In Vitro Antileishmanial Activity of Ferula assafoetida Gum on the Viability of Leishmania (L) tropica Promastigotes

Ferula assafoetida is an oleo-gum-resin obtained from the roots exudates of the Iranian endemic medicinal plant, Ferula assafoetida. It is often considered to be the main source of asafoetida although other Ferula species, such as Ferula foetida, Ferula rubricaulis, Ferula rigidula, Ferula alliacea, and Ferula narthex are also sources of asafetida. The oleo-gum-resin asafoetida is called Anghouzeh or Khorakoma in Iran. Asafoetida has been using as a spice and folk phytomedicine for decades. It is utilized as a flavoring spice in a foods variety, particularly in India; in addition, Nepali people regularly consume it in their daily diets, and it is believed asafoetida has aphrodisiac, sedative, and diuretic properties. It has traditionally been applying for the different diseases treatment, such as asthma, epilepsy, stomachache, flatulence, intestinal parasites, weak digestion, and influenza. Recent pharmacological and biological studies have also revealed several activities like anti- inflammation, antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, cancer, chemo preventive, ant diabetic, antispasmodic, hypotensive, and molluscicidal extracted from this oleo-gum-resin.