Fenchone

Fenchone is a ketone found in fennel, thuja, cedarwood, and Spanish lavender.  Many ketones can be toxic internally and topically.  Some can be convulsant, toxic to the liver, or neurotoxic in high doses.  Do not overuse or use for prolonged periods of time.

• Toxic induced seizures from the following plants was reported:  eucalyptus, fennel, hyssop, pennyroyal, rosemary, sage, savin, tansy, thuja, turpentine, and wormwood.  Ketone constituents including camphor, pinocamphone, thujone, cineole, pulegone, sabinylacetate, and fenchone were mentioned. From:  Burkhard, P. R., Burkhardt, K., Haenggeli, C. A., & Landis, T. (1999). Plant-induced seizures: reappearance of an old problem. Journal of neurology, 246(8), 667-670.

Links to Plants Containing Fenchone

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represents a compilation of scientific articles found on the topic, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  This compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use of any herb listed.

ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL

• Thymus fontanessi (thyme), Origanum glandulosum (oregano), Mentha pulegium (pennyroyal),  and Lavandula stoechas (lavender) were antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA). Carvacrol, thymol, pulegone, fenchone, and camphor were the strongest constituents.  From:  Bekka-Hadji, F., Bombarda, I., & Touati, A. (2016). Antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus of five essential oils from Algerian medicinal plants (Lamiaceae). Journal of Essential Oil Research, 1-10.
• Origanum minutiflorum (oregano), Laurus nobilis (bay), Lavandula stoechas (lavender) and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) were effective against  the following foodborne pathogens: Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. Constituents included carvacrol, 1,8-cineole, fenchone, and trans-anethole.  From:  Dadalioglu, I., & Evrendilek, G. A. (2004). Chemical compositions and antibacterial effects of essential oils of Turkish oregano (Origanum minutiflorum), bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.), and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) on common foodborne pathogens. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 52(26), 8255-8260.

INSECTICIDAL / ACARICIDAL

• Insecticidal activity against Sitophilus oryzae, Callosobruchus chinensis and Lasioderma serricorne was demonstrated by fennel and its constituents: anethole, estragole, and fenchone.  From:  Kim, D. H., & Ahn, Y. J. (2001). Contact and fumigant activities of constituents of Foeniculum vulgare fruit against three coleopteran stored‐product insects. Pest Management Science, 57(3), 301-306.
• Fennel showed acaricidal activity against dust mites, likely from the fenchone and p-anisaldehyde constituents.  From:  Lee, H. S. (2004). Acaricidal activity of constituents identified in Foeniculum vulgare fruit oil against Dermatophagoides spp.(Acari: Pyroglyphidae). Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 52(10), 2887-2889.

ANTI-NOCICEPTIVE

• Alpha-pinene and fenchone from fennel were both antinociceptive in this in vivo study.  From:  Him, A., Ozbek, H., Turel, I., & Oner, A. C. (2008). Antinociceptive activity of alpha-pinene and fenchone. Pharmacologyonline, 3, 363-369.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 1/7/19