Star anise ( Illicium verum Hook. f.) is an important economic tree species in southern China, extensively cultivated in Guangxi and Yunnan, with wide applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The unique sweetness and aroma of its fruit make it an indispensable spice in Chinese household kitchens. Moreover, its rich chemical composition endows it with various health functions, including antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumour, antidiabetic, antilipidemic effects. Star anise is not only a component of many traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions but also an essential raw material in modern pharmaceutical production. This article reviews the research progress on the chemical composition, health functions, quality standards and quality control, processing and extraction techniques, and applications of star anise. We also mention the botanical description and distribution of this species.
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Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.
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