Star anise has a sweet anise-like odor and is produced as a source of fragrance and flavor in several industries.
Additionally, the essential oils from star anise are composed of prenylated C6–C3 compounds, lignans, sesquiterpenes, and flavonoids, each with different types of compounds which are also important with respect to its vast medicinal properties.
The major components of star anise essential oil are trans-anethole (82.7%), carryophyllene (4.8%) and limonene (2.3%).
Among all of them, the anethole compounds are responsible for its characteristic taste. Anethole, formally 1-methoxy-4-[(1E)-prop-1-en-1-yl]benzene, is an anisole derivative that is the major constituent of the oils of star anise. Although the main component of star anise is (E)-anethole, which accounts for over 85% of the constituents, the odor of (E)-anethole is different from that of the material itself. Anethole is a sweet, anise, and balsam tasting compound.
Beside trans-anethole there were 24 constituents which in total make less than 15.00% of the essential oil. This includes limone, α-pinene, safrol, β-phellandrene, α-terpineol, and farnesol
Flavor compound in star anise
