Omnia SanaPlant Comparison
Anise vs Speedwell
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Anise and Speedwell: they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, bloating, indigestion, …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Anise | Speedwell | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Bloating | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Indigestion | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Respiratory support | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Skin irritation | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Trans-anethole typically makes up the great majority of the volatile oil and gives anise its characteristic liquorice aroma and much of its digestive and antimicrobial activity.
The fruit's lipid fraction.
Pharmacological Actions
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from analgesic action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from analgesic action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional expectorant for cough and respiratory complaints (iridoid glycosides inhibit lung inflammation) - a standardised extract suppressed COX-2 and eotaxin via the NF-kB pathway in human lung epithelial cells
Mild digestive / stomach tonic (indigestion)
Traditional expectorant for cough and respiratory complaints (iridoid glycosides inhibit lung inflammation) - a standardised extract suppressed COX-2 and eotaxin via the NF-kB pathway in human lung epithelial cells
inferred from expectorant action
Soothing for skin irritation (topical)
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally safe when consumed in food amounts. Doses up to 20g daily considered safe for adults. May cause allergic reactions in some people. Caution advised during pregnancy and breastfeeding - stick to food amounts. Anethole can be toxic at high concentrations, particularly to the nervous system. Not enough safety data for medicinal use in children.
Duke (2002) provides clinical evidence (score 2) for anise as an antibacterial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and expectorant. It has demonstrated estrogenic activity and is used as a clinically supported lactagogue to promote milk production. Commission E and WHO have both approved its use for catarrh and gastrointestinal spasms. Typical dosages are 0.5–1 g crushed seed three times per day in tea, or 0.05–0.2 ml of the fruit essential oil (Duke, 2002).
Traditional use only; clinical evidence is limited, so a persistent cough or digestive complaint needs medical assessment. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established.
External Ids
Botanical Description
Annual herb (Apiaceae), 30-60 cm tall, with an erect, downy stem. Lower leaves are rounded and toothed or shallowly lobed, while upper leaves are finely feathery and pinnately divided. Small white flowers are borne in compound umbels, followed by small, ridged, downy fruit ('aniseed') with a strong, sweet, liquorice scent.
Low, creeping, mat-forming perennial herb with softly hairy, oval, finely toothed leaves along trailing stems that root as they spread. Small, pale lilac-blue flowers with darker veining are borne in slender upright spikes rising from the leaf axils.[8]
Habitat
Native to the eastern Mediterranean and south-west Asia, widely cultivated as a spice and medicinal crop in warm-temperate regions worldwide, needing a long, warm growing season and well-drained soil.
Grows on dry heath, moorland, open woodland, grassland and banks on acidic, well-drained soils; native to Europe and naturalised in North America.[8]
Harvesting
Fruit ('seed') is harvested in late summer once the umbels have dried and turned brown, then threshed and dried further.
The flowering aerial parts are cut in summer while in flower and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place; the closely related Veronica chamaedrys is a frequent adulterant, so careful identification (or a reputable source) is important.[8]
Traditional Uses
Anise has a long Mediterranean and Middle Eastern tradition as a carminative digestive remedy for bloating and indigestion, an expectorant for coughs and catarrh, and a traditional galactagogue (milk-promoting) herb for nursing mothers. Commission E and WHO both approve its traditional use for catarrh of the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal spasms.[11, 12, 13, 14, 15]
Speedwell has a long European folk history as a mild digestive tonic and traditional expectorant for cough and respiratory complaints, and has also been used topically as a soothing wash for irritated skin; modern research on its iridoid glycosides supports a molecular basis for the traditional respiratory use.
