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Asafoetida

Asafoetida is a pungent, sulfur-rich resin from the roots of Ferula plants, used in cooking and traditional remedies. The evidence is limited, but in small trials symptoms improved: a Ferula capsule did better than metronidazole on clinical symptoms, and in a placebo-controlled trial most people reported better overall symptoms and quality of life. Those studies involved only 43 to 70 people, and for irritable bowel syndrome the evidence is very limited.

Best evidence
Grade C
Conditions studied
5
Outcomes
5
Graded outcomes
0023

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

5 conditions

Functional Dyspepsia

Functional Dyspepsia: outcomes studied for Asafoetida
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Overall Symptom Score

Double-blind RCT: 250mg twice daily for 30 days; 81% showed significant improvement (p<0.01) vs placebo in overall score and quality of life

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect43 people

Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection

Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection: outcomes studied for Asafoetida
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Clinical Symptom Improvement

Ferula capsule showed improved clinical symptoms compared to metronidazole over 7 days; potential replacement therapy

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect70 people

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Global Improvement: improves
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): outcomes studied for Asafoetida
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Global Improvement

Cochrane review: very low quality evidence; one study showed improvement vs placebo, another showed no difference vs dicyclomine

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect129 people

Irritable Colon

  • Anti-inflammatory Effect: improves
Irritable Colon: outcomes studied for Asafoetida
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Anti-inflammatory Effect

Ethanolic extract administered to 2 groups of 50 patients; results significant at p<0.001

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect100 people

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

  • Hormonal Parameters: improves
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): outcomes studied for Asafoetida
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Hormonal Parameters

Double-blind RCT compared asafoetida 1g/day vs low-dose oral contraceptive; preliminary data

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect30 people

Key findings

  • Overall Symptom ScoreImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Clinical Symptom ImprovementImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Global ImprovementIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Improves (the measure goes up)

Studies cited

1 study from PubMed

  1. Molecular mechanism of Ferula asafoetida for the treatment of asthma: Network pharmacology and molecular docking approachJ Tradit Complement Med, 2022 · PMID 36568408