Stinkasant

The skunkweed, Ferula assa foetida, is a perennial, up to 3m high plant from the umbellifer family (Apiaceae). Its distribution area is Iran and Afghanistan and regions in Pakistan.

Ferula assa foetida, together with Ferula nartex and Ferula jaeschkaena, is the parent plant of Asa foetida, the dried lactic juice of the rootstock. Asa foetida, also known as asant, is an unpleasant smelling gum resin with a strong garlic taste. An essential oil is extracted from the resin by steam distillation (fixing agent and also fragrance component).

Resin with esters of ferulic acid (24-65%), about 30% rubber, essential oils with vanillin, umbelliferone and other coumarins. The peculiar smell of the stink casant is due to sulphur-containing disulphides.

Medicinal use: Folk medicine is known to have a wide range of medicinal uses (Bagheri SM et al. 2014). Asant is listed as a sedative, gastrointestinal spasmolytic (Bagheri S et al.2014) and aphrodisiac. An effect against leishmania has been proven (Bafghi AF et al.2014).

Cosmetic use: Ferula foetida extract, the root extract of an asant is used for skin care.

Nutritionally, asant is used as a spice in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and India. Asant is a component of Worcestershire sauce.

1. Bafghi AF et al (2014) Antileishmanial activity of Ferula assa-foetida oleo gum resin against Leishmania major: An in vitro study. J Ayurveda Integr Med 5:223-226.
2. Bagheri S et al (2014) The Relaxant Effect of Seed's Essential Oil and Oleo-Gum-Resin of Ferula Assa-Foetida on Isolated Rat's Ileum. Ann Med Health Sci Res 4:238-241.
3. Bagheri SM et al(2014) Antinociceptive effect of Ferula assa-foetida oleo-gum-resin in mice. Res Pharm Sci 9:207-212.
4. Homayouni Moghadam F et al. (2014) Oleo gum resin of Ferula assa-foetida L. ameliorates peripheral neuropathy in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 154:183-189.