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Monographs of essential oils that have caused contact allergy / allergic contact dermatitis
Published in Anton C. de Groot, Monographs in Contact Allergy, 2021
Ferula gummosa Boiss. is a perennial, herbaceous, very resinous plant of the Apiaceae family, indigenous to Iran and possibly Turkmenistan, generally growing up to one meter tall and wide. It can be found in the wild mainly in Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and neighboring countries, and can become three meter tall when growing naturally (1,3). The major producer of Ferula gummosa is Iran. The resin of this plant, called ‘galbanum’, has a strong scent and is used in the preparation of various types of incense. It is collected either by exposing the upper part of the root and cutting it into strips or by making incisions in the trunk (GRIN Taxonomy for Plants). The galbanum from F. gummosa is said to have many bioactive properties including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, carminative, expectorant, anti-catarrh, anti-rheumatic, anti-nociceptive, anti-hysteric, laxative, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, and analgesic, and is therefore widely used for numerous afflictions in folk medicine (1). In addition, galbanum is also used in the manufacture of glues, textiles and cosmetics, and due to its transparency and high-power bond, it is employed to glue gems to jewelry (1,2). The resin can also be utilized in food flavoring, where it contributes to the savory notes of curries and sauces (3).
Anti-Cancer Agents from Natural Sources
Published in Rohit Dutt, Anil K. Sharma, Raj K. Keservani, Vandana Garg, Promising Drug Molecules of Natural Origin, 2020
Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Felipe Gonzalez
The WHO estimated 1.5 million women would be detected with breast cancer (Breast Cancer, 2018). Treatment of this cancer is planned depending on the degree of advancement (stages). For local breast cancers, surgery followed by radiation are the method of choice. For advanced breast cancers, systemic treatments such as chemo, hormone, and/or targeted therapies are appropriate choices (Treating Breast Cancer, 2018). The WHO estimates that 627,000 women would die from this cancer worldwide (Breast Cancer, 2018). Recent research has put 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (often called as ferulic acid) on the spotlight. Ferulic acid was first isolated from the plant Ferula asafoetida, a native in eastern and central parts of Asia including Afghanistan, India (Kashmir), and Iran (Yardley, 2010). MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer)cells were treated in different concentrations of ferulic acid that inhibited cell formation and persuaded apoptosis. Ferulic acid could significantly increase caspase-3 activity to foster apoptosis. Other studies conducted on MDA-MB-231 revealed that ferulic acid could inhibit tumor metastasis (Zhang et al., 2016).
Assyria
Published in Michael J. O’Dowd, The History of Medications for Women, 2020
Galbanum (the gum of Ferula galbaniflua) was used by fumigation ‘to facilitate birth’. There were two principal varieties of the drug, one originating from the eastern Mediterranean seaboard and the other from Persia. Galbanum causes purgation if taken by mouth. As a fumigant its main actions are antiinflammatory and antiseptic, useful qualities in the treatment a woman in prolonged labor.
FAEE exerts a protective effect against osteoporosis by regulating the MAPK signalling pathway
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2022
Ming‑Yue Wang, Meng‑Fei An, Mao-Si Fan, Shao-Shi Zhang, Ze‑Rui Sun, Yun‑Li Zhao, Ze-Min Xiang, Jun Sheng
Ferulic acid ethyl ester (ethyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamate (FAEE)) (Figure 1(A)) is a natural ester philic derivative of ferulic acid (FA), which is a monomeric component purified from traditional Chinese medicinal herb Ferula (Wang et al. 2021) and widely present in natural plants such as Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Apiaceae), Ferula species, and in grains (e. g., maize and rice) (Zhang et al. 2010; Sultana 2012). Moreover, FAEE has more lipophilic than FA and retains the characteristic low toxicity of FA (Wang et al. 2008; 2021). FAEE has a wide range of pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory (Bolling et al. 2011; Cunha et al. 2016), anti-atherosclerosis (Tsai et al. 2015), antithrombosis (Wang 2002), antitumor (Li et al. 2012) effects, and can protect the liver (Wang et al. 2004b), and vascular endothelial cells (Wang et al. 2004a). As its beneficial health properties, FAEE has been widely studied.
Nephroprotective effect of ferulic acid on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2022
Vasfiye Erseçkin, Handan Mert, Kıvanç İrak, Serkan Yildirim, Nihat Mert
There is an ever-increasing interest in the therapeutic use of natural antioxidant compounds. Phenolics in particular are recognized as potential therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, inflammatory diseases, and ageing (Soobrattee et al.2005). Ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid) is obtained from the Ferula foetida and its name was inspired from the name of the plant (Kumar and Pruthi 2014). Ferulic acid is a phenolic acid present in the leaves and seeds of plants. It is mostly found in plants such as oats, artichokes, oranges, rice, wheat and pineapples. In recent years, high therapeutic potential of ferulic acid has attracted considerable attention in terms of research. It has been reported that ferulic acid has a wide range of potency, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antiapoptotic, antiaging, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, radioprotective, pulmonary protective, antiatherogenic, hypotensive, and vasodilatation effects (Middleton et al.2000, Kumar and Pruthi 2014). Ferulic acid has been determined as a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals such as nitric oxide, superoxide and hydroxyl groups that damage the DNA (Koh 2013, Mancuso and Santangelo 2014, Sung et al.2014). There have been many studies in recent years suggesting a significant protective effect for ferulic acid in kidney diseases (Manikandan et al.2014, Hasanvand et al. 2018, Sarıkaya 2018).
Evaluation of the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of Ferula szowitsiana root on PHA-induced inflammation in human lymphocytes
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2020
Vahid Reza Askari, Vafa Baradaran Rahimi, Amin Assaran, Mehrdad Iranshahi, Mohammad Hossein Boskabady
Over the past decades, herbal medicines and their isolated active compounds have been paid more attention for discovering the new remedies for several diseases due to inexpensive, convenient access, and the low possible adverse effects. Ferula szowitsiana belongs to Apiaceae and is distributed through the Mediterranean area and central Asia especially Iran (Kanani et al. 2011). F. szowitsiana is known as a good source of active biological compounds including sesquiterpenes, coumarines, coumarin glycosides, and sulfuric compounds (Iranshahi et al. 2007). Several pharmacological activities of F. szowitsiana has been reported such as anti-microbial (Fazly Bazzaz et al. 2010), anti-leishmaniasis (Iranshahi et al. 2007), anti-mycobacterium (Appendino et al. 2004), induction of apoptosis in melanoma cells (Barthomeuf et al. 2008), and anti-cancer effects (Murakami et al.2005). Although there is no clear evidence about the ethnopharmacological’s uses of F. szowitsiana, the genus Ferula has been historically applied for treatment of many disorders including constipation, diarrhea, distention, diabetes, inflammation, rheumatism and backache (Sattar and Iranshahi 2017, Iranshahi et al. 2018).