Preparations
Dosage
Duke (2002): about 0.5-1 g crushed seed three times daily in tea, or 0.05-0.2 mL of the fruit essential oil. Food amounts up to about 20 g/day are generally considered safe for adults. Avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy and in children given limited safety data. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Not documented
References
Lookalikes Review
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
References & Sources
- Samojlik, I., Petkovic, S., Stilinovic, N., Vukmirovic, S. and others (2016) 'Pharmacokinetic Herb-Drug Interaction between Essential Oil of Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum L., Apiaceae) and Acetaminophen and Caffeine: A Potential Risk for Clinical Practice', Phytotherapy Research, 30(2), pp. 253-259. doi:10.1002/ptr.5523 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5523 - Hashemnia, M., Nikousefat, Z., Mohammadalipour, A., Zangeneh, M.M. and others (2019) 'Wound healing activity of Pimpinella anisum methanolic extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats', Journal of Wound Care, 28(Sup10), pp. S26-S36. doi:10.12968/jowc.2019.28.Sup10.S26 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.12968/jowc.2019.28.Sup10.S26 - Samojlik, I., Mijatovic, V., Petkovic, S., Skrbic, B. and others (2012) 'The influence of essential oil of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum, L.) on drug effects on the central nervous system', Fitoterapia, 83(8), pp. 1466-1473. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2012.08.012 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2012.08.012 - Changizi-Ashtiyani, S., Seddigh, A., Najafi, H., Hossaini, N. and others (2017) 'Pimpinella anisum L. ethanolic extract ameliorates the gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats', Nephrology (Carlton), 22(2), pp. 133-138. doi:10.1111/nep.12953 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/nep.12953 - Mushtaq, A., Habib, F., Manea, R., Anwar, R. and others (2023) 'Biomolecular Screening of Pimpinella anisum L. for Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Activity in Mice Brain', Molecules, 28(5), pp. 2217. doi:10.3390/molecules28052217 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052217 - Alotaibi, M.F (2020) 'Pimpinella anisum extract attenuates spontaneous and agonist-induced uterine contraction in term-pregnant rats', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 254, pp. 112730. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.112730 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112730 - Dawoud, T. and Ameen, F (2023) 'Unveiling the bioactive potential of Pimpinella anisum L. leaf extracts: Chromatographic profiling, antimicrobial efficiency, and cytotoxicity analysis', Biomedical Chromatography, 37(12), pp. e5739. doi:10.1002/bmc.5739 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/bmc.5739 - Alrasheid, A.A., Kabbashi, A.S., Ali, A.O., Alrasheed, A.A. and others (2024) 'Nutritional Value and in vitro Antigiardial Activity of Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) Seeds', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 21(3), pp. e202301254. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202301254 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202301254 - Almaimani, G., Jabbar, A.A.J., Ibrahim, I.A.A., Alzahrani, A.R. and others (2024) 'Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) attenuates azoxymethane-induced colorectal cancer by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic pathways in rats', Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 31(3), pp. 4439-4452. doi:10.1007/s11356-023-31349-z Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-31349-z - Shrief, A.I., Abdel-Hamid, A.A.M., Moustafa, A. and El-Mohandes, E (2022) 'The possible protective role of Pimpinella anisum oil versus selenium on aspartame induced changes in rat cerebellar cortex', Ultrastructural Pathology, 46(6), pp. 497-510. doi:10.1080/01913123.2022.2136809 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/01913123.2022.2136809 - Jaradat N, et al. A Multidimensional Review of Pimpinella anisum. Molecules. 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10035495/ (2023) 'https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10035495/'. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10035495/ Traditional / reference
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10035495/ - McCormick Science Institute. Anise Potential Health Benefits. https://www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com/our-research/scientific-overviews/anise-potential-health-benefits. Available at: https://www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com/our-research/scientific-overviews/anise-potential-health-benefits Traditional / reference
https://www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com/our-research/scientific-overviews/anise-potential-health-benefits - Shahrajabian MH, Sun W, Cheng Q. Anise (2019) ';5(1)', 5(1). doi:10.1080/23312025.2019.1673688 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1080/23312025.2019.1673688 - Shojaii A, Abdollahi Fard M. Review of pharmacological properties and chemical constituents of Pimpinella anisum. ISRN Pharm. 2012;2012:510795. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3405664/ (2012) ';2012:510795'. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3405664/ Traditional / reference
