Investigation of an acetone extract from Asafetida afforded two drimane sesquiterpene dienones (fetidones A and B, 1a,b) and several known sesquiterpene coumarin ethers, one of which (8-acetoxy-5-hydroxyumbelliprenin, 2a) showed potent and specific NF-kappaB-inhibiting properties. This, coupled to a negligible cytotoxicity, qualifies 2a as a new anti-inflammatory chemotype, and its occurrence in asafetida might rationalize the use of this gum resin to alleviate and prevent colon inflammatory disturbances.
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Appendino et al. (2006) studied this question.
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