Sweetgum & Star Anise - Shikimic Acid

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Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua, has long been used as a traditional remedy. The sap, which is golden brown, is where the Latin name comes from. This sap, called storax, is an expectorant, has antibacterial, and astringent properties and has been used traditionally for wounds, diarrhea, and cough. Storax contains styrene, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, 2-phenylpropyl alcohol, 3-phenylpropyl cinnamate, cinnamyl cinnamate and vanillin. Studies have shown storax, in various concentrations, to be inhibitive to gram-negative bacteria Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Also, gram-positive bacteria Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus brevis, Corynebacterium xerosis, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Staphylococcus aureus.¹ The leaves contain essential oils which are also antibacterial and antiviral. The leaf oils contain high levels of terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, α-pinene, and sabinene. Terpinen-4-ol is the active ingredient in tea tree oil. Shikimic acid is the valuable substance from the seed pods. It is more concentrated there than in other parts of the plant. Shikimic acid is antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. It is a precursor to the production of oseltamivir phosphate, the active ingredient in Tamiflu®. This speaks to its traditional use as a remedy for the common cold. Interestingly, shikimic acid is a component of plant stem cells, and is being investigated for use in tissue regeneration.²

Star anise (Chinese), Illicium verum is antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anthelmintic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, sedative, expectorant and spasmolytic. It contains high amounts of shikimic acid, the anti-influenza phytochemical that is also in sweetgum.³

Suggested dosing: Tincture 1-2 ml up to 3x a day at the first sign of illness.

Possible side effects: Allergy

Contraindications: Kidney disease, pregnancy, breastfeeding. Do not use it on open wounds. Do not give to children.

¹Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of the Leaves, Bark and Stems of Liquidambar styraciflua L. (Altingiaceae) Graziele Francine Franco Mancarz1 *, Ana Carolina Pareja Lobo 1, Mariah Brandalise Baril 1, Francisco de Assis Franco 2 and Tomoe Nakashima Pharmaceutical Science Department, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil 2 Coodetec Desenvolvimento, Produção e Comercialização Agrícola Ltda, Cascavel, PR, Brazil

²Liza B. Enrich, Margaret L. Scheuermann, Ashley Mohadjer, Kathryn R. Matthias, Chrystal F. Eller, M. Scott Newman, Michael Fujinaka, Thomas Poon, Liquidambar styraciflua: a renewable source of shikimic acid, Tetrahedron Letters, Volume 49, Issue 16, 2008, Pages 2503-2505, ISSN 0040-4039, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetlet.2008.02.140. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040403908003791.

³Patra JK, Das G, Bose S, Banerjee S, Vishnuprasad CN, Del Pilar Rodriguez-Torres M, Shin HS. Star anise (Illicium verum): Chemical compounds, antiviral properties, and clinical relevance. Phytother Res. 2020 Jun;34(6):1248-1267. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6614. Epub 2020 Jan 29. PMID: 31997473.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. I am not a medical professional and cannot diagnose or treat any illness.