Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine xxx (2016) 1e13 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jtcme Review article Biological activities and medicinal properties of Asafoetida: A review * Augustine Amalraj, Sreeraj Gopi R&D Centre, Aurea Biolabs Pvt Ltd, Kolenchery, Cochin, India article info abstract Article history: Ferula asafoetida Linn. is a main source of asafoetida, a strong, tenacious and sulfurous odor, and oleo- Received 6 July 2016 gum resin of medicinal and nutritional importance. Asafoetida has been consumed as a spice and a Received in revised form folk medicine for centuries. Recent studies have shown several promising activities particularly relaxant, 22 November 2016 neuroprotective, memory enhancing, digestive enzyme, antioxidant, antispasmodic, hypotensive, hep- Accepted 23 November 2016 atoprotective, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, anticancer, anticytotoxicity, antiobesity, anthelmintic and Available online xxx antagonistic effect. This review effectively deals with phytochemistry and various pharmacological and clinical studies of asafoetida. Keywords: © Ferula asafoetida Linn. Copyright 2016, Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University. Production and hosting Oleo-gum-resin by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// Sulfur compounds creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Sesquiterpenes Biological activities 1. Introduction Asafoetida is extracted from the Ferula plants which have massive taproots or carrot-shaped roots, around 15 cm in diameter Spices are used for thousands of years as food accessories to at the crown when they are 4e5 years old. Before the plants flower, enhance the sensory quality of food. By imparting pleasant flavor, the upper part of the living rhizome root is laid bare and the stem color and pungency, they can transform an otherwise dull food cut off close to the crown. A dome-shaped structure made of twigs preparation into an attractive, appetizing meal. Spices are used not and earth covers the exposed surface. A milky juice exudes from the only alone, but also in the form of mixtures known as curry pow- cut surface. The exudates are scraped off and a fresh slice of the root ders to math different tastes and preparations.1 Spices are known to cut when more latex exudes, sometimes the resin is removed along possess several medicinal properties. A number of health favorable with the slice. The collection of resin and slicing of the root are physiological effects of dietary spices have been experimentally repeated until exudation ceases.7 e documented in recent decades.2 4 Asafoetida has a strong, tenacious and sulfurous odor. Nowadays Asafoetida is used as a flavoring agent in food and as a tradi- it is a popular ingredient in the Indian cuisine, most probably tional medicine for many diseases in many parts of the world. because its odor is reminiscent of the flavor of garlic and onion, two Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) is an oleo-gum-resin obtained from sprouting vegetables, as well as meat. Asafoetida is traditionally the stems of Ferula plants belonging to the family Umbelliferae. Out used for the treatment of different diseases, such as whooping of more than 170 species, sixty spices of Ferula are widely distrib- cough, asthma, ulcer, epilepsy, stomachache, flatulence, bronchitis, uted in Central Asia, particularly West Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey and intestinal parasites, antispasmodic, weak digestion and influ- e Eastern Iran, Europe and North Africa.5 F. asafoetida is one of the enza.8 11 Asafoetida is an effective remedy for several diseases of important species of Ferula and is more native to Afghanistan and the stomach. The digestive stimulant actions of asafoetida are the Iran than grows about 2 m in height and is in two types bitter and most commonly experimented beneficial physiological effect via sweet.6 Asafoetida is called Hing or Hingu in India.3 Other names in enhanced secretion of saliva and activity of salivary amylase. It different languages are given in Table 1. plays an important role in the digestion of dietary lipids by stim- ulating bile flow and enhances the bile acid secretion and also enhances the activities of digestive enzymes of the pancreas and small intestine. Moreover, it is used for low acid levels in the * Corresponding author. fl E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Gopi). stomach, stomach pressure, atulence and loose stools. It is Peer review under responsibility of The Center for Food and Biomolecules, specially considered an ailment for women. It is used as a treatment National Taiwan University. of several