Persian Asafoetida vs. Sagapenum: Challenges and Opportunities

Asafoetida and sagapenum as valuable Iranian oleo-gum-resins from Ferula spp. (F. assa-foetida, F. persica, F. foetida and F. alliacea) have received interest during the history for producing valuable perfumes and common spices or as pharmaceutical agents. The aim of the present work was to characterize sources of asafoetida and sagapenum, according to botanical aspects, traditional and conventional medicine and phytochemical data. Available publications have been gathered from databases up to May 2019, and common Persian literatures were reviewed. We showed that sources for asafoetida and sagapenum should be differentiated botanically according to basal leaves, size of rays, fruits and petals. Furthermore, despite similarities, volatile sulfur components in F. assa-foetida are disulphides, in F. persica tri/tetra/pentasulphides, and in F. alliacea trisulphides. In the case of coumarins, conferol, conferone, farnesiferol A and B, samarcandin and samarcandin acetate are so far reported from F. assa-foetida and F. persica, and asacoumarin A from F. assa-foetida and F. foetida samples; while, persicaosides A-D have been reported only from F. persica. Moreover, farnesiferol C as the major coumarin in F. assa-foetida and mogoltavidin in F. persica would be new pharmacopeia markers. However, coumarins and essential oils similarities and differences among Ferula species should be more studied in a comparative research. Such studies would be essential for determining reliable sources and minimum requirements for standardizations of worldwide valuable wild growing medicinal and economical plants.