Foeniculin is a naturally occurring coumarin compound primarily isolated from Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and some other plant species. It has attracted scientific interest due to its reported biological activities, including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Foeniculin was first identified during phytochemical investigations of medicinal plants used in traditional herbal medicine. Early research focused on isolating and characterizing its chemical structure as part of studies on plant secondary metabolites. Over time, it became important in pharmacognosy and natural product chemistry as a marker compound for fennel-derived preparations. Although not widely used as a therapeutic drug, foeniculin has been studied for its potential pharmacological applications. Its discovery contributed to a better understanding of the bioactive constituents of aromatic and medicinal plants.