problems such as unwanted abortion, unusual pain, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.11.004 2225-4110/Copyright © 2016, Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University. Production and hosting by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Please cite this article in press as: Amalraj A, Gopi S, Biological activities and medicinal properties of Asafoetida: A review, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.11.004 2 A. Amalraj, S. Gopi / Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine xxx (2016) 1e13 Table 1 Table 2 (continued ) Various names of asafoetida in different countries. Major chemical constituents References Country Name Epi-samarcandin Afghanistan Kama, Anguza Epi-samarcandin acetate Bangladesh Hing Franesiferol A 38,39 China A-wei Franesiferol B Denmark Dyvelsdrak Franesiferol C England Asafetida Asacoumarin A 36 Finland Asafetida, Hajupihka, Pirunpaska, Pirunpihka Assafoetidin 40 France Asafetide, Assa foetida, Ferule persique, Merde du diable Ferocaulicin Germany Asafetida, Asafotida, Asant, Stinkasant, Teufelsdreck Assafoetidinol A 41 Greece Aza Assafoetidinol B Hungary Ordoggyoker Polyanthinin India Hengu, Hing, Hingu, Ingu, Inguva, Kayam, Perungayam, Kamolonol 42 Perunkaya, Raamathan Foetidine 43 Iran Rechina fena, Zaz Saradaferin 32,41 Italy Assafetida 10-R-Acetoxy-11-hydroxyumbelliprenin Myanmar Sheingho 10-R-Karatavicinol Netherlands Asafetida, Duivelsdrek, Godenvoedsel, Sagapeen Methyl galbanate Norway Dyvelsdrekk Lehmferin Pakistan Anjadana, Kama, Anguza Feselol Poland Asafetida, Zapaliczka cuchnaca Ligupersin A Russia Asafetida Epi-conferdione Spain Asafetida Microlobin Sri Lanka Perunkayan Umbelliferone (7-hydroxycoumarin) Sweden Asafetida, Dyvelstrack Sulfur containing compounds Tanzania Mvuje 2-Butyl 1-propenyl disulfide 8,32 Tibet Shing-kun 1-(Methylthio) propenyl disulfide Turkey Setan bokosu, Seytan tersi 2-Butyl 3-(methylthio)-2-propenyl disulfide United States Asafetida, Devil's dung, Stinking gum 2-Methyl-2-propanethiol 2,3-Dimethylthiirane 1-Methylthio-(Z)-1-propene 1-Methylthio-(E)-1-propene sterility, difficult and excessive menstruation and leucorrhoea. Dimethyl disulfide Recent pharmacological and biological studies have also shown S-Methylpropanethioate e several activities, such as antioxidant,12,13 antimicrobial,14 18 anti- 2-(Methylthio) butane 10 19e22 23 24 3,4-Dimethylthiophene viral, antifungal, cancer chemopreventive, anti-diabetic, fi 23,25 26 Methyl (Z)-1-propenyl disul de anticarcinogenesis, antispasmodic and hypotensive, Methyl (E)1-propenyl disulfide 27,28 29,30 31 relaxant effect, neuroprotective and molluscicidal from Dimethyl trisulfide this asafoetida. The present review deals with phytochemistry and 2-Butyl methyl disulfide fi various pharmacological and clinical studies of asafoetida. Dipropyl disul de 2,3,4-Trimethylthiophene 2-Butyl vinyl disulfide 2. Methods 2-Butyl 1-propenyl disulfide Methyl 1-(methylthio)propyl disulfide fi Systematic literature searches were carried out in the terms: F. Di-2-butyl disul de Methyl 1-(methylthio)ethyl disulfide asafoetida, biological activities, umbelliprenin, bioavailability, 1-(Methylthio)propyl propyl disulfide antioxidant and relaxant effects. Information on F. asafoetida was 1-(Methylthio)propyl 1-propenyl disulfide collected via search and studies in electronic databases including Asadisulfide 36 Web of Science, Medline/Pubmed, Scifinder, Scopus, Embase and 2-Butyl methyl trisulfide 44 fi Google Scholar and also locally available books. Di-2-butyl trisul de Di-2-butyl tetrasulfide Foetisulfide A 7,9 3. Chemical constituents Foetisulfide C Diterpenes In general, Asafoetida consists around 68% of carbohydrates, 16% 7-Oxocallitristic acid 9 Picealactone C fi 10 of moisture, 4% protein, 1% of fat, 7% of minerals and 4% of ber. It 15-Hydroxy-6-en-dehydroabietic acid consists of three main fractions, including resin (40e64%), gum Phenolics (25%) and essential oil (10e17%).8 The resin fraction contains ferulic Vanillin 45 3,4-Dimethoxycinnamyl-3-(3,4-diacetoxyphenyl) acrylate Sesquiterpenes Table 2 Taraxacin 35 Phytochemical constituents of Ferula asafoetida. Fetidone A Fetidone B Major chemical constituents References Other compounds Falcarinolone 46 Coumarins and sesquiterpene coumarins Oleic acid 47 Umbelliprenin 34,35 b-Sitosterol 9,48 5-Hydroxyumbelliprenin Galactose 8-Hydroxyumbelliprenin Arabinose Tadshiferin Glucuronic acid Galbanic acid 34e36 Rhamnose 8-Acetoxy-5-S-hydroxyumbelliprenin 34,35 Luteolin 7-b-D-glucopyranoside Conferol 37 Ferulic acid Gummosin Please cite this article in press as: Amalraj A, Gopi S, Biological activities and medicinal properties of Asafoetida: A review, Journal of Traditional