Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Antimicrobial Activities of Foeniculum vulgare

Herbal medicines have healing qualities and beneficial pharmacological effects on human or animal bodies. These are an essential source of new drugs verified widely. About one-tenth of plant species are used in health products and drugs. One of them is fennel (Foeniculum vulgar), also referred to as saunf. A member of the Apiaceae family, the annual plant. Foeniculum vulgar is cultivated for its flavorful leaves, stalks and seeds. Fennel is used for its pleasing aroma, nutritive value and therapeutic effects Fennel contains volatile compounds, bioactive compounds, fatty acids and amino acids. These bioactive compounds make fennel a widely used medicinal plant that has antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, antiparasitic, hypoglycemic, anti-ulcer, memory-enhancing and hepatoprotective qualities. Fennel relieves indigestion, intestinal swelling, bloating, loss of appetite and newborn stomach ache. It is also used to cure bronchiolitis, coughs, cholera, joint pain and vision problems and to demonstrate other bioactivities.