View source for Illicium anisatum

{{italic title}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Japanese star anise
| image = Koeh-075.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Japanese star anise
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Austrobaileyales]]
| familia = [[Illiciaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Illicium]]''
| species = '''''I. anisatum'''''
| binomial = ''Illicium anisatum''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| synonyms =
''Illicium japonicum'' <small>[[Sieb.]]</small></br> {{Fact|date=June 2009}}
''Illicium religiosum'' <small>[[Sieb.]] et [[Zucc.]]</small></br> {{Fact|date=June 2009}}
}}

The '''Japanese star anise''' (''Illicium anisatum'') is a tree similar to [[star anise|Chinese star anise]]. It is highly toxic, therefore it is not edible; instead, it has been burned as [[incense]] in [[Japan]], where it is known as {{nihongo|'''shikimi'''|樒}}.  Cases of illness, including "serious neurological effects, such as seizures", reported after using star anise tea may be a result of using this species. 

''I. anisatum'' is native to Japan. It is similar to ''I. verum'', but its fruit is smaller and with weaker odor, which is said to be more similar to [[cardamom]] than to [[anise]]. While it is poisonous and therefore unsuitable for using internally, it is used for treatment of some skin problems in [[traditional Chinese medicine]].

Japanese star anise contains [[anisatin]], [[shikimin]] and [[sikimitoxin]], which cause severe inflammation of the [[kidneys]], [[urinary tract]] and digestive organs. Other compounds present in toxic species of ''Illicium'' are [[safrole]] and [[eugenol]], which are not present in ''I. verum'' and are used to identify its [[adulteration]].

Anisatin and its derivates are suspected of acting as strong [[GABA]] [[Receptor antagonist|antagonist]]s.

It is impossible to recognize Chinese and Japanese star anise in its dried or processed form by its appearance only, due to morphological similarities between the species.

There are cases of [[product recall]]s when products containing star anise were found to be contaminated by Japanese anise {{Fact|date=June 2009}}. Cases of consumers admitted to hospital with neurological symptoms after ingesting excessive doses of star anise or smaller doses of products adulterated with Japanese anise were described as well {{Fact|date=June 2009}}.

== Nomenclature and taxonomy ==
{{Expand-section|date=June 2009}}

== Toxicology ==
{{Expand-section|date=June 2009}}

== See also ==
* [[Illicium floridanum]]
* [[Star anise]]
{{Commons|Illicium anisatum}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00941.html FDA Issues Advisory on Star Anise "Teas"]
* [http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/peds.2004-0058v1 Neurotoxicities in infants seen with the consumption of star anise tea]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Japanese Star Anise}}
[[Category:Incense]]
[[Category:Austrobaileyales]]
[[Category:Poisonous plants]]

[[de:Japanischer Sternanis]]
[[et:Jaapani tähtaniisipuu]]
[[es:Illicium anisatum]]
[[fr:Badiane japonaise]]
[[ko:붓순나무]]
[[io:Badiano]]
[[hu:Japán csillagánizs]]
[[ja:シキミ]]
[[no:Japansk stjerneanis]]
[[pl:Badian japoński]]
[[fi:Japanintähtianis]]
[[sv:Japansk stjärnanis]]
[[tr:Japon anasonu]]
[[vi:Hồi Nhật Bản]]
[[Category:2Fix]]