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Giardia lamblia is the protozoan agent of giardiasis and is one of the most common causes of diarrhea worldwide, especially in Iran. Nowadays, drugs such as metronidazole, furazolidone, tinidazole, and quinacrine are used to treat giardiasis. These drugs have different side effects, so research to find a drug with few side effects seems necessary. Asafoetida, an oleo gum resin obtained from an Iranian endemic herb, Ferula Assa-foetida has many healing properties, especially in the treatment of parasitic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Asafoetida hydroalcoholic extract on the G. lamblia in vivo in mice. In this experimental study, 25 mice were divided into 5 groups of 5 including negative control, drug control with metronidazole, and 3 experimental groups treated with Asafoetida extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/mL. Then, the effect of Asafoetida hydroalcoholic extract up to the tenth day was evaluated. In this study, the weight of mice in the groups treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Asafoetida was lower than the control group that did not take any drugs. The effect of plant extract against G. lamblia showed that the reduction in the number of cysts in the groups of 100, 200, and 400 mg/mL was equal to 71.8%, 80.9%, and 93%, respectively (p<0.05). The results of this study showed that Asafoetida has very good antigiardial effects on in vivo conditions and can be considered as one of the treatment options for the treatment of giardiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) also known as heeng, Devil's drug, ferula, food of Gods, incense of Devil, stinking gum is an important spice crop belonging to family Apiaceae. It is native to Iran and Afghanistan. Its dried latex (gum oleoresin) is generally used for flavouring curries, sauces, and pickles. Therapeutically, it stimulates the intestinal and respiratory tracts as well as the nervous system. It is beneficial in asthma, whooping cough, and chronic bronchitis. Its essential oil is also used in medicines, food and cosmetic industries. Besides, it is also used as an alternative for pesticides in organic farming. The major constituents of asafoetida are the resin (40- 64%), gum (25%) and essential oil (10-17%). The butyl propenyl disulphide is responsible for the aroma of asafoetida. The asaresinotannol is the major constituent present in the resin. It can be grown on unproductive cold deserts of dry temperate areas of Himalayas. It is mainly propagated by seeds. The seeds are sown either in winters or spring. It becomes ready for harvesting after 5 years of planting and yields around 900g per plant. The oleo gum resin and essential oil derived from this plant are sold at premium prices in the international market. The small and marginal farmers of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba can benefit from this new emerging crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Persian culture, the acrid, pungent, and at times irritating smell of some plants have given rise to some beliefs so far as a magical and supernatural power has been attributed to them. Harmal, garlic, onion, and asafoetida are the most important herbs that are supposed to have apotropaic power to ward off vicious creatures, exorcise the evil eye, and annul magic. The paper presents a detailed description of the Iranian folk rituals and ceremonies where the above plants feature as magical elements and evil repellents par excellence. A short review of the role of these herbs in the traditional medicine is given as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Asafoetida is an old traditional phytomedicine obtained from various Ferula species sources. • Asafoetida samples and Ferula species assayed by headspace gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. • Heatmap analysis showed at least two types of asafoetida samples studied in Iran. • Volatile sulfur compounds could be considered to determine asafoetida types and sources. Volatile sulfur compounds of asafoetida, an oleo-gum-resin, obtained from different Ferula species may be considered as possible metabolites to determine the probable source. Asafoetida is widely used in Iranian and Indian traditional medicine and in food industry. Sesquiterpene coumarin, phenolic, and volatile compounds (especially sulfur compounds) can be used as evidence to find out the main asafoetida and their source(s). In this study, the volatile profiles of five Ferula species and six samples of asafoetida from eastern and southern Iran were investigated via the headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Heat map analysis was performed for comparing the sulfur pattern in samples. The results showed at least two types of asafoetida in these regions were produced from special Ferula species. Accordingly, Ferula lutensis Rech., was determined as the main source of asafoetida from eastern Iran due to the presence of Z-1-butynyl-1-methyl propyl disulfide and E-1-butynyl-1-methyl propyl disulfide. The results of this research support the idea that types and levels of sulfur compounds could be considered as lead compounds for determination of the main source(s) of asafoetida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asafoetida, an oleo-gum-resin obtained from the exudates of Ferula assa-foetida L. roots, is traditionally used to treat various diseases including asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, and intestinal parasites. On the basis of Iranian traditional medicine, the main source of asafetida is F. assa-foetida roots. In folk medicine, however, different Ferula species have been used as sources of asafoetida. To identify the original asafoetida that possesses medicinal properties, we should compare metabolic profiles of different asafoetida sources which are commonly used for the oleo-gum-resin preparation.1H-NMR based metabolomics was used to obtain metabolic profiles of eight asafoetida oleo-gum-resin samples and forty-six samples of Ferula species roots from two main regions of Iran. The acquired data were analyzed using multivariate principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to identify the metabolic differences and similarities between the samples. Asafoetida is usually produced from Ferula species of southern and eastern regions of Iran. A clear metabolic differentiation was evident between asafoetida oleo-gum- resin samples from the southern and those of the eastern Iran. The distinguished metabolites, umbelliprenin, farnesiferol B, farnesiferol C, samarcandin and galbanic acid are significantly found in southern samples. Only southern asafoetida is obtained from F. assa-foetida. Asafoetida from eastern region of Iran is obtained from other species of Ferula such as F. alliacea and its metabolic profile is far different from that of southern asafoetida. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Iranian traditional medicine, asafoetida is introduced as a valuable remedy for nervous disorders. Dementia was induced by injection of d-galactose and NaNO2 for 60 consecutive days. Animals were divided into normal control (NC), dementia control (DC), dementia prophylactic (DP), and dementia treated (DT). The learning and memory functions were examined by 1-way active and passive avoidance tests, using a shuttle box device. Avoidance response in training tests and 1 and 3 weeks later was significantly increased in NC, DP, and DT groups compared to the DC group. Step through latency in all groups was significantly greater than the DC group. Total time spent in light room, which shows the memory retention ability, in DP, NC, and DT was significantly greater than the DC group. Our findings indicate that asafoetida could prevent and treat amnesia. These beneficial effects maybe related to some constituent's effectiveness such as ferulic acid and umbelliferone., (© The Author(s) 2015.)