ANISUM 



325 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Stem about i foot high. Umbels on long stalks 

 without involucre; flowers small, white; calyx obsolete; carpels 5, with filiform 

 ridges. 



HABITAT. Levant and Egypt; extensively cultivated in Europe. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Two or three varieties have been produced by 

 cultivation, the Spanish being the smallest, and usually preferred. 

 In general appearance anise resembles conium very much, but 

 it is distinguished from the latter in being usually longer and more 

 ovate, the mericarps, which usually adhere together, having their five 

 ribs more or less hairy and not jagged, and having about 15 oil tubes, 

 of which conium has none; odor fragrant; taste aromatic, sweetish. 

 The fruit is often accompanied with its adhering short peduncle. 



Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



8 IK 



FIG. 1 88. Anisum. A. Transverse section. B. Longitudinal section. C. Fruit (enlarged). 



CONSTITUENTS. Volatile oil (i% to 3 per cent.). Ash, not exceeding 



9 per cent. 

 ACTION AND USES. Stimulant and aromatic carminative. Dose: 8 to 



30 gr. (0.5 to 3 Gm.). 



381 a. OLEUM ANISI, U.S. A colorless or pale yellow volatile oil, 

 having the aromatic odor and taste of the fruit; neutral in reaction; 

 sp. gr. 0.98 to 0.99, depending upon age. Dose: 5 njj (0.3 mil). 



CONSTITUENTS. It contains a slight quantity of a light hydrocarbon oil, 

 but principally anethol, doH 12 O, which is present in both liquid 

 (liquid anethol) and solid form (anise camphor); by oxidation this 

 anethol is converted into anisic acid ; anethol is the principal con- 

 stituent also of fennel and star anise, the most of the commercial 

 anise oil being derived from the last-named fruit. Anethol is 

 recognized in the National Formulary. 



Preparation of Anethol. Obtained by fractional distillation; by oxidation 

 is converted into anisic acid. 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Aqua Anisi (0.2 per cent.), Dose: 4 fl. dr. (16 mils). 



Spiritus Anisi (ip per cent.), 90 njj (6 mils). 



Spiritus Aurantii Compositus (0.5 per cent.), 



Tinctura Opii Camphorata (0.4 per cent.), 2 fl. dr. (8 mils). 



