Abstract
Asafetida was once used to calm down mental excitement such as hysteria. It was listed in Japanese pharmacopoeia (JP) and other foreign pharmacopoeia such as USP, BP, and DAB. However, after World War II, Asafetida disappeared from each country’s pharmacopoeia. In addition, it can no longer be found in today's herbal medicine academic books in Japan.
In this study, the author investigated the specifications and test methods of Asafetida listed in JP, USP, BP and DAB. He also investigated the ingredients in the academic literature of pharmacology and chemistry from 1860 to 1920. As a result, it was revealed that ferulic acid (FA) is abundant as a resin component of Asafetida.
FA is widely distributed in plants, and has a variety of physiological and health benefits. Today, it is in the academic spotlight. Among the reasons is the belief that the inhibitory action of FA on Aβneurotoxicity is expected to improve cognitive function and suppress its progress in Alzheimer-type dementia in cooperation with the inflammation inhibitory action of specific coumarin compounds. Additionally, the author believes that seeking Asafetida as a source for FA is one measure. If Asafetida has the potential to be used effectively as a FA resource, it is necessary to verify how much the effect of FA reflects the effect of Asafetida.