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3405664/ - Singletary KW. Anise: Potential Health Benefits. Nutrition Today. 2022;57 (2022) ';57(2):73-80', 57(2). Available at: https://journals.lww.com/nutritiontodayonline/fulltext/2022/03000/anise__potential_health_benefits.10.aspx Traditional / reference
https://journals.lww.com/nutritiontodayonline/fulltext/2022/03000/anise__potential_health_benefits.10.aspx - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - King County Noxious Weeds (2024) 'Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) identification and control'. Available at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock Traditional / reference
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock - North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (2024) 'Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock)'. Available at: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/conium-maculatum/ Traditional / reference
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/conium-maculatum/ - Dayan, A.D (2024) 'Death of Socrates: a likely case of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) poisoning', Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 62(1), pp. 56-60. doi:10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328
- Mocan, A., Vodnar, D.C., Vlase, L., Crisan, O. and others (2015) 'Phytochemical Characterization of Veronica officinalis L., V. teucrium L. and V. orchidea Crantz from Romania and Their Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 16(9), pp. 21109-21127. doi:10.3390/ijms160921109 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms160921109 - Crisan, G., Tamas, M., Miclaus, V., Krausz, T. and others (2007) 'A comparative study of some Veronica species', Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi, 111(1), pp. 280-284. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20comparative%20study%20of%20some%20Veronica%20species - Korzhikova, E.B (1991) 'Speedwell (Veronica officinalis)', Feldsher i Akusherka, 56(2), pp. 37-39. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Speedwell%20%28Veronica%20officinalis%29 - Scarlat, M., Sandor, V., Tamas, M. and Cuparencu, B (1985) 'Experimental anti-ulcer activity of Veronica officinalis L. extracts', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 13(2), pp. 157-163. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(85)90003-0 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(85)90003-0 - Wojcik, E (1973) 'Phytochemical studies of the Veronica officinalis L', Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 30(2), pp. 195-201. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4703978/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4703978/ - Wojcik, E (1977) 'Occurrence of 6-hydroxyluteolin 7-glucoside in the herb of Veronica officinalis L', Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 34(3), pp. 295-298. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/906876/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/906876/ - Bellia, G. and Pieroni, A (2015) 'Isolated, but transnational: the glocal nature of Waldensian ethnobotany, Western Alps, NW Italy', Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 11, pp. 37. doi:10.1186/s13002-015-0027-1 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0027-1 - (2017) 'Veronica officinalis Product Authentication Using DNA Metabarcoding and HPLC-MS Reveals Widespread Adulteration with Veronica chamaedrys', Frontiers in Pharmacology. doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00378 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2017.00378 - Wojcik, E (1973) 'Flavonoids of the Veronica officinalis L. herb', Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 30(4), pp. 447-451. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4762340/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4762340/ - Salehi, B., Shivaprasad Shetty, M., V. Anil Kumar, N., Zivkovic, J., Calina, D., Oana Docea, A. and others (2019) 'Veronica Plants - Drifting from Farm to Traditional Healing, Food Application, and Phytopharmacology', Molecules, 24(13), pp. 2454. doi:10.3390/molecules24132454 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24132454 - HerbaZest (n.d.) 'Veronica (Speedwell)'. Available at: https://www.herbazest.com/herbs/veronica Traditional / reference
https://www.herbazest.com/herbs/veronica - Grundemann, C., Garcia-Kaufer, M., Sauer, B., Stangenberg, E., Konczol, M., Merfort, I., Zehl, M. and Huber, R (2012) 'Traditionally used Veronica officinalis inhibits proinflammatory mediators via the NF-kB signalling pathway in a human lung cell line', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 145(1), pp. 118--126. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.10.039 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.10.039
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.