Distinguishing Chinese Star Anise from Japanese Star Anise Using Thermal Desorption−Gas Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The volatile compounds from the pericarps of Illicium anisatum L., Illicium brevistylum A.C.Sm., Illicium griffithii Hook.f. & Thomson, Illicium henryi Diels, Illicium lanceolatum A.C.Sm., Illicium majus Hook.f. & Thomson, Illicium micranthum Dunn, and Illicium verum Hook.f. were examined by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). The volatiles desorbed from the pericarps of I. verum (Chinese star anise), the species traded for culinary purposes, were generally characterized by a high proportion of (E)-anethole (57.6-77.1%) and the presence of foeniculin; the latter was otherwise only detected in the pericarps of I. lanceolatum. In the pericarps of all other species analyzed, the percentage composition of (E)-anethole was comparatively lower (<or=16.0%). The volatiles desorbed from the pericarps of the toxic I. anisatum (Japanese star anise) were characterized by the presence of asaricin, methoxyeugenol, and two other eugenol derivatives, none of which were detected in any of the other species examined. TD-GC-MS enables the direct analysis of the volatile components from the pericarps of Illicium and can assist with differentiating the fruits of I. verum from other species of Illicium, particularly the more toxic I. anisatum.

The phenylpropene synthase pathway and its applications in the engineering of volatile phenylpropanoids in plants

“…methoxyeugenol, in which the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring is substituted with a dimethylallyl group, are found as major constituents in a few plant species, including Illicium anisatum and Illicium verum (Howes et al 2009;Koeduka et al 2014), with the apparent function of strongly deterring oviposition by mites. The biosynthesis of these O-prenylated phenylpropenes is not yet well understood, since no phenylpropene-specific prenyltransferases have yet been characterized.…”

Illicium verum: A review on its botany, traditional use, chemistry and pharmacology

“…In contrast, the (E)-anethole content of I. anisatum is less than 3.0% (Cook and Howard, 1966;Wichtl, 2004). In addition, the volatiles desorbed from the pericarps of the toxic Japanese star anise were characterized by the presence of asaricin, methoxyeugenol, and two other eugenol derivatives, none of which were detected in any of the other species examined (Howes et al, 2009). …”

Larvicidal Activity of Essential Oil Derived from <i>Illicium henryi</i> Diels (Illiciaceae) Leaf

“…This is the first time to report the composition of the essential oil derived from I. henryi leaves. However, the essential oil of I. henryi fruits contained limonene (12.4 -32.8 %), caryophyllene (1.5 -8.5 %), safrole (0.4 -2.7 %) and 1, 8-cineole (1.2 -2.1 %) [13].…”

“…In the previous phytochemical investigations, various sesquiterpene lactones, lignans, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and prenylated C6-C3 compounds have been isolated and identified from the plant [10][11][12]. Chemical composition of the essential oil of I. henryi fruits has been analyzed previously [13]. However, a literature survey has shown that there is no report on chemical composition and larvicidal activity of the essential oil of I. henryi leaves against mosquitoes, thus we decided to investigate chemical composition and larvicidal activity of the essential oil of I. henryi leaves against the Asian tiger mosquito.…”