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Asafoetida Details & Specifications |
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| Botanical Name |
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Ferula foetida Regel. |
| English Name |
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Asafoetida |
| Hindi Name |
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Hing |
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| CATEGORY |
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Carminative |
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| SOURCE |
| Part used |
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State of the part used |
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Root |
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N/A |
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N/A |
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| FAMILY |
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Umbelliferae |
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| GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE |
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The plant is indigenous to India and is found in following countries :-
Afghanistan
India
Persia
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| IDENTIFICATION |
| Organoleptic characteristics |
| Colour |
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| Odour |
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Intense, persistent and penetrating (Depends on volatile oil). Its odour is stronger and more tenacious than that of the onion. |
| Taste |
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Bitter and acrid |
| Size |
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The tears are 0.5 to 3 cm in diameter |
| Physical
Standards |
| Total Ash |
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N/A |
| Moisture |
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N/A |
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| CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Major |
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Major chemical constituents responsible for physicochemical and therapeutic action of the herb are :-
Resin (62%)
Gum (25%)
Volatile oil (7%)
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| Minor |
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Minor chemical constituents of this herb are :-
? Free ferulic acid
? Di-sulphide
? Tri- sulphide
? Pinene
? Terpenes
? Asaresinotannol
? Ferulic acid
Umbelliferone
Oleo-resin
Sulphur containing compounds
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| CULTIVATION |
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The collection of juice is done from a four year old plant in the month of June. The roots of the plants that have not flowered are exposed, slashed and then shaded from the sun for five of six weeks and left for gummy oleoresin to leak out and harden and coagulate. The dome-shaped device made up of leaves and the branches to avoid the contamination of sand and foreign organic matter covers this cut surface. After few days, the coagulated matter is scraped off and the fresh cuts are given to collect more exudates. The bulk of drug comes from the official plant that is indigenous to Afghanistan. The resin is obtained from carrot-shaped massive roots and rhizomes of the plants that are about 4 to 5 years of age and 12 to 15 cm in diameter. This is continued for about three months or until the plants cease to produce latex. On an average plant yields about 1 kg of the oleo-gum resin. A very fine variety of Asafetida is obtained from the leaf bud in the centre of the root. It appears in reddish yellow flakes and when squeezed gives out an oil.
The oil obtained by the steam distillation of the resin is a pale yellow to orange-yellow liquid with a garlic like odour and slightly bitter, pungent taste. Main constituents include sulphur containing compounds. Vanillin, formed by the oxidation of ferulic acid during the aging processes of resin is also present.
The climatic conditions suitable for cultivation of this herb are: -
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| STORAGE |
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To maintain physicochemical properties and medicinal values of the herb it is recommended to maintain following storage conditions:-
Air tight containers
Protection from light
Protection from moisture
Microbial contamination
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