Asafoetida

Asafoetida possesses carminative, antispasmodic, and expectorant properties. It has been used for chronic bronchitis, pertussis, laryngismus stridulus, hysteria, and specifically for intestinal flatulent colic. 

---

CgHg04. A yellow powder, darkening at 240°C and decomposing at 260°C. It occurs in asafoetida as an ester with its anhydride, umbelliferone. 

Vanillin, CgHgOj, is one of the most important synthetic perfumes. It is the active odorous ingredient of the vanilla pod, in which it occurs to the extent of about 2 per cent., appearing on the surface of the bean as a fine white crystalline efflorescence. It occurs naturally also in Sumatra benzoin (about 1 per cent.), Siam benzoin (15 per cent.), and the balsams of Tolu and Peru (traces). Numerous other bodies have been recorded as containing it, such as asafoetida, beetroot and asparagus, the seeds of Lupinus albus, the seeds of Sosa canina, etc. 

Asafoetida is native to central Asia, eastern Iran to Afghanistan, where it grows from 600 to 1200 m above the sea level. Although not native to India, it has been used in Indian medicine and cookery for ages. Today it is grown chiefly in Iran and Afghanistan, from where it is exported to the rest of the world. 

Antimutagenic activity. Water extract of the dried gum, on agar plate at a concentration of 2 mg/plate, was inactive on SalmO nella typhimurium TAIOO vs aflatoxin Bl-induced mutagenesis and a concentration of 10 mg/plate, was inactive on SalmO nella typhimurium TA98 " . Asafoetida, on agar plate at a dose of 0.5 (Xg/plate was active on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and... 

TAIOO vs aflatoxin Bl-induced mutagenesis " . Asafoetida, on agar plate, was active on Salmonella typhimurium TAIOO and TA1535 microsomal activation-depen-dent mutagenicity of 2-acetamidofluo-rene """. 

Cytotoxic activity. Ethanol (90%) extract of the dried plant, in cell culture administered at a concentration 0.25 mg/mL, was active on human lymphocytes. The extract was active on Veto cells, effective dose (EDjo 0.15 mg/mL Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, EDjq 0.575 mg/mL and Dalton s lymphoma, EDjo 0.6 mg/mL "" ". Water extract of the dried gum, in cell culture at a concentration of 500 pg/mL, produced weak activity on CA-mammary-microalveolar cells "° L Digestive enzyme inhibition. Asafoetida, administered orally to rats at a dose of 2500 mg% for 8 weeks, decreased the levels of... 

Olfactory status influence. Asafoetida extract, administered to allergic (group 1) and nonallergic rhinitis (group 11) patients at a dose of 10% aqueous solution, produced an elevation of olfactory thresholds by 55.8% in group I and 66.8% for both groups " ". 

Gum, administered by gastric intubation to mice at a dose of 1 g/kg, was active. The results were significant at p less than 0.01 level. A dose of 0.5 g/kg, produced weak activity " "". Asafoetida, administered orally to mice, produced weak activity in sperma-togonia " "". ... 

Ashraf, M., R. Ahmad, S. Mahood, and M. K. Bhatty. Studies of the essential oils of the Pakistani species of the family Umbelliferae. XLV. Ferula assa-foetida, Linn (Herra Hing) gum oil. Pak J Sci Ind Res 1980 23 68-69. Ashraf, M., R. Ahmad, S. Mahood, and M. K. Bhatty. Studies of the essential oils of the Pakistani species of the family Umbelliferae. Part XXXV. Ferula assafoetida, Linn (Hing) seed oil. Pak J Sci Ind Res 1979 22(6) 308-310. Kleiman, R., and G. E. Spencer. Search for new industrial oils 16. Umbelliflorae-seed oils rich in petroselinic acid. J Amer OU Chem Soc 1982 59 29-32. Rajanikanth, B., B. Ravindranath, and M. L. Shankaranarayana. Volatile polysulphides of asafoetida. Phytochemistry 1984 23(4) 899—900. Shankaranarayana, M. L., B. Raghavan, and C. P. Natarajan. Odorous compounds of asafetida. VII. Isolation and identification. Indian Food Pack 1982 36(5) 65-76. 

FA075 Fatehi, M., F. Farifteh, and Z. Fatehi- FA084 Hassanabad. Antispasmodic and hypotensive effects of Ferula asafoetida gum extract. J Ethnopharmacol 2004 ... 

Genotoxicity of garlic, turmeric and asafoetida in mice. Mutat Res 1984 136(1) 85-88. 

Asafoetida Ferula foetida Regel R-2-Butyl-l-propenyl disulphide (a mixture of E and Z isomers), 1 -(1 -methylthiopropenyl)-1 -propenyl disulphide, 2-butyl-3-methyl-thioallyl disulphide (both as a mixture of diasteromers)... 

Historical Notice.—For the historical notice of asafeetida, the Editor is also indebted to Dr. Pereira, who has collected from many sources the following —It is uncertain at what period asafoetida was first known or described. - The difficulty in determining its history arises from the contusion which has existed with respect to tho Sttoens Cyrsnaicns and asafeetida. By many writers the two substances were considered to be identical but this opinion seems now to have been satisfactorily disproved by the discovery of the plant... 

Another gum resin is frankincense, obtained by cutting notches in the stem of Boswellia carterii, which grows in northeastern Africa and in Arabia. This resin is used in incense. Asafoetida is also a gum resin. See also Gums and Mucilages. 

Eigner, D. and Scholz, D. (1 999) Ferula asafoetida and Curcuma longa in traditional medicinal treatment and diet in Nepal, journal of Fthnopharmacology 67, 1-6. 

ASAFOETIDA — Fetid inspissated Sap from an Indian tree. 

Lobelia 178 lb Acid Acetic 1 lb Acid Tartaric 2 lb Ether spiritus 2 lb Ammon. Carb. 3 lb Asafoetida tinct. 32 oz Camphor 5 lb Strmonii 1 V2 lb Ext. Sarsaparilla 3 lb Ext. Colocynth C. 1 lb Ext. Gentian 20 lb Ext. Rhii Elor 24 oz... 

Kelly KJ, Neu J, Camitta BM, Honig GR. Methemoglobinemia in an infant treated with the folk remedy glycerited asafoetida. Pediatrics 1984 73(5) 717-19. 

Gum resins comprise a diverse variety of substances, including asafoetida Ferula), colophony, frankincense (Boswellia), and myrrh Commiphora). 

Clover, Galbanum, Henbane, Asafoetida, Anise, Cornflower oil, Tragacanth. 

---