Ferula foetida Regel.
Family : Apiaceae
Synonym : Ferula assafoetida
English : Asafoetida
Hindi : Hing
Gujarati : Hing
Sanskrit : Hingu
Part used : Resinous Exudates
Botanical Description: The plant is perrenial with fleshy massive root. The stem is 1.8-3m high, solid, membranous leaf sheaths, leaves radical, 45cm long, shiny and coriaceous, flowers 120-20 in the main and 5-6 in the partial umbels; fruits flat, thin, reddish brown. Flowering and fruiting from September to March.
It is wildy cultivated.
Ayurvedic Properties and Uses :
Rasa : Katu
Guna : Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Anulomana, Dipana, Hrdya, Krmighna, Pacana, Rucya, Vatakaphaprasamana
Modern Pharmacological Action: Asafoetida is a potent antioxidant, and ferulic acid, a component of the resin, has shown promise as a chemopreventive agent. Antispasmodic and hypotensive activity of the gum extract has been demonstrated in animal experiments. Antiviral activity by sesquiterpene compounds of F. assa-foetida has been demonstrated in vitro against the influenza A virus (H1N1). Molluscicidal activity of plant extracts has been demonstrated against snails, which act as intermediate hosts for the fasciola cattle fluke.
