The Difference Between Bitter Hing And Sweet Asafoetida

If you are also struggling with the above questions, this article is for you. In this article, we have helped you to choose the best type of Hing.

Introduction of Hing (Asafoetida)

Asafoetida (Hing) is one of the oldest herbal products in Iran.

Note: the phrase “Asafoetida plant” is not correct; because “Asafoetida (Hing)” is the name of the gum resin that is extracted from the production plant.

Overview: Asafoetida Suppliers

But in this article, to make the content easier to read, instead of writing the phrase “Asafoetida (Hing) producing plant”, we have written “Asafoetida (Hing) plant”, so wherever you see the phrase “Asafoetida (Hing) plant” or “Asafoetida (Hing) is a plant that…”, it means the plant from which Asafoetida (Hing) resin is extracted.

The natural and main product of the Asafoetida plant is the exudation of the root (stump) of the plant.

Both the leaves of the Asafoetida plant and the substance exuded from it have been used for medicinal and therapeutic applications in the distant past.

Product: Aromatic Asafoetida Wholesale

Recent research on Hing shows some interesting effects that are only in the research phase, such as:

• Antiviral effects
• Antifungal effects
• Anticancer effects

Unfortunately, valuable therapeutic and industrial applications of Hing; It is still unknown to many doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and researchers.

Of course, many researchers and people in India are well aware of the amazing properties of Iranian Hing.

Phaidyme company experts try to introduce this precious Iranian gum correctly.

Traditional name of Hing:

Oleo-gum resin is a name given to Asafoetida (Hing) in the distant past.

But why was the natural product of the Asafoetida plant called “Oleo-gum resin” in the past?

A. (Oleo) means essential oil.

B. (Gum) that is soluble in water.

C. (Resin) which is insoluble in water.

Inside the Hing, there are volatile sulfur compounds that, despite their very unpleasant smell, have very good therapeutic uses.

It is interesting to know that due to the unpleasant smell of Hing (Asafoetida); In English books, it is called “devil’s dung”, which means devil’s excrement.

Article: Best Hing Brand In India

The most important species of Hing in Iran

• Ferula foetida
• Ferula assa-foetida
• Ferula alliacea Boiss.
• Ferula latisecta Rech. f. Aell.

Asafoetida plant genus name: Ferula L.

Iran is one of the oldest and largest Hing exporters in the world.

According to the research, there are different species of this plant in Iran.

Fraud in extracting Hing

In addition to the immoral methods that some people use in extracting and selling Hing; such as mixing bitter and sweet Hing, mixing the Hing of different regions, and adding some impurities that we will not mention due to preventing the promotion and culture of fraud, there are other fraudulent methods, that are sometimes done unintentionally and due to the lack of knowledge of the extracting team or their supervisor.

One of these methods is that instead of Ferula species, they cut the Dorema species to extract Hing and its Fake Hing is either sold directly under the name of Hing or mixed with the Original Hing obtained from Ferula species.

We at Phaidyme Company are proud that for many years, relying on the experience and expertise of our experts, we have been exporting the best type of Hing with the highest quality and purity to the target markets.

The difference between sweet and bitter Hing

Maybe this question has arisen for you as well, what is the difference between bitter and sweet Hing from a scientific point of view?

Metabolically:

A. Sweet Hing: It mainly contains Gum and Sulfur compounds and does not contain any Coumarin compounds.

B. Bitter Hing: In addition to Sulfur compounds, there are also Coumarin compounds in bitter Hing.

Therefore, be careful that Coumarin compounds are mainly found in bitter Hing and we do not have Coumarin compounds in the sweet Hing, which is the resin part and the cause of the bitter taste of the Hing.

Some of the Coumarin compounds found in the Hing and other Ferula species can be extracted and purified in small amounts for research work and used alone.

Comparison of medicinal effects of Hing compounds

Based on what you have read up to this part of the article, I want to ask you an important question:

Are the Coumarin compounds the origin of the medicinal effects of the Hing or the Sulfur compounds?

According to one of the prominent Iranian researchers who has been researching the compounds of different Ferula species for years:

«Mainly Coumarin compounds are the source of the effect.»

Many articles have been published in the world that show that Coumarin compounds have a very good Antiviral effect.

