PLANTS, THEIR PROPERTIES, YOUR BALANCE.
Botanical photograph: Asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida L.)

BOTANICAL PHOTOGRAPH · APIACEAE

THE HERBARIUM · APIACEAE

Asafoetida

Ferula assa-foetida L.

Source topics

These topics describe what the sources discuss, including unproven claims and risks. They are not therapeutic recommendations.

Documentary entry
  • Pharmacopoeial material: gum oleoresinInsufficient evidence
Plant partGum oleoresin
FormsNo recommended preparation

Documentary entryReported uses only. No preparation or therapeutic use is recommended.

Documentary notice: these references alone do not support a therapeutic use or dose recommendation.

Identity & origin

BOTANICAL IDENTITY

The right name is the first step.

Perennial in the Apiaceae family. Recorded native range: Southern Iran. The listed pharmacopoeial material is gum oleoresin.

Part used
Gum oleoresin
Origin & distribution
Southern Iran

Also known as: No synonyms listed.

Check the species, plant part and complete botanical name together. A photograph alone cannot identify a harvest safely for consumption.

An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.

Uses & evidence

UNDERSTANDING THE USES

Properties & uses.

Insufficient evidence

Pharmacopoeial material: gum oleoresin

Kew spells the name Ferula assa-foetida. ANSM lists a gum oleoresin, distinct from ground root or material from another Ferula species. This notice infers no therapeutic indication.

The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.

Read the source

The traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.

Precautions before use

BEFORE ANY USE

Precautions & contraindications.

This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.

The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.

Contraindications & precautions

  • This botanical dossier does not establish medicinal-use safety. Anyone with a medical condition or taking medicine needs professional assessment of the specific product.

Medicine interactions

  • Interactions are not assessed here; compatibility with medicines cannot be inferred.

“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.

Adverse effects

  • Adverse effects are insufficiently documented in this notice; an incomplete assessment does not mean no risk.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

No medicinal use is offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding; this dossier cannot establish safety in these situations.

Children & adolescents

No paediatric preparation or dose is offered in this notice.

If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.

Sources & last review

CHECKING REFERENCES

Sources for this profile.

  1. ANSM — French Pharmacopoeia, List A, January 2026, p. 5Accessed on 09/10/2026
  2. Kew POWO — Ferula assa-foetida L.Accessed on 09/10/2026

Image: Анатолий Озерной /Anatoly Ozernoy · CC BY-SA 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.

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