Shikimic Acid

1. Sources and Habitation

Illicium verum, commonly called Star anise, star aniseed, or Chinese star anise is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a medium sized nativeevergreen tree of northeast  Vietnam and  southwest China .  The star shaped fruits are harvested just before ripening.

2. Descriptions and Specifications of Product

Plant original:Illicium verum Hook. f.

Specifications: 98.0% Shikimic Acid Test by HPLC

Molecular Formula: C7H10O5

Molecular Mass: 174.15

CAS No: 138-59-0

3. Indications and Uses

Shikimic Acid is a key precursor of many alkaloids, aromatic amino acids, indole derivatives, and it alsobe widely used as a chiral building block for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Now, Shikimic Acid serves as the starting material for Oseltamivir which is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B.

4. Safety Concerns

Star anise is safe when used as a flavoring in foods. There is not enough information to know if it's safe for use as a medicine. Some ingredients can cause skin problems including swelling, scaling, and blisters when applied to the skin. Star anise should not be given to infants. It can cause severe nervous system problems, including seizures.The star anise used as medicine is Chinese star anise. Japanese star anise is poisonous and should not be taken.

Some Chinese star anise tea products have been contaminated with Japanese star anise. You cannot tell the difference between them just by looking. Unless safety can be assured by chemical analysis, star anise tea should not be used.

5. Dosage Information

The appropriate dose of star anise depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for star anise. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.