Asafetida 227
disulphide, along with pinene, terpenine, trisulphide and other compounds. The
disagreeable odour of the oil is due to disulphide (Tiwari and Ankur 2004).
Compounded asafetida is a ready-to-use preparation designed in particular for
making Indian curries because natural asafetida is very strong and is not used directly
in cooking. It is composed of asafetida from one or more origins (Irani or Pathani or
both) and gum arabic, with edible starch or edible cereal flour. The blending formula
varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and is a trade secret.
12.6 Quality issues..................................................................................
Asafetida is one of the most adulterated agricultural products in the world. It is not
strange to find clay, sand, stone or sometimes gypsum added to increase the weight.
Other adulterants used include rosin, gum arabic and other cheaper kinds of gum
resins, barley or wheat flour, slices of potato, etc. Exudates of other species, not
necessarily the same genus, are supplied to buyers who are not thoroughly familiar
with the product and may not recognize the substitution. As a result, the pure material
seldom reaches the buyer.
According to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 of the Government of
India, Hing, which is the superior-quality asafetida, should not have more than 15%
total ash by weight, ash insoluble in dilute hydrochloric acid not more than 2.5% by
weight, alcohol extract (with 90% alcohol) not exceeding 12% as estimated by the
U.S.P. 1936 method and starch not more than 1% by weight. The inferior quality
Hingra should not have more than 20% total ash by weight, ash insoluble in dilute
hydrochloric acid not more than 8% by weight, alcohol extract (with 90% alcohol)
not exceeding 50% as estimated by the U.S.P. 1936 method and starch not more than
1% by weight (Anon. 2003).
Compounded asafetida is adulterated during processing with materials such as
chalk and other oleogums like galbanum, ammoniacum and colophony (Raghavan et
al., 1974). Officially, compounded asafetida should not contain colophony resin,
galbanum resin, ammoniaccum resin or any other foreign resin, coal tar dyes or
mineral pigment. The total ash content of compounded asafetida should not be more
than 10% by weight, acid insoluble ash in dilute hydrochloric acid not more than
1.5% by weight and alcohol extract (with 90% of alcohol) as estimated by the U.S.P.
1936 Method not more than 5% by weight (Anon., 2003).
12.7 Main uses........................................................................................
The most important uses of asafetida are as a flavouring and in traditional medicines.
Both uses are common in India, but in China asafetida is used only for certain
medicinal preparations. In Iran and Afghanistan, where most of the production comes
from, it is used in some foods and medicines. In other Asian countries asafetida is
used in local medicines on a small scale.
As a flavouring, asafetida can be used either directly in curries or added after it has
been fried in oil or steeped in water. It is used extensively in India to flavour curries,
soups, sauces and pickles, most often in conjunction with onion and garlic. Some
Brahmin communities and Jains in India who do not eat garlic or onion, use asafetida