The genus Ferula is the third largest and a well-known genus of the Apiaceae family. It is categorized in the Peucedaneae tribe and Ferulinae subtribe of the Apiaceae family. At present, about 180 Ferula species have been reported. The genus is mainly distributed throughout central and South-West Asia (especially Iran and Afghanistan), the far-East, North India, and the Mediterranean. The genus Ferula is characterized by the presence of oleo-gum-resins (asafoetida, sagapenum, galbanum, and ammoniacum) and their use in natural and conventional pharmaceuticals. The main phytochemicals present in the genus Ferula are as follows: coumarin, coumarin esters, sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpene lactones, monoterpene, monoterpene coumarins, prenylated coumarins, sulfur-containing compounds, phytoestrogen, flavonoids and carbohydrates. This genus is considered to be a valuable group of medicinal plants due to its many different biological and pharmacological uses as volatile oils (essential oils). Numerous biological activities are shown by the chemical components of the essential oils obtained from different Ferula species. Because this genus includes many bioactivities such as antimicrobial, insecticidal, antioxidant, cytotoxic, etc., researchers are now focusing on this genus. Several reviews are already available on this particular genus, including information about the importance and the uses of all the phytochemicals found in the species of Ferula. Despite this, no review that specifically provides information about the biological activities of Ferula-derived essential oils, has been published yet. Therefore, the present review has been conducted to provide important information about the chemical profile, factors affecting the chemical composition, and biological activities of essential oils of the Ferula species.

/pdf/metabolic-profile-bioactivities-and-variations-in-the-2g1aw8hk06.pdf

Metabolic Profile, Bioactivities, and Variations in the Chemical Constituents of Essential Oils of the Ferula Genus (Apiaceae).

With the aim to find new effective natural compounds for the control of nematodes, the in vitro anthelminthic properties of purified 1% saponins showing different chemical compositions and derived from Medicago sativa (MS), Medicago arborea (MA), Medicago polymorpha cultivar ‘Santiago’ (MPS), M. polymorpha cultivar ‘Anglona’ (MPA), and 1% prosapogenins from M. sativa (MSp), were evaluated and compared. As a source of nematode eggs, pooled fresh fecal samples taken from dairy donkeys naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes were used. From fecal samples, eggs were recovered, suspended in deionized water, and used immediately in the bioassay (egg hatch test). The activity of the tested compounds was compared to positive (0.1% thiabendazole) and negative (deionized water and 1% DMSO) controls. All experiments were repeated in triplicate and the obtained data were statistically analyzed. All the tested plant compounds caused a significant (p 80%). Moreover, all saponins and prosapogenins showed in vitro anthelmintic properties statistically comparable to that of the reference drug (p < 0.05), except for MPS extract. Obtained results showed that the different Medicago saponins evaluated in this study possess high anthelmintic properties against gastrointestinal nematodes of dairy donkeys, although to a different extent depending on their composition.

https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/6/2/35/pdf

In Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Saponins Derived from Medicago spp. Plants against Donkey Gastrointestinal Nematodes.

This is the first original study on chemical, thermal, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity of the leaf and gum hydroethanolic (20:80 v/v) extracts of Ferula asafoetida endemic for Iran The ratio of solvent to the dried matters was 3:1 (w/w) and after filtering, the solvent was evaporated under vacuum (at 40 °C) Leaf extract contained greater phenolic and flavonoid compounds and thus higher DPPH scavenging and ferric reducing power Leaf extract constituted high levels of carvacrol (1540%) and α-bisabolol (975%) while in gum extract contained high levels of (Z)-b-ocimene (2091%) and (E)-1-propenyl-sec-butyl-disulfide (1762%) Umbelliprenin and ferulic acid were the major phenolic compounds in both extracts Results of TGA and DSC revealed temperatures below and upper 100 °C and 160 °C as dominant regions of weight loss for gum and leaf extracts, respectively Minimal inhibitory concentration for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth were 625, 625, 125, 125 mg/l and 400, 300, 50, 300 mg/l of leaf and gum extracts, respectively Ferula asafoetida extracts can have particular applications in the food industry due to beneficial biological activity

Ferula asafoetida : chemical composition, thermal behavior, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaf and gum hydroalcoholic extracts

Nowadays, parasitic worm infection is one of the most critical global health problems. Worm infections cause severe detriments to the livestock industry and also it can cause irreparable damages to immunocompromised persons. Therefore, the present study aimed to review conducted research on the treatment of worm diseases using medicinal plants’ extract. In this systematic review, seven databases including 4 English (Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar) and 3 Persian databases (Magiran, ISC, SID) were obtained between 2008 and 2020 to evaluate conducted studies related to the aim of the current review. Most of the studies focused on the Balanites aegyptiaca and Carica papaya plant. Water was the most common solvent (38.1%) and then it was methanol. The most studied parasite was Haemonchus contortus (35.5%), followed by Aacharidia galli (10.5%). Studies showed that plant extracts could reduce effect of worm infections in the host compared to synthetic drugs. Plant extracts can produce a medicine based on natural compounds and effective on worms with fewer side effects than synthetic drugs.

/pdf/a-review-of-the-effect-of-medicinal-plant-on-helminthic-5dckznyd6d.pdf

A review of the effect of medicinal plant on helminthic infections

Preliminary Observations of the Effect of Garlic on Egg Shedding in Horses Naturally Infected by Intestinal Strongyles.

The high incidence of equine gastrointestinal worms and their increased resistance against anthelmintics has encouraged research into the effectiveness of rational phytotherapy. This study investigates the in vitro anti-parasitic effects of extracts of Ferula asafoetida and Allium sativum, two native plants that are widespread in Iran on Strongylus spp. larvae. Faecal samples were collected from horses, examined by routine parasitology methods and positive samples were used for future examination. After incubation, the third-stage larvae were harvested by the Baermann technique. A hydroalcoholic extract from the plants was used for the antiparasitic study, while tap water was used for controls. Trials for each concentration and control group were performed in three replicates. The results showed that that during the first day of exposure, the hydroalcoholic extract of F. asafoetida at concentration of 10, 50 and 100 mg/ml killed over the 90% of the larvae, and A. sativum extract at concentration of 50 and 100 mg/ml killed over the 95% of larvae (p<0.05). The results obtained from the bioassay showed that two plant extracts have a larvicidal effect on the Strongylus spp. larval stages compared with the control group.

/pdf/the-in-vitro-effect-of-ferula-asafoetida-and-allium-sativum-2dj8wida9l.pdf

Vahid R. Besharati Fard

Papers

The in vitro effect of Ferula asafoetida and Allium sativum extracts on Strongylus spp.