Fennel Studies!!! HIRSUTISM mentioned

kittykay · 07-23-2005, 05:09 PM

Here are some fennel studies!!!!

Note about the mosquitoes: I found better studies on repeling them with catnip oil. Catnip Oil is 10 times better than DEET!

Anyway, the studies:

================================================== ==========

Fennel - Recent Research Findings and Potential Health Benefits

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is an herb that is native to the Mediterranean region, but is currently cultivated in most temperate areas. The constituent oils and extracts of Fennel Seed have been shown to possess considerable support in various areas: inflammation, asthma, indigestion, hirsutism and colic. It is also an anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and hepato-protective agent. And, researchers use it to develop tea to clear the throat and repel mosquitoes.

ANTI-BACTERIAL / ANTIMICROBIAL GROWTH

Dadalioglu I et al , Mustafa Kemal University, Turkey, found Foeniculum vulgare exhibited a very strong antibacterial activity against bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus in a vitro study. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec 29;52(26):8255-60]. Lo Cantore P et al, Universita di Napoli "Federico II", Italy, even suggested to use it as natural bactericide for the control of bacterial diseases of plants and for seed treatment, in particular, in organic agriculture. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec 29;52(26):7862-7866].Singh G et al, DDU Gorakhpur University, India, studied Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum and Seseli
indicum for antibacterial activity against eight pathogenic bacteria, causing infections in the human body. They concluded that it is effective when compared with standard antibiotics, at a very low concentration. [Phytother Res. 2002 Nov;16(7):680-2].Kwon YS et al, Kangwon National University, Korea, found a phenyl propanoid derivative, dillapional(1) be a antimicrobial principle of the stems of Foeniculum vulgare. [Arch Pharm Res. 2002 Apr;25(2):154-7].

REPEL MOSQUITOES

Kim SI et al, Seoul National University, Korea, incorporated fennel oil into aerosol and cream products to repel mosquitoes. [Pest Manag Sci. 2004 Nov;60(11):1125-30; J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Nov 20;50(24):6993-6].

ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES

Satyanarayana S et al, Andhra University, India, suggested daily use of Foeniculum vulgare in various forms is very common in India and their study revealed strong antioxidant activity of the extracts that was superior to known antioxidant ascorbic acid and indicate their intake may be beneficial as food additives. [J Herb Pharmcother. 2004;4(2):1-10]Parejo I et al, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain isolated and identified of the nonvolatile antioxidant compounds from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) waste: in fennel: 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, eriodictyol-7-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside,
kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside. And, these compounds exhibited a strong antiradical scavenging activity. [J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Apr 7;52(7):1890-7]

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVIES

Choi EM et al, Yonsei University, Korea, suggested that oral administration (200 mg/kg) of Foeniculum vulgare fruit methanolic extract exhibited inhibitory effects against acute and subacute inflammatory diseases and type IV allergic reactions and showed a central analgesic effect. [Fitoterapia. 2004 Sep;75(6):557-65].

THROAT CLEARING

Puodziuniene G et al, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania, develop of throat clearing herbal teas using fennel as one of the active ingredients. [Medicina (Kaunas). 2004;40(8):762-7]

ASTHMA

Haggag EG et al, Ain Helwan, Egypt, developed an water extract of a mixture of eight herbs (chamomile, saffron, anise, fennel, caraway, licorice, cardamom and black seed). And, he found that this herbal water-extract inhibited histamine released from chemically- and immunologically-induced cells by 81% and 85%. And, the clinical results showed significant improvements of sleep discomfort, cough frequency and cough intensity. [J Herb Pharmcother. 2003;3(4):41-54]

DIGESTION

Ramakrishna Rao R et al, Central Food Technological Research Institute, India, examined in vitro influence of 14 individual spices (curcumin, capsaicin, piperine, garlic, onion, ginger, mint, coriander, cumin, ajowan, fennel, fenugreek, mustard, and asafoetida) on the activities of digestive enzymes of rat pancreas and small intestine by including them in the reaction mixture at two different concentrations. The study suggested that spices had an overall digestive stimulation. [Nahrung. 2003 Dec;47(6):408-12]

ANTI-HIRSUTISM

Idiopathic hirsutism is the occurrence of excessive male pattern hair growth in women who have a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and normal levels of serum androgens. Javidnia K et al, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran evaluated the clinical response of idiopathic hirsutism to topical Fennel extract. They treated 38 patients with creams containing 1%, 2% of Fennel extract and placebo in a double bind study. They then measured hair diameter was measured and rate of growth. They found that the mean values of hair diameter reduction was 7.8%, 18.3% and -0.5% for patients receiving the creams containing 1%, 2% and 0% (placebo) respectively. [Phytomedicine. 2003;10(6-7):455-8]

INFANTILE COLIC

Colic is a condition in which an infant cries for at least three hours a day, for at least three days a week and continues for more than three weeks. Causes of colic may include food allergies, formula intolerance (such as lactose intolerance), excessive gas formation, or intestinal cramping. Alexandrovich I et al, St. Petersburg Medical Academy of Postdoctoral Education, Russia randomly assigned 121 infants with colic to receive 5 to 20 ml of a 0.1% fennel seed oil emulsion or placebo up to four times per day for one week. Acording to the Wessel criteria, the use of fennel oil emulsion eliminated colic in 65% (40/62) of infants in the treatment group, which was significantly better than 23.7% (14/59) of infants in the control group (P < 0.01). [Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;9(4):58-61]

HEPATO-PROTECTIVE EFFECT

Ozbek H et al, Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey, studied the hepato-protective activity of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) essential oil (FEO) using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver injury model in rats. They found that FEO inhibited the hepatotoxicity produced by acute CCl(4) administration with evidence of decreased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin.[ Fitoterapia. 2003 Apr;74(3):317-9]