Synonyms:
Hing, Ferula.
Biological source
It is an oleo gum resin obtained from the roots of Ferula foetida Regel, F. Rubricaulis
Boissier.
Family:
Umbelliferae.
Geographical source:
These plants are large and grow in Afganistan, Persia and Central
Asia.
Collection and Preparation:
There are numerous large schizogenous ducts which are filled with whitish, gummy
resinous emulsion in the cortex of the stem and root. After about five years the roots has
stored sufficient reserve and is about thick at the crown. In the end of March, the stems close
to the crown are cut off. The exudate flows out from the cut surface and hardened. The cut
surface which oozes out the exudates is covered with dome like covering of sticks and leaves.
The hardened gum resin is scrapped off after few weeks and again a cut is made to allow the
juice to flow out.
Description:
Forms: Paste, tear (pure form) and mass bulk (block or lump).
Shape: Tears are separate, rounded or flattened.
Size: 0.5-4 cm in diameter.
Colour: Dull yellow or dingy grey colour which changes into reddish brown on storage.
Odour: Intense, penetrating, persistent, alliaceous smell.
Taste: Bitter, acrid and alliaceous.
Mass asafoetida consist of tears agglutinated into less uniform mass and mixed with
extraneous substances like stones, earthy matter, calcium carbonate and root slices etc.
Chemical Constituents:
The main constituents are volatile oil (10-17%), resin (40-65%) and gum (1.5-10%). Resin
consists of resene (asaresene A) and volatile oil. It also contains 1.5 percent of free ferulic
acid and 16 percent of unstable ester of ferulic acid with asaresinol. Volatile oil contains
pinene and various disulphides (C7H14S2, C11H20S2, C10H16S2). Ferulic acid yields umbellic acid,
when it is treated with hydrochloric acid, loses water molecule and forms umbelliferone. Free
umbelliferone is absent in asafoetida.
Chemical Test:
1. Reddish brown colour develops upon addition of sulphuric acid on fractured surface
of drug.
2. A yellowish orange emulsion forms when asafoetida is triturated with water.
Uses:
It is a powerful nervine tonic, used in the treatment of Hysteria, bowel stimulant, expel
flatulence, relieves constipation and flavouring agent.
Allied Drug:
Galbanum (Ferula galbaniflua) is an oleo gum resin used as allied drug. The distinction
between galbanum and asafoetida is the presence of free umbelliferone. Galbanum contains
free umbelliferone whereas asafoetida does not contain umbelliferone in free form.
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