Fennel

Wild fennel (Foeniculum vulgaris) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. Up to two meters high, this plant grows in wild and dry zones of the Mediterranean area; its aromatic fruits, improperly called seeds, are hairless and oblong-ovate in shape. This plant was already well known and appreciated in ancient Greece, but it was in Roman times that it spread throughout the Mediterranean area. Originally it grew spontaneously in Greece, especially in the plain of Maratona, the reason why the ancients called it "marathon". Its fruits contain the most important active ingredients: anethole (responsible for the scent), fenchone and more than 30 different components. Its dry extract and essential oil are used in phytotherapy. Fennel promotes digestive function, regulates gastrointestinal motility, and promotes the elimination of intestinal gas.