Seedpods of Illicium verum Hook f., (Star Anise), are used in the preparation of teas, herbal remedies, and culinary dishes. Shikimic acid, extracted from the seedpods, is a crucial precursor for the synthesis of Avian bird flu medication, Tamiflu®. 

Adulteration by seedpods of other Illicium species poses a health risk due to elevated levels of neurotoxic compounds (veranisatins), such as anisatin and neoanisatin present in other Illicium species.  Over the last few years the FDA has received reports of seizures, vomiting, jitteriness and irritability after individuals have consumed Star Anise. Such  symptoms are consistent with adulteration by other Illicium species.  The Agency issued an advisory on Star Anise “teas” on September 10^th , 2003.

Similarities in seedpod morphological characters preclude their use to definitively speciate individual seedpods, whereas adulteration at low levels by other Illicium species is not detectable by biochemical methods because Star Anise contains similar compounds at trace levels.

This poster reports on use of multiple different PCR sequence sites, biocoding regions, from plastid and nuclear DNA to develop a reliable method of distinguishing between Illicium species. Upon identification of successful  biocoding regions to distinguish between toxic and non toxic Illicium species, a protocol will be developed for the rapid identification of adulterated preparations of Star Anise.