Prevents the Growth of Fungi and Bacteria

Anise seed and its constituents have powerful antibacterial qualities that prevent infections and inhibit the growth of fungus and bacteria in test tubes. Anise seed and essential oil were particularly efficient against some types of fungi, including yeasts and dermatophytes, a type of fungus that can cause skin disease, according to one test-tube study.

Anise seed's active component, anethole, also inhibits bacterial development. Anethole inhibited the growth of a specific type of bacteria that causes cholera, an infection marked by severe diarrhea and dehydration, in one test-tube investigation. However, more research is needed to determine how anise seed affects fungus and bacteria growth in humans.