Adas1
Common fennel (Fennel) is also commonly known as “Spicy Fennel” or simply “Fennel” in English. Fennel has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years in East Asian countries, India, and China. The Chinese use fennel as a carminative (to relieve bloating), stomach remedy, stimulant, and treatment for vomiting and diarrhea.2 In the empirical manuscript "Racikan Jampi Jawi" fennel is used in herbal remedies for coughs and shortness of breath; herbal remedies for breastfeeding mothers; and herbal remedies for headaches.7 The part of the fennel plant most commonly used in traditional medicine is the seed-like fruit.
Morphology of Fennel
Fennel plants can grow up to about 2 meters tall. The stems are erect, round, and heavily branched. The leaves are triangular in shape and finely divided into small, thread-like segments. The flowers appear at the tips of the stems in umbrella-like clusters; they are yellow, small, and have five petals and five stamens. The fruit is oblong to somewhat cylindrical, slightly curved, and ranges in color from light green to yellowish-brown. When ripe, the fruit splits into two halves, each with five prominent ridges and oil channels between them.6
Fennel Active Compounds
Fennel contains essential oils that have health-promoting effects. The main ingredients include trans-anetol, fenchone, and estragol.4
Health Benefits of Fennel
1.Digestive Disorders/Bloating
Anethole has a relaxing effect on intestinal smooth muscle, which can be beneficial for relieving digestive disorders.3
Literature Study:
Subjects: 80 women who experienced post-cesarean abdominal bloating
Research dose: 4 x daily soft capsule (each soft capsule contains 30 mg standardized fennel extract 21-27 mg anethole)
Duration: 24 hours
Results: Giving Fennel soft capsules alleviated bloating symptoms in the subjects; the effect was comparable to that of dimethicone capsules (a chemical medication used to prevent and manage post-surgical digestive disorders).3
2.Cough
The active compounds in fennel have antibacterial activity by inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, thus helping to treat infections that cause coughs. Furthermore, fennel's anti-inflammatory activity helps relieve throat irritation.8
Literature Study:
Subjects: 20 patients with cough and sore throat complaints (aged 25–40 years)
Dosage: 5–15 grams of fennel seeds boiled in approximately 150 mL of water, with the addition of 1 drop of fennel essential oil, taken 4–5 times daily
Duration: 3–7 days
Results: Fennel administration showed improvement in cough and sore throat symptoms.8
Safety
Fennel has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and there have been no reports of serious side effects when used at the recommended dosage. In most toxicity studies conducted on fennel, no signs of poisoning or death were observed. Oral doses of up to 2,000 mg/kg body weight in mice showed no signs of toxicity. Side effects or allergic reactions are rare.5
Keywords: Foeniculum vulgare; Adas; Fennel; Anethole; Bloating; Digestive Disorders; Cough
References
Gambar: shutterstock.com
Kooti W, Moradi M, Ali AS, Sharafi AN, Asadi SM, Ashtary LD. Therapeutic and pharmacological potential of Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A review. J HerbMed Pharmacol. 2015; 4: 1-9.
Jourshari MS, Rezasoltani P, Nazari M, et al. A comparative study of fennel and dimethicone capsule effects on flatulence rate after cesarean section: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. J Educ Health Promot. 2024; 13: 251. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_389_23l
Heber, D, Joerg G, Thomas B, Christof J. Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) for Herbal Medicines. 4th edition. Thomson Healthcare; 2007. ISBN 1-56363-678-6.
Badgujar SB, Patel VV, Bandivdekar AH. Foeniculum vulgare Mill: a review of its botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, contemporary application, and toxicology. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:842674. doi:10.1155/2014/842674.
Purwaningsih, Harmida, Brink M. Foeniculum vulgare Miller. In: de Guzman CC, Siemonsma JS, eds. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 13: Spices. PROSEA Foundation; 1999. Accessed April 11, 2026. http://prota4u.org/prosea.
Ondri DS, Frida TH, Isnaeni, et al. Ramuan Obat Tradisional Indonesia: Usada Tiwang, Serat Jampi Jawi, dan Racikan Jampi Jawi. BPOM; 2018.
Saber JI, Eshra DH. Using fennel seeds and their oil as a preservative and functional food to produce some food and drink products to alleviate cough symptoms. Alexandria Science Exchange Journal. 2019; 40 :406-14. doi: 10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2019.44629.
