Star anise (Chinese)
Illicium verum
Other names: Chinese star anise, badian, ba jiao (八角), Anisi stellati fructus
Edible plantPhoto credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
Safety information
Toxicity: Illicium verum itself is regarded as safe as a culinary spice. Critical hazard: it is frequently adulterated with or confused with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is highly toxic - it contains neurotoxins (anisatin, shikimin, shikimitoxin) causing vomiting, seizures/convulsions, and serious illness. Cases of poisoning (notably in infants given star-anise tea for colic) have occurred from contaminated/misidentified product. The two cannot be reliably distinguished by appearance when dried/processed.
Contraindications: Do NOT give star-anise preparations to infants/young children (poisoning cases reported, especially with possible I. anisatum contamination). Pregnancy/lactation: avoid medicinal/tea doses (use only ordinary culinary amounts of verified product).
Interactions: None well documented for the verified spice.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: avoid medicinal/tea doses in pregnancy/lactation (use only culinary amounts of verified product)
Evidence level
Documented in systematic traditional medicine literature.
Preparations
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
infusion · fruit
Part used: fruit
Traditional use: carminative for digestive/colicky complaints and flatulence
Proposed mechanism: trans-anethole carminative
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: I. verum fruit is a culinary spice (whole or ground), used in cooking and infusions
Toxic lookalike warning
DO NOT confuse with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is highly toxic (neurotoxins anisatin, shikimin, shikimitoxin) and visually near-identical when dried - buy only verified, food-grade Chinese star anise from reputable suppliers
Nutritional notes
spice-quantity; essential oil rich in trans-anethole; source of shikimic acid (industrial)
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- Illicium anisatum - Wikipedia (toxicity of Japanese star anise)
- Illicium verum - Wikipedia (uses, shikimic acid, adulteration with I. anisatum)