Properties of star anise
The star anise is a tree of the Illiciaceae family cultivated in different regions of Asia, particularly in China. Its bark is sometimes used as a natural remedy. Its fruit, commonly called star anise presents has many advantages. In addition to its licorice taste based on to anethole, its main active ingredient contained in its essential oil. Each branch of star anise contains a brown seed in a spicy aromatic coat.
Long used in traditional Chinese medicine for pain relief (1), star anise has digestive, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal and antipyretic properties. Illicium verum Hook. indeed has powerful antimicrobial properties based on to the anethole present in the dried fruit. Its characteristic shape, original flavour and digestive benefits make this botanical an ideal ingredient for the food and nutraceutical industries. It is used in the composition of herbal teas and the famous blend of five spices.
The world production of star anise comes from 90% of China, however, the best star anise comes from a province in the North-East of Vietnam, a region which offers optimal conditions for the growth of the star anise. With its ideal climate, the province is also far from polluted areas and thus well preserved. In this region, an ancestral know-how of the cultivation of star anise continues. The star anise is indeed an authentic symbol in the North-East of Vietnam. Its culture brings together several generations of farmers. Moreover, the custom is to plant one or more star anise shrubs for births so that the sale of the fruit contributes to the education of younger generations.
In order to guarantee a qualitative star anise supply chain, Natural Origins has chosen to collaborate with a local partner in Vietnam, expert in the sourcing of conventional and organic botanical raw materials. This partnership has several advantages, including expertise in the field, close collaboration with farmers, a continually improving approach with a systematic physical control of all batches. It ensures supervision of logistics, optimal traceability, in search o personalised botanical solutions as well as support for supply chain marketing.
(1) GW Wang , WT Hu , BK Huang , LP Qin
Illicium verum : Une revue sur sa botanique, son utilisation traditionnelle, sa chimie et sa pharmacologie
J d'Ethnopharmacol. , 13 ( 2011 ) , p. 10 - 20
