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Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta
Asafoetida is a resinous and pungent gum extracted from the roots of Ferula plants. These plants are native to Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. As a popular flovouring agent, it is commonly used in Middle Eastern, Iranian, and Indian cuisine. It has also been utilised for centuries in traditional to alleviate conditions like respiratory issues, digestive problems, etc. Recent scientific research has revealed various health benefits of asafoetida. This is due to its bioactive compounds, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, studies suggest that it may have potential anticonvulsant and anti-obesity effects. The Western world is now gaining interest in asafoetida. They are exploring its diverse uses in both culinary and medicinal applications.
Health benefits of asafoetida
May have a relaxing effect
Studies have shown that the asafoetida extract has a relaxing effect on various types of smooth muscles. Researchers have discovered that it can significantly relax the tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pigs. Its ability to block muscarinic receptors may the reason behind this effect. Researchers have also identified Umbelliprenin, a coumarin constituent of asafoetida, as a potent relaxant on tracheal smooth muscle. Asafoetida and its essential oil have been shown to have antispasmodic effects on the ileum of rats. It reduced the contraction induced by acetylcholine in them. Experts have suggested that asafoetida may have a competitive antagonistic effect on muscarinic receptors. This may explain its relaxant effects on tracheal smooth muscle. Overall, these findings suggest that asafoetida could have potential therapeutic benefits as an antispasmodic agent.
Neuroprotective properties
F. asafoetida has been traditionally used for its effects on the nervous system. Recent studies show that it can have neuroprotective and nerve-stimulating effects. In one study, researchers found that F. asafoetida extract can protect rat cerebellar granule neurons from damage caused by glutamate. Another study found that F. asafoetida can stimulate nerve function and promote the healing process in peripheral nerves. Overall, these findings suggest that F. asafoetida may be beneficial for treating neurological disorders.
Memory enhancing properties
Alzheimer’s disease is a common condition that causes memory loss. A study by Vijayalakshmi and colleagues showed that an extract of F. asafoetida improved memory and learning in rats, possibly by inhibiting an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase and reducing oxidative stress. Another study found that one of the health benefits of asafoetida is that it could prevent and treat memory loss induced by chemicals in mice. Additionally, F. asafoetida has anti-epileptic and antioxidant properties, as shown in a study using the PTZ kindling method. These findings suggest that F. asafoetida may be useful in preventing or treating memory-related disorders and reducing oxidative stress.
May aid in digestion
A lot of spices can help with digestion by stimulating the release of digestive juices and enzymes. A study on rats found that consuming asafoetida can enhance the activity of pancreatic lipase and amylase. These are important enzymes for digestion. Another study tested 14 different spices and found that most of them also increased the activity of these enzymes when they were in direct contact with them. These findings suggest that spices can have a positive effect on digestion by increasing the activity of digestive enzymes in the pancreas and small intestine.
May help lower your blood pressure
A study conducted in 2004 by Fatehi et al found that the gum extract of F. asafoetida was able to lower blood pressure in anaesthetised rats with normal blood pressure. They investigated the effect of the extract on the contractile responses of the guinea-pig ileum, which is a part of the small intestine, when stimulated by histamine, acetylcholine, and KCl. The extract caused a reduction in the average amplitude of spontaneous contractions. It induced relaxation in a dose-dependent manner when exposed to acetylcholine. In addition, the extract significantly reduced the mean arterial blood pressure in anaesthetised rats. This suggests that the relaxant compounds present in the extract may interfere with various histaminic receptor and muscarinic adrenergic activities or with the mobilisation of calcium ions necessary for smooth muscle contraction.
Anti-cancer properties
Research studies show that asafoetida, a commonly used spice in Indian cuisine, has potential anti-cancer properties. Asafoetida extract may inhibit the growth of tumours in mice with Ehrlich ascites tumour and to reduce papilloma formation in mice skin induced by croton oil and 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene. It may also recover antioxidant levels and reverse induced ornithine decarboxylase activity and DNA synthesis in Swiss albino mice, making it an effective chemopreventive agent for cutaneous carcinogenesis. Furthermore, asafoetida treatment in rats has resulted in a significant decrease in tumour multiplicity, possibly due to its ability to suppress the carcinogenic effect and strengthen drug metabolising and antioxidant enzymes. Overall, these studies suggest that asafoetida has potential as an anti-cancer agent and chemopreventive agent.
May aid in weight loss
Researchers conducted a study to evaluate the cytotoxicity and anticonvulsant activity of methanol extracts from various Ferula species, including F. asafoetida. The extracts showed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect with LC50 values ranging from 6 to 321 μg/mL as determined by the brine shrimp model assay system.
Another study investigated the effect of F. asafoetida gum on weight gain, fat accumulation, liver steatosis, and leptin levels in type 2 diabetic rats. The rats were treated with F. asafoetida gum at doses of 25 or 50 mg/kg, and the results showed a significant decrease in body weight, abnormal fat, and size of epididymal adipocytes compared to untreated rats. Serum leptin levels also considerably decreased in treated rats. The findings suggest that F. asafoetida gum has potent anti-obesity activities and can prevent liver steatosis, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of diabetes-induced obesity and hepatosteatosis.
Conclusion
Asafoetida has a long history of use in traditional medicine and culinary applications. Its potential health benefits are attributed to its bioactive compounds, which have been found to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, and anticancer properties. Recent scientific studies have also shown that asafoetida may have anti-obesity effects, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of diabetes-induced obesity and hepatosteatosis. Asafoetida’s diverse uses and potential health benefits make it an exciting area for further research and exploration. With its growing popularity in the Western world, it is likely that more studies will be conducted to uncover its full potential as a culinary and medicinal ingredient.
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