PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

LITERATURE

Akhtardziev K et aL, (1984) Farmatsiya 34(3):1.

Koch H, Steinegger E, Components of Arum maculatum L.

(woven arrowroot). In: Pharm Acta Helv 54(2):33-36. 1979.

Mladenov IV, (1982) C R Acad Bulg Sci 35(8): 116.

Mladenov I, Bulanov I, Stamenova M, Ribarova F, The

composition and structure of isolectihs from Arum maculatum.

Eksp Med Morfol, 29:36-9, 1990.

Moore THS, Vet Rec 89:569. 1971.

Nahrstedt A, Triglochinin in Arum maculatum. In: PH

14(12): 1870-1871. 1975.

Poisonous Plants in Britain and Their Effects on Animals and

Man, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Pub; HMSO

(1984) UK.

Proliac A, Chaboud A, Raynaud J, Isolement et identification

de trois C- glycosylflavonews dans les tiges feuillees d'Arum

dracunculus. In: PA:47:646-647. 1992.

Further information in:

Allen AK, Purification and characterization of an N-

acetyllactosamine-specific lectin from tubers of Arum

maculatum. Biochim Biophys Acta, 317 ( Pt l):129-32. 1995.

Bulanov I, Mladenov I, Boianovska V, Gateva I, Stanislavov R,

The effect of lectins on human spermatozoa in the capillary

sperm penetration test. Eksp Med Morfol, 317 ( Pt l):42-5,

1990.

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges Stuttgart 1997.

Jaspersen-Schib R, Theus L, Guirguis-Oeschger M, Gossweiler

B, Meier-Abt PJ, Serious plant poisonings in Switzerland 1966-

1994. Case analysis from the Swiss Toxicology Information
      Center. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 60:1085-98, 19%.
      Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdirck, Haug
      Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.
      Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde. 1-3,
      Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
      Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (Ed) Poisonous
      Plants in Britain and Their Effects on Animals and Man,
      HMSO, UK 1984
      Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,


1995. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
      Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
      Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Arum maculatum

See Arum

ASA FOETIDA/47

Arundinaria japonica

See Bamboo

Asa Foetida

Ferula foetida

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the oily gum-resin

extracted from the plant.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers appear after 5 years in yellow

umbels on a 10 cm thick naked stem. They are numerous,

pale greenish-yellow to white. The fruit is ovate, flat, thin,

flaky, reddish-brown with distinct oil marks.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a herbaceous monoe-

cious perennial, 1.5 to 2 m high with a large, fleshy rhizome,

which is 14 cm thick at the crown. The leaves are large,

bipinnate, and radical.

Characteristics: The fruit has milky juice and a strong smell.

Habitat: Afghanistan and eastern Iran.

Production: Asa foetida is the gum resin of Ferula foetida.

Other Names: Devil's Dung, Food of the Gods, Gum

Asafoetida

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil: chief constituent is sec-propenyl-isobutyl

disulphide

Gum resin: consisting mainly of ferulic acid esters, farnesi-

ferol A, B, C and bassorin-like mucilage

Sesquiterpenoide coumarins: including asafoetida

EFFECTS

Asa foetida has a mild intestinal disinfectant effect; its

sedative effect is uncertain. In animal experiments it has

antitumoural and mild mutagenic effect on Salmonella

typhimurium.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used for chronic gastritis,

dyspepsia and irritable colon.

Chinese Medicine: In China, the drug is used for infestation

with intestinal parasites.

Indian Medicine: In India, Asa foetida is used to treat

asthma, whooping cough, flatulence, constipation, diseases

of die liver and spleen and for epilepsy.