Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Zuhaib Dar, Tamheed Zahid, Tanya Sharma

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
A Review on the Evaluation of Anti-Bacterial Activity from the Fruits of Illicium Verum Linn
International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research,
Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025): 2025 Volume -13 - Issue 2
Abstract
Star anise (Illicium verum Linn.) is a medicinal plant known for its strong antibacterial properties and has been widely used in traditional and modern medicine. This review explores the antibacterial potential of Illicium verum fruit, with a focus on its phytochemical profile, mechanisms of action against bacteria, and its applications in healthcare and industry. Studies conducted both in vitro and in vivo demonstrate its effectiveness against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. Additionally, research suggests that Illicium verum can enhance the effects of conventional antibiotics, making it a promising candidate for combination therapies. This review also addresses potential safety concerns, toxicity risks, and the need for further research to refine its antibacterial applications and maximize its benefits.
Keywords
- Bajpai, V.K., Baek, K.H., & Kang, S.C. (2012). Investigating the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Illicium verum extracts. Food Chemistry, 133(4), 1234-1240.
- Diao, W.R., Hu, Q.P., Zhang, H., & Xu, J.G. (2014). Analysis of the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of star anise (Illicium verum) essential oil. Food Control, 42, 343-348.
- Li, X., Wang, X., Chen, D., et al. (2015). Evaluating the antimicrobial potential of star anise essential oil against foodborne pathogens. Journal of Food Science, 80(10), 2342-2348.
- Feng, S., Dai, Z., Liu, A., & Wang, R. (2018). Enhancing the antibacterial efficacy of Illicium verum extracts through combination with conventional antibiotics. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 210, 92-97.
- Wang, Y., Li, X., & Liu, B. (2019). An overview of the phytochemical profile and pharmacological activities of Illicium verum. Natural Product Research, 33(2), 123-135.
- Zhang, Y., Wang, S., & Li, Y. (2020). Understanding the antibacterial mechanisms of trans-anethole from Illicium verum. Phytomedicine, 67, 153-160.
- Liu, Q., Xie, Y., & Wu, X. (2021). Using herbal compounds from Illicium verum to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 131(4), 1956-1963.
- Hu, Q., Wu, X., & Zhang, H. (2022). Unraveling the molecular mechanisms behind the antibacterial action of Illicium verum essential oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(5), 2291.
- Zhou, J., Yu, X., & Wang, J. (2023). Investigating the potential of Illicium verum in enhancing antibiotic efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel), 12(3), 156.
- 10.Alam, K., Rahman, A., & Khan, M. (2023). The role of star anise extracts in inhibiting biofilm formation and disrupting bacterial quorum sensing. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1172.
- 11.Liu, J., Chen, H., & Wang, Z. (2021). Exploring the application of Illicium verum in food preservation. Food Bioscience, 41, 234-242.
- 12.Sharma, R., & Gupta, N. (2022). Examining the safety and potential toxicity of Illicium verum extracts. Toxicology Reports, 9, 175-184.
- 13.Zhang, T., Li, M., & Sun, Y. (2021). Enhancing the antibacterial activity of traditional antibiotics with Illicium verumessential oil. Biomedical Research International, 34, 1875-1890.
- 14.Pradhan, R., Bhattacharjee, D., & Paul, P. (2020). Investigating the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of star anise essential oils. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 14(2), 88-96.
- 15.Kumar, S., Singh, J., & Verma, R. (2019). The role of polyphenols in Illicium verum in inhibiting bacterial growth. Plant Science Today, 6(1), 45-52.
- 16.Wang, L., Huang, W., & Zeng, X. (2022). Assessing the impact of Illicium verum extracts on multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 22(4), 297-310.
- 17.Jiang, Y., Dong, X., & Liu, H. (2023). Identifying the antibacterial components in Illicium verum and their effects on bacterial cell membranes. Journal of Natural Medicines, 77(1), 89-102.
References
Bajpai, V.K., Baek, K.H., & Kang, S.C. (2012). Investigating the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Illicium verum extracts. Food Chemistry, 133(4), 1234-1240.
Diao, W.R., Hu, Q.P., Zhang, H., & Xu, J.G. (2014). Analysis of the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of star anise (Illicium verum) essential oil. Food Control, 42, 343-348.
Li, X., Wang, X., Chen, D., et al. (2015). Evaluating the antimicrobial potential of star anise essential oil against foodborne pathogens. Journal of Food Science, 80(10), 2342-2348.
Feng, S., Dai, Z., Liu, A., & Wang, R. (2018). Enhancing the antibacterial efficacy of Illicium verum extracts through combination with conventional antibiotics. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 210, 92-97.
Wang, Y., Li, X., & Liu, B. (2019). An overview of the phytochemical profile and pharmacological activities of Illicium verum. Natural Product Research, 33(2), 123-135.
Zhang, Y., Wang, S., & Li, Y. (2020). Understanding the antibacterial mechanisms of trans-anethole from Illicium verum. Phytomedicine, 67, 153-160.
Liu, Q., Xie, Y., & Wu, X. (2021). Using herbal compounds from Illicium verum to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 131(4), 1956-1963.
Hu, Q., Wu, X., & Zhang, H. (2022). Unraveling the molecular mechanisms behind the antibacterial action of Illicium verum essential oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(5), 2291.
Zhou, J., Yu, X., & Wang, J. (2023). Investigating the potential of Illicium verum in enhancing antibiotic efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel), 12(3), 156.
10.Alam, K., Rahman, A., & Khan, M. (2023). The role of star anise extracts in inhibiting biofilm formation and disrupting bacterial quorum sensing. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1172.
11.Liu, J., Chen, H., & Wang, Z. (2021). Exploring the application of Illicium verum in food preservation. Food Bioscience, 41, 234-242.
12.Sharma, R., & Gupta, N. (2022). Examining the safety and potential toxicity of Illicium verum extracts. Toxicology Reports, 9, 175-184.
13.Zhang, T., Li, M., & Sun, Y. (2021). Enhancing the antibacterial activity of traditional antibiotics with Illicium verumessential oil. Biomedical Research International, 34, 1875-1890.
14.Pradhan, R., Bhattacharjee, D., & Paul, P. (2020). Investigating the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of star anise essential oils. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 14(2), 88-96.
15.Kumar, S., Singh, J., & Verma, R. (2019). The role of polyphenols in Illicium verum in inhibiting bacterial growth. Plant Science Today, 6(1), 45-52.
16.Wang, L., Huang, W., & Zeng, X. (2022). Assessing the impact of Illicium verum extracts on multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 22(4), 297-310.
17.Jiang, Y., Dong, X., & Liu, H. (2023). Identifying the antibacterial components in Illicium verum and their effects on bacterial cell membranes. Journal of Natural Medicines, 77(1), 89-102.