Objective: To summarize the research progress on chemical components

pharmacological actions and toxicity of Ferula assafoetid

and provide useful references for the further research. Method : Literatures about F. assafoetid in plenty of journals and books were referred to

and the progress of the chemical components

pharmacological actions and toxicity were summarized. Result: Up to now

the chemical components isolated from F. assafoetid include mainly essential oil

coumarin

and phenylpropanoids. Pharmacological references show that it has anti-inflammation

anti-oxidation

inhibition of gastrointestinal motility and disinfection effect. Conclusion: The pharmacological research mainly focus on its antiinflammation

anti-oxidation and gastrointestinal effects

but very few researches focus on its anti-tumor effect

we should carry out further studies on mechanism-based anti-tumor activity

so that we may understand the effect and its pharmacological mechanism of "removing retention and stagnation"

and establish groundwork for illuminating the effectiveness of F. assafoetid.