Asafoetida (ferula Asafoetida): A High-Value Crop Suitable for the Cold Desert of Himachal Pradesh, India

Ferula asafoetida belongs to the family Apiaceae. It is known by various names like Asafoetida, Devil’s drug, Ferula, Food of Gods, Incense of Devil, stinking gum, etc (Shah and Zare, 2014). In India, it is commonly known as Hing or Hingu. In different countries, it is known by other names as given in Table 1. It grows in cold arid regions of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iran. The Gulmarg region of Kashmir in India also has small tracts of cultivation (Anonymous, 2020a). It is oleo gum resin obtained from the stem and root of the plant. It is unpalatable in its purest form because of its pungent odour and stinking flavour. So, it is blended with flour and edible gum for consumption. The acrid taste and displeasing pungent odour is due to the presence of sulphur compounds. It contains about 4064% resin, 25% endogenous gum, 10-17% volatile oil and 1.5-10% ash (Takeoka, 2001). The sulphur compounds present in its resin had various biological activities and therefore had great medicinal value. Ancient manuscripts consider it as a tempting spice with trusted medicinal properties. It is considered to be an anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic digestive, analgesic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, and a sedative in its properties (Yaqoob and Nawchoo, 2016). In folklore and mythology, it is used to banish all negative energy, evil spirits and demons. In modern medicine, it is used to treat stomach cancer, asthma, bronchitis, dry cough, intestinal parasites, seizure, corns and calluses. It is also used to stop menstruation pain. It acts as a natural antidote for insect bites and stings (Mahendra and Bist, 2012). It is also used as a flavouring agent in Indian curries, dal, sambhar and pickles. It is used in developing green pesticides due to its antimicrobial and insecticidal properties (Salehi et al., 2019). India consumes nearly 40% of the world's total production of asafoetida. The basic raw material is imported mainly from Iran and Afghanistan and processed into powder and tablet form for domestic and Abstract Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) also known as heeng, Devil’s drug, ferula, food of Gods, incense of Devil, stinking gum is an important spice crop belonging to family Apiaceae. It is native to Iran and Afghanistan. Its dried latex (gum oleoresin) is generally used for flavouring curries, sauces, and pickles. Therapeutically, it stimulates the intestinal and respiratory tracts as well as the nervous system. It is beneficial in asthma, whooping cough, and chronic bronchitis. Its essential oil is also used in medicines, food and cosmetic industries. Besides, it is also used as an alternative for pesticides in organic farming. The major constituents of asafoetida are the resin (40– 64%), gum (25%) and essential oil (10–17%). The butyl propenyl disulphide is responsible for the aroma of asafoetida. The asaresinotannol is the major constituent present in the resin. It can be grown on unproductive cold deserts of dry temperate areas of Himalayas. It is mainly propagated by seeds. The seeds are sown either in winters or spring. It becomes ready for harvesting after 5 years of planting and yields around 900g per plant. The oleo gum resin and essential oil derived from this plant are sold at premium prices in the international market. The small and marginal farmers of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba can benefit from this new emerging crop.