Aniseed, Caraway, and Cumin: Appetite-Enhancing Effects and Identification of Active Compounds

Apiaceae plants are widely utilized as spices across the globe. Fennel, a prominent member of this family, has been previously shown to possess appetite-enhancing properties, suggesting that other Apiaceae spices may exhibit similar effects. Herein, we investigated the appetite-enhancing effects of essential oils extracted from aniseed, caraway seeds, and cumin seeds. All three essential oils significantly increased food intake in mice. Analysis revealed that the major active compounds were (i) trans-anethole and pseudoisoeugenyl 2-methylbutyrate in aniseed oil, (ii) d-limonene and d-carvone in caraway oil, and (iii) cuminaldehyde in cumin oil. Intriguingly, the effective doses of d-carvone and trans-anethole were elevated when administered in combination with d-limonene and pseudoisoeugenyl 2-methylbutyrate, respectively. This newly identified modulatory effect, driven by co-occurring compounds, suggests a complex interaction between the constituents. Furthermore, the side chain structures of terpenoids were found to influence the effects analogously to those of phenylpropanoids, thereby suggesting the existence of common or similar sites of action within the mice olfactory system.