For example; According to the study done by Professor Rollinger, which was published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry one of the most prestigious journals of medicinal chemistry, he examined 2000 different compounds in terms of antiviral effects and finally he reached 4 combinations.

The significant point is that these 4 compounds are the same 4 Coumarin compounds that are present in the Hing!

It is very strange to test different compounds in different plants and end up with Coumarin compounds.

Therefore, Coumarin compounds are the source of the effect in Hing (Asafoetida).

For a long time, it was thought that Sulfur compounds are the cause of the bad smell of Hing; maybe it doesn’t have many properties and only has disinfection properties.

But Iranian researchers, after reviewing new studies over the last two or three years (since the publication of this article), found out that the Sulfur compounds in the Hing; In the human body, it produces a gas called Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S), of course, in controlled amounts.

There are three important Gasotransmitter in the human body, including:

• Hydrogen sulfide – H₂S
• Carbon monoxide – CO
• Nitric oxide – NO

During the last decade, researchers have worked a lot on Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) and its effects on the body, which have also obtained interesting results and have many various effects on the body.

Considering that Hydrogen Sulfide is a Gasotransmitter in the body; it has the following effects:

A. It has effects on the digestive system and can change the normal flora system.

B. It is very effective for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Note: the above effects are true for all compounds that are sulfur in the body and under the influence of their mechanism; they produce H₂S.

C. Another use of hydrogen sulfide is for lung diseases, which prompted Iranian researchers to study its effect on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

D. Another use of hydrogen sulfide is in the prevention of Cardiovascular diseases, and there are many articles about this.

E. The effect of hydrogen sulfide in brain diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease, is also discussed.

The above are various applications that originate from sulfur compounds.

Note: any source that releases sulfur compounds and especially H₂S in the body; it can mimic Hing-like effects, such as:

• Funky plants
• Even garlic and onions
• Some waste matter

The importance of the release speed of H₂S in the body

For many interested in Hing processing, the question arises:

Why not use H₂S directly?

Earlier, I gave an example of three gases:

• Hydrogen sulfide – H₂S
• Carbon monoxide – CO
• Nitric oxide – NO

All three gases are very poisonous and deadly; but if they are released in small amounts and biological amounts in the body, they have very good effects.

For example, if you pour acid on sodium sulfide salt, H₂S gas is suddenly released, which can be dangerous.

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) or H₂S-producing salts are quickly released in the body; while, plants like garlic, which have sulfur compounds to some extent, release their H₂S slowly in the body.

Similarly, the compounds in the Hing (Asafoetida) also release hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) slowly and are controlled so the effects are much longer and more effective.

But what happens in the body?

Sulfur compounds enter the cell; when they enter the cell, a protein in the body such as Glutathione attacks the sulfur compounds.

When Glutathione attacks; because this attack is carried out by the body’s enzymes and is controlled, it slowly releases H₂S. Then H₂S shows its effects in small and biological quantities and continuously.

H₂S intake and fecal odor

Does the consumption of H₂S affect the smell of feces?

Feces does not contain H₂S.

Feces contain other sulfur compounds produced by Gut bacteria and do not contain direct H₂S.

Hing and intestinal inflammation

Is it about people who get inflammatory bowel disease; we can say:

«The microorganisms that exist in the intestines of these people; Is it not able to produce hydrogen sulfide compounds or similar sulfur compounds, or has it lost the required potential?»

Answer:

The causes of diseases are different in people.

If the inflammatory origin is in intestinal and digestive system diseases; Medications such as Hing or medications that release Hydrogen sulfide can help.

If it has non-inflammatory causes; as with spasms, this question is not easy to answer. But if the causes are inflammatory; Since Hing can release H₂S, it can have an effect in reducing inflammation.

The effect of Hing Coumarin compounds

Coumarin compounds have high Antioxidant and Anti-cancer effects.

But one question, do these effects also apply to the Coumarin compounds of the Hing?

Answer:

Not all Coumarins can be classified into one class.

For example, there is a group of Coumarins; such as Furanocoumarins. This group of Coumarins has properties that cause skin spots that are present in plants such as “Diplotaenia damavandica” or other plants such as “Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fischer”.

Two very important effects of Hing Coumarins are:

Hing (Asafoetida) Coumarins have two very important effects that have been investigated by many Iranian and international experts:

• Antiviral and Antiviral effect
• Synergistic effect with Anticancer drugs (they do not have cytotoxicity, but when used together with Anticancer drugs, they increase the effect of Anticancer drugs).

