Botany, Chemical Constituents and Genetic Diversity in Fennel (F. vulgare Mill): Revisited-A Review

Fennel (F.vulgare Mill) is an important seed spice and one of the earliest known minor spices used by mankind. Fennel is widely distributed throughout the world and belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is an old medicinal plant and has been commonly used as a traditional food and medicine. Fennel seeds are used for their anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antimicrobial properties and oestrogen-promoting action. Recent research has identified fennel as a valuable medicinal plant with potential for multipurpose uses and also as a source for preparing raw materials of pharmaceutical industry, especially steroidal hormones. A significant increase in quantity and quality yields through the suitable management of cultivation, chemical constituents and biotechnology practice could make an immediate and important contribution to farm and pharmaceutical industry income. Biotechnological tools such as molecular markers are one of the potent tools, which help the plant breeder to develop new varieties and breeding strategies for crop improvement programmes. To achieve these goals with regard to sustainable production, we reviewed a summary of biology, cultivation and biotechnology of fennel in this paper.