ASSOCIATION, 727 N. Washington, Alexandria, VA 22314

FEBRUARY 1974  original author R. A. SEELIG scanned and edited by ZoeAnn Holmes

Small, E. 1996July/Sept. Confusion of common names for toxic and edible "star anise" (Illicium) species. Economic Botany 50 (3) :337-339.