Page 334 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

Asafoetida

Syn.: Gummiresina Asafoetida; Gum Asafoetida; Halteet; Abu Kabeer

Asafoetida is an oleo-gum-resin, obtained by incision from the living rhizome
and root of Ferula foetida Regel, F. rubricaulis Boiss or certain other Persian and
Afghanistanian species of Ferula (Fam. Umbelliferae).

Preparation
In the cortex of the stem, and also in the root, there are numerous large
schizogenous ducts filled with a whitish, gum-resinous emulsion. After about 5
years, when the root has stored sufficient reserves and is about 12-14 cm thick at the
crown, it throws up a large flowering stem about 10 cm. thick and 2.5-3 metres high.
About the end of March just before the plant is about to flower, the upper part of the
root is laid bare and the stem is cut off close to the crown. The exudates flows from
the cut surface and, while it is hardening, is protected by a dome-like covering of
sticks and leaves. A few weeks later the hardened oleo-gum-resin is scraped off, a
slice of the root cut off, and the juice again allowed to flow. This process is repeated
several times with intervals of about 10 days.

Description
Asafoetida occurs in irregular lumps formed of tears embedded in a
yellowish-brown or dark-brown matrix, in masses of agglutinated tears or in
separate, ovoid, rounded or flattened tears; from 1-4 cm in diameter; more or less
tough at ordinary temperature, becoming hard and occasionally brittle on drying;
externally, greyish-white to dull yellow or reddish-brown; internally, milky-white
and opaque, gradually passing through a very characteristic change of color on
exposure to air or light, becoming at first pink, then reddish-purple, and finally
reddish-brown; odour, strong, persistent and alliaceous; taste, bitter, alliaceous and
acrid.

Tests for Identity
1- Sulphuric acid test: Place, a drop of sulphuric acid on the freshly
fractured surface of a tear of Asafoetida; a bright red or reddish-
brown colour is produced, changing to violet on washing with water
(c.f. Galbanum).
2- Nitric acid test: Place, a drop of nitric acid 50 % on the freshly
fractured surface of a tear of Asafoetida; a green color is produced
(c.f. Galbanum).
3- Test for combined umbelliferone: Boil about 1 g of Asafoetida
with 20 ml of equal volumes of HCl and water, filter into water made
strongly alkaline with strong solution of ammonium hydroxide; a
blue fluorescence is produced

276