Ferula Asafoetida

Botanical Origin Ferula Asafoetida

Faimly Umbelliferae

Urdu Name Hing

English Name Asafoetida, Devil’s dung

Part Used Resins from roots

Chemical Class Resins

Chemical Constituents o Resinso Gumso Ferulic acido Umbelliferone

o Asaresinotannolso Asaresinolo Asaresinolferulateo Volatile oilso Pineneo Coumarin

Useso Carminativeo Antispasmodico Expectoranto Sedativeo Diureticso Antiviral

o Used for stomach disordero Used for the treatment of pimpleso Pinene is used as flavouring agento Used for the treatment of skin blemisheso Volatile oils is used in the treatment of asthma,whooping

cough

Mechanism of ActionThe main constituent of ferula asafoetida is resin. It is used in the treatment of Hyperlipidemia.It reduce the cholesterol level in the blood.It can decrease the cholesterol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce cholesterol metabolism in the body.Hot potency is also required to reduce the cholesterol level because hot potency of hing also improves metabolism of cholesterol in the body.

Drug Interactionso Medications for higher blood pressure (Antihypertensive

drugs) interacts with asafoetida.Asafoetida seems to decrease the blood pressure taking asafoetida along with medication for higher blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go to low.Some medications for higher blood pressure include Enalapril,Hydrochlorothiazide and Flurosemide.

o Medications that slow blood clotting(Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet drugs)Interact with asafoetida.Asafoetida might slow blood clotting take asafoetida along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bleeding.Some medication which slow blood clotting are Aspirin,Warfarin,Ibuprofen.

Side Effectso Asafoetida is unsafe for infants when taken by mouth because

it might cause certain blood disorders.

o Heart burno Headacheo Diarrheao Nauseao Vomitingo It is unsafe to take asfoetida by mouth if you are pregnant.It

might cause miscarriage.

Contraindicationso Asafoetida increase the chances of bleeding due to it hot

potency.o Asafoetida can irritate the GIT do not use if you have a

gastrointestinal infectiono Asafoetida might interfere with blood pressure control.Avoid

use if you have a blood pressure problem.

o Asafoetida might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking asafoetida at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Dosage A daily dose of asafoetida resin is 200 to 500 mg. A tincture of 2-4ml or 20 drops as a single dose.

Toxicity In vitro testing fonud that asafoetida gum exerts a strong oxidative effect leading to potentially life threatening to infants.Asafoetida dosage higher from 500 to 750mg is harmful to GIT or cause headache.

References

• Asafoetida, a grounding herb American botanical council. • Ferula asafetida (USDA. NRCS 2007. The plants database

(hccp. Plant). • Duke JA handbook of medicinal herbs.