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Case reports of acute toxicity associated with star anise (Illicium verum) products have causedseveral countries, including the US, to pass warnings about or import restrictions on star aniseproducts. These case reports generally involve infants given star anise tea as a treatment forcolic. The toxic reaction is generally thought to be caused by adulteration of star anise with thefruit of the highly toxic congener shikimi (Illicium anisatum L.), also known as Japanese staranise, and possibly by other toxic species of Illicium as well. Shikimi contains the neurotoxicsesquiterpene lactones anisatin and neo-anisatin in concentrations that can induce gastrointestinalupset and epileptiform convulsions (Johanns et al. 2002; Matsumoto and Fukuda 1982; seeNeurotoxicity).

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Published: 01/01/2006 Number of Pages: 69 File Size: 1 file , 2.1 MB