Shikimic acid is an monomer which is extracted from illicium verum Hook. f., Shikimic acid is a key precusor of many alkaloids, aromatic amino acids, indole derivatives, and it also be widely used as a chiral building block for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Now, shikimic acid serves as the starting material for Oseltamivir which is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B. scientists also have found that star anise has possible cancer-fighting properties