Title:  Fennel 
Additional Names:  Large fennel;  sweet fennel 
Literature References:  Dried, ripe fruit of cultivated varieties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Umbelliferae.  Habit.  Southern Europe, Western Asia, widely cultivated.  Constit.  2-6% volatile oil, fixed oil, protein, organic acids and flavonoids.  Clinical trial of fennel oil emulsion in infantile colic:  I. Alexandrovich et al., Alt. Ther. Health Med. 9, 58 (2003).  Review:  F. S. D'Amelio, Sr., Botanicals (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1999) pp 105-106. 
  
Derivative Type:  Volatile oil  
CAS Registry Number:  8006-84-6 
Additional Names:  Oil of fennel 
Literature References:  Constit. 50-70% trans-anethole, up to 20% (+)-fenchone, methylchavicol, anisaldehyde, terpenoids including a-pinene, limonene, a-phellandrene. 
Properties:  Colorless or pale yellow liquid with characteristic odor of fennel.  d2525 0.953-0.973.  aD25 +12 to +24°.  nD20 1.532-1.543.  Slightly sol in water; sol in 1 vol 90% or in 8 vols 80% alcohol; very sol in chloroform, ether.  Keep well closed, cool and protected from light. 
Optical Rotation:  aD25 +12 to +24° 
Index of refraction:  nD20 1.532-1.543 
Density:  d2525 0.953-0.973 
  
Use:  Flavoring agent in foods and pharmaceuticals.  Used in eye washes and in facial steams to soothe and clean skin. 
Therap-Cat:  Carminative.   |