General Information

  • Category- Dried latex, herb, drug
  • Binomial Name- Ferula assa-foetida
  • Common Names- Hing, Giant Fennel, Heeng, Devil’s Dung,
  • Spread- 60-72 inches
  • Height- 90-112 inches
  • Average Production- 900 grams per plant
  • Days to Maturity- 1460-1825 days

Environmental Requirements:

  • Soil- Sandy loam and well drained
  • Soil Moisture- 15%
  • Soil pH- Acidic to basic (any)
  • Soil temperature-18 to 32°C
  • Sun Requirements- Full sun
  • Best Time to Plant- Summer (April-July)

Tips to Grow Asafoetida:

  1. Arrange good quality of asafoetida seeds.
  2. Soil should be mixture of loam and sand. It should be well draining.
  3. Sow seeds on the surface of the soil with a lightly tamped layer of sand over.
  4. After 10-15 days seeds get sprout and it continuous to 30-45 days.
  5. As the crops grow into tree in five years time and latex gum material is obtained from the roots and rhizomes of the plants.
  6. Just before flowering, the stem is removed and the vertical root stock is cut. Exudation start from the cut surface.
  7. After few weeks, the hardened exudate is scraped. Then a slice of the root is cut and exudation is allowed. This process is repeated successively.

Chemical Constituents of Asafoetida:

  • Volatile oil which contains a number of disulphides especially isobutyl propanyl disulphide. It is resposible for the alliaceous odour.
  • Resin which contains asaresinol ferulate and free ferulic acid.
  • Gum which is present to the extent of 55%.

Uses:

  • As a carminative.
  • As a expectorant.
  • As a antispasmodic.
  • As a laxative.
Herbs, Spice