Fennel Seed Extract
Extract from Foeniculum vulgare (6% Fenchone)
Evidence: Emerging
Traditionally valued for its carminative and antispasmodic properties, fennel seed extract contains volatile compounds that can relax gastrointestinal smooth muscles. This action effectively alleviates symptoms like bloating, gas, and abdominal cramps by reducing intestinal spasms and promoting gas expulsion.
There are 137 peer-reviewed scientific studies on this ingredient.
Selected Study:
Noreen, Sana & Tufail, Tabussam & Bader Ul Ain, Huma & Awuchi, Chinaza. (2023). Pharmacological, nutraceutical, functional and therapeutic properties of fennel (foeniculum vulgare). International Journal of Food Properties. 26. 915-927. 10.1080/10942912.2023.2192436.
Study summary:
Study type & scope:
Narrative review (International Journal of Food Properties, 2023) that collates pre-clinical experiments, animal models and the limited human trials available on fennel seeds, essential oil and extracts.
Participants covered:
The authors discuss dozens of studies; the clinical arm of the evidence base is still small (typically 20–120 subjects per trial for digestive complaints, blood-sugar control or lipid lowering), while most mechanistic work is in vitro or in rodents. The review does not report a pooled number of participants.
Reported benefits:
- Digestive support – carminative and spasm-reducing effects relieve bloating, infant colic and postoperative flatulence in small RCTs; essential-oil capsules rival dimethicone.
- Metabolic health – animal and pilot human work shows anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic trends (lower LDL, TG, fasting glucose).
- Antioxidant/anti-inflammatory – high phenolic and flavonoid content (quercetin, rosmarinic acid) scavenges free radicals and dampens COX-2/NF-κB pathways.
- Antimicrobial & anticancer – essential-oil rich in trans-anethole and fenchone inhibits common food-borne bacteria and slows tumour-cell proliferation in vitro; relevance to humans remains untested.
Mechanisms highlighted:
Bioactive terpenes and polyphenols modulate gut motility, block α-glucosidase/HMG-CoA-reductase, up-regulate antioxidant enzymes and disrupt bacterial membranes, explaining the diverse functional claims.
Safety & side-effects:
Fennel is generally regarded as safe at culinary or supplemental doses; mild GI upset is the most common complaint.
Evidence strength:
Promising but preliminary: most benefits rest on lab work and small human trials. For digestive comfort the data are decent; for cardio-metabolic or anticancer claims, larger placebo-controlled studies are still needed before firm health claims can be made.