Note: If you are not familiar with the drug “Covexir pars” yet, I suggest you read the following article, we wrote for you.

Article: COVID-19 Treatments With Hing (Asafoetida)

Bleeding relationship with Hing Coumarin compounds

Coumarin compounds are also found in other medicinal plants, such as “Trigonella Foenum-graecum L.”

When cows and sheep use “Fenugreek” a lot, bleeding occurs in their legs. If “Fenugreek” is used a lot, harmful effects can follow.

Now the question arises:

If you consume a lot of Hing, can the Coumarin compounds in it have the same effects as those caused by consuming a lot of fenugreek?

Answer:

All Coumarins do not have Anticoagulant properties.

Coumarins which are structurally substituted in their 4 molecular positions are compounds that are structurally similar to warfarin and have an Anticoagulant effect.

Some species of Ferula, such as Ferula communis, a complication called “Ferulosis” occurs, which is accompanied by bleeding in the livestock.

Also, some other Coumarins exist in other plants; Due to their structural similarity with Dicoumarol and Warfarin, they have Anticoagulant properties.

But the Coumarins present in the Hing have a different structure.

The Coumarins that are present in the Hing are Drimane-type. These Coumarin compounds present in the Hing do not have Anticoagulant effects.

Therefore, currently, there is no evidence of the Anticoagulant effect of the Coumarin compounds of the Hing. There are other Coumarins that have an Anticoagulant effect.

Asafoetida (Hing) and Helicobacter pylori bacteria

Can the Coumarin or sulfur compounds of Hing affect Helicobacter pylori?

The Coumarins of the Hing have no Antibacterial effect on Helicobacter pylori.

The Coumarin compounds of the Hing do not have very strong Antibacterial properties.

But the effect of the sulfur compounds of the Hing on Helicobacter pylori has not been tested yet.

The effect of Hing on insects and pests

Can the use of Hing as an insecticide and pesticide have a bad effect on health?

In topical use, in Iran, some farmers dissolve the Asafoetida (Hing) gum resin in water and the water becomes milky. Then it is poured under the plants that are affected by pests such as worms and it drives away the pests.

Article: Olive Psyllid Treatment

Note: The Hing has a more repellent effect and prevents pests from spawning. The Hing does not have pesticidal properties and only repels pests.

In general, there are two issues in the discussion of herbal products:

• Lethality
• Repellent means they repel insects and pests.

For example, in India, peppermint oil is used to repel Marsh Mosquitoes, which are the cause of Malaria.

Hing probably has the same feature; That is, it repels insects and pests, which is very good, because it does not have the effects of cytotoxicity and toxicity.

Based on my experience, plants containing essential oils such as Asafoetida, whose sulfur compounds are considered a type of essential oil, these plants repel insects and pests and do not have a lethal role.

Note: I do not recommend using Hing pesticides on the product; because its smell will remain on the product (such as apples, etc.) and you will face a problem in sales.

Hing and traditional Iranian medicine

Iranian traditional medicine doctors believe that Hing is medicinal with a hot and dry nature, and for this reason, it should be used in combination with food additives to moderate the intensity of Hing’s temperamental quality and prevent possible adverse effects.

Uses of Hing in Iranian traditional medicine:

• Asthma
• Cough
• For intestinal and stomach parasites
• Digestive problems and digestive spasms
• Respiratory problems

Asafoetida (Hing) essential oil

At the time of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran, some doctors applied Hing essential oil on the chest and near the inhalation site of Coronavirus patients so that they could breathe only the smell of this essential oil.

Eliminate the bad smell of Hing

According to my experience, when we touch a Hing and our hand smells of Hing; if we pour some cumin seeds on the palm and rub it, the bad smell of Hing will disappear to some extent.

In another experiment, we used Galbanum resin along with Hing. Galbanum resin has a penetrating smell and because it does not contain Sulfur compounds unlike Hing, it is fragrant and for this reason, it is used in the perfumery industry.

The advice of Phaidyme company experts is to avoid any attempt to eliminate the smell of Hing; because the whole effect of this gum resin or the compound extracted from the Asafoetida plant is related to the same sulfur compounds or other compounds that can be used and have a role in creating this smell.

Be with Phaidyme Company.