Anethole Trithione

Anethole, a naturally-occurring aromatic phenylpropene compound, is commonly present in the essential oils derived from botanically diverse plants, including anise, star anise, fennel and basil. It is highly regarded for its therapeutic properties, imparting various health benefits spanning many different conditions. This comprehensive and critical review unites the knowledge on anethole up to the year 2024, available from the scientific platforms Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science, retrieved using the search term "Anethole". A bibliometrics overview is also provided which outlines the trend in the publication output over time, the major contributing authors, collaborative networks and popular research topics on this molecule. The collected data suggests that, in addition to its significance in the flavour and fragrance sectors, anethole exhibits a host of diverse medicinal activities. In-depth research highlights its contributing potential in addressing cancer, infections, wounds, and conditions related to the liver, lungs and skin. However, the research on anethole lacks comprehensive investigations into its mechanisms of action and synergistic effects with other compounds, hindering the understanding of its full therapeutic potential. While it holds promise beyond culinary uses, further research is needed to address this knowledge void and develop targeted therapeutic interventions.

In vitro follicle culture (IVFC) supports the development of in vitro-grown cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), but oocyte maturation and embryo production rates from these COCs are often lower than those of in vivo-derived counterparts. Anethole, a natural antioxidant, has shown potential to improve follicle development and oocyte maturation in vitro. However, the optimal timing of anethole supplementation during IVFC and/or in vitro maturation (IVM), and its impact on developmental outcomes relative to in vivo-derived COCs, remains to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate whether the addition of anethole during IVFC and/or IVM enhances the quality of in vitro-grown COCs and yields embryo production outcomes comparable to those obtained from in vivo-derived COCs in goats. Early antral follicles were cultured in IVFC medium with 300 μg/mL anethole or without it for 18 days, followed by IVM of in vitro-grown COCs in the absence or presence of 30 μg/mL anethole. This resulted in four treatments: IVFC/IVM (-AN/-AN, -AN/+AN, +AN/-AN, +AN/+AN). The addition of anethole during IVFC improved meiotic resumption and oocyte viability regardless of its presence during IVM. Metaphase II rate increased only when anethole was added during both IVFC and IVM. Cumulus cell viability was higher in all anethole-treated groups. Anethole also improved cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of in vitro-grown COCs and enhanced cleavage and embryonic development in in vivo-grown COCs. Notably, embryo development and blastocyst formation were similar between in vitro- and in vivo-derived COCs. In conclusion, anethole supplementation during IVFC and IVM improves oocyte quality and embryo development, achieving outcomes comparable to those obtained from in vivo-grown oocytes.