Ferula assa-foetida L. - Apiaceae - syn. Ferula foetida Regel, Ferula scordosma Bentley & Trim., Scorodosma foetidum Bunge;
asafoetida, asafetida, devil's-dung, Asant, Stink-Asant

„Plants 2-3 m tall. Root thick tap root. Leaves large, bipinnate, pubescent; segments oblong, entire, obtuse. Inflorescence densely pubescent. Umbels compact. Petals whitish-yellow, persistent. Fruit broadly oblong to suborbicular, c. 1 cm long, 8 mm broad; vittae inconspicuous, numerous, minute; fruit wing nearly as broad as the seed… Distribution: Iran, Afghanistan, USSR, W. Pakistan…
Asafoetida of commerce is extracted from the cut end of the root below the stem region of this and the other related species in the late spring. It is used in medicine, chiefly in veterinary work. It is also used as a flavouring.“ http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=250063132
https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=16603

„Ferula asafoetida Karst.(Apicaceae) spontaneously grows in many countries of the Middle East. In Iran, the plant exists in two varieties: one bitter, and one sweet. The use of the latter is preferred over the former. Even though Ferula asafoetida grows in more Southerly regions in Iran than Ferula gummosa, there are geographic areas where both species can be found. Its growth characteristics are similar to those of Ferula gummosa, but with a much longer vegetative cycle. The inflorescence forms after 12-14 years, and, as with Ferula gummosa, marks the end of life of the plant. The resin is collected from the upper parts of the root, after incising the totally dry plants. The resinous droplets are collected every 5-6 days, with the root being incised 8-10 times within 2 months. The yield is approximately 40-60 g per season.“
Characteristic compounds of F.assa-foetida resin were (Z)-1-propenyl-sec-butyl disulfide (4.2%), (E)-1-propenyl-sec-butyl disulfide (8.8%), (E)-sec-butyl-butene-2-disulfide (1.1%), guaiol (0.7%), and 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (2.4%).
[Ferula gummosa: Phytochemical variability in Iran. Michael Thomsen, Mathias Schmidt , Georges Betti, Hervé Casabianca, Reza Omidbai. Poster from the International Congress on Natural Products Research, Phoenix (USA), July 31 - August 4, 2004] posterferulagumosa.pdf

(E)-1-propenyl-sec-butyl disulfide

„Twenty five compounds were identified in the hydrodistilled oil. The major components of Ferula assa-foetida were E-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide (40.0%) and germacrene B (7.8%). However, by using supercritical carbon dioxide under optimum conditions, only two components constituted more than 70% of the oil. The extraction yield, based on hydrodistillation, was 1.13% (w/w). Extraction yield, based on the SFE, varied in the range of 0.8–5.5% (w/w) under different conditions. The results show that, in Iranian Ferula assa-foetida oil, E-1-propyl sec-butyl disulfide is a major component.“
[Comparison of essential oils compositions of Ferula assa-foetida obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and hydrodistillation methods. Khajeh, Mostafa, et al., Food Chemistry Vol.91 (4), 2005, 639-644]

The oelogum resin is used as carminative, antispasmodic (to treat dyspepsia with flatulent colid), and expectorant (to treat bronchitis, cough). „Relief from respiratory ailments is a common theme, and this may be linked to the sulfur compounds that are partly excreted through the lungs…“
[Medicinal Plants of the World. Ben-Erik Van Wyk and Michael Wink, Pretoria 2017, 151]

Kohl, F.G., Die officinellen Pflanzen der Pharmacopoea Germanica, t.84 (1891-1895)
http://plantgenera.org/species.php?id_species=691880