Mohammad Reza Khazdair
1, Mohammad Hossein Boskabady
2*1 Pharmaciutical Research Center and Department of Physiology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
*Corresponding Author: *Corresponding author: Mohammad Hossein Boskabady, M.D., Ph.D., Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Dept. of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad, Post Code 9177948564, Iran. Fax: 0098 511 8828564, Phone: 0098 511 8828565, Email: boskabadymh@mums.ac.ir, , Email:
mhboskabady@hotmail.com
Abstract
Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) an oleo-gum-resin belongs to the Apiaceae family which obtained from the living underground rhizome or tap roots of the plant. F. assa-foetida is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of variety of disorders. Asafoetida is used as a culinary spice and in folk medicine has been used to treat several diseases, including intestinal parasites, weak digestion, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma and influenza. A wide range of chemical compounds including sugars, sesquiterpene coumarins and polysulfides have been isolated from this plant. This oleo-gum-resin is known to possess antifungal, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and antiviral activities. Several studies investigated the effects of F. asafoetida gum extract on the contractile responses induced by acetylcholine, methacholin, histamine and KCl on different smooth muscles. The present review summarizes the information regarding the relaxant effect of asafetida and its extracts on different smooth muscles and the possible mechanisms of this effect.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
foetida and its essential oil on different types of smooth muscle on contracted tissues induced by various contractile agents have been shown. The different mechanisms of relaxant effects of F. assa-foetida including inhibitory effects of muscarinic receptors and histamine (H1) receptors as well as ???adrenoceptors stimulatory effects on calcium channels have also been reported. It might be beneficial spastic conditions.
Please cite this paper as: Khazdair MR, Boskabady MH. The relaxant effect of Ferula assafoetida on smooth muscles and the possible mechanisms. J Herbmed Pharmacol 2015; 4(2): 40-44.