TL;DR: Although the results are promising in preclinical studies (in vitro and in vivo), clinical studies are insufficient; therefore, further study needs to be done to validate its therapeutic effects and to ensure its safety and efficacy.
Abstract: Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. (PF) is an annual herbal medicinal, aromatic, functional food, and ornamental plant that belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. The origin of perilla traces back to East Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and India), where it has been used as a valuable source of culinary and traditional medicinal uses. The leaves, seeds, and stems of P. frutescens are used for various therapeutic applications in folk medicine. In the absence of a comprehensive review regarding all aspects of perilla, this review aims to present an overview pertaining to the botanical drug, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and biological activity. It was found that the taxonomic classification of perilla species is quite confused, and the number of species is vague. Perilla has traditionally been prescribed to treat depression-related disease, anxiety, asthma, chest stuffiness, vomiting, coughs, colds, flus, phlegm, tumors, allergies, intoxication, fever, headache, stuffy nose, constipation, abdominal pain, and indigestion, and acts as an analgesic, anti-abortive agent, and a sedative. Until now, 271 natural molecules have been identified in perilla organs including phenolic acids, flavonoids, essential oils, triterpenes, carotenoids, phytosterols, fatty acids, tocopherols, and policosanols. In addition to solvent extracts, these individual compounds (rosmarinic acid, perillaldehyde, luteolin, apigenin, tormentic acid, and isoegomaketone) have attracted researchers’ interest for its pharmacological properties. Perilla showed various biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotection effects. Although the results are promising in preclinical studies (in vitro and in vivo), clinical studies are insufficient; therefore, further study needs to be done to validate its therapeutic effects and to ensure its safety and efficacy.
TL;DR: In this paper, the composition of fatty acids, tocopherols, sterols, and TAGs in the lipids of flax, perilla, and chia seeds were investigated where lipid content was at 45, 40, and 35%, respectively.
Abstract: Composition of fatty acids, tocopherols, sterols, and TAGs in the lipids of flax, perilla, and chia seeds were investigated where lipid content was at 45, 40, and 35%, respectively. α-Linolenic acid (ALA) dominated among fatty acids in all oils and accounted for 58.2, 60.9, and 59.8% in flax, perilla, and chia, correspondingly in these three oils trilinolenin was the main TAG found at 19.7, 22.6, and 21.3%. Triunsaturated TAGs accounted for 77.9, 77.5, and 74.5% of the total amounts in flax, perilla, and chia oils. Contents of tocopherol were at 747 in flax, 734 in perilla, and 446 mg/kg in chia seed lipids. γ-Tocopherol was the dominating isomer contributing 72.7% in flax, 94.3% in perilla, and 94.4% in chia to the total amount of tocopherols. Flaxseed lipids contained 25.6% of plastochromanol-8, derivative of γ-tocotrienol with longer side chain; perilla and chia oils contained only 1.4% of it. Phytosterols were present at 4072, 4606, and 4132 mg/kg in those seeds, respectively. Among sterols, β-sitosterol dominated and was found at 35.6, 73.3, and 49.8% of the total amounts of sterols in flax, perilla, and chia seed lipids. All of the investigated oilseeds have an excellent nutritional quality and can be a potential source of nutraceutical fats which can enrich diet in linolenic acid and other functional components.
TL;DR: The chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of five seeds, chia, golden flax, brown flax and white perilla, were determined in this article, and the results showed that the highest amounts of protein and total lipids in brown andwhite perilla.
Abstract: The chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of five seeds, chia, golden flax, brown flax, white perilla, and brown perilla, were determined. The chemical properties analyzed included moisture, ash, crude protein, carbohydrates, total lipids, fatty acids, and antioxidant capacity (ABTS•+, DPPH•, and FRAP). The results showed the highest amounts of protein and total lipids in brown and white perilla. Perilla and chia showed higher amounts of alpha-linolenic fatty acid than those of flaxseed varieties, ranging between 531.44 mg g-1 of lipids in brown perilla, 539.07 mg g-1 of lipids in white perilla, and 544.85 mg g-1 of lipis in chia seed. The antioxidant capacity of the seeds, evaluated with ABTS•+, DPPH• , and FRAP methods, showed that brown perilla had greater antioxidant capacity when compared with white perilla, flax, and chia seeds.
TL;DR: It is suggested that perilla oil or (n-3) PUFA prevents excessive growth of adipose tissue in rats at least in part by suppressing the late phase of adipocyte differentiation.
Abstract: We examined the effect of dietary oils with different fatty acid compositions on the growth of visceral adipose tissue in rats. Rats were fed for 4 mo starting at weaning a basal diet containing (12 g/100 g diet) perilla oil rich in (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), safflower oil rich in (n-6) PUFA, olive oil rich in monounsaturated fatty acid, or beef tallow rich in saturated fatty acids. The amount of food consumed and body weight gain did not differ among the four dietary groups. The weight of the epididymal fat pad and the serum triglyceride concentration in perilla oil-fed rats were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of olive oil- and beef tallow-fed groups. The product of [(volume of individual adipocytes) x (number of adipocytes in epididymal fat pad)], which presumably represents total adipocyte volume in the fat pad, was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in perilla oil-fed rats than in beef tallow- and olive oil-fed groups. Expression of the late genes of adipocyte differentiation, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, adipocyte P2 and adipsin, was significantly (P < 0.05) down-regulated in epididymal fat tissue of rats that had been fed perilla oil rather than beef tallow or olive oil, whereas expression of the early gene, lipoprotein lipase, was not significantly affected. Greater levels (P < 0.05) of (n-3) PUFA in the membrane phospholipid fraction of the fat tissue were observed in perilla oil-fed rats than in the other dietary groups. These results suggest that perilla oil or (n-3) PUFA prevents excessive growth of adipose tissue in rats at least in part by suppressing the late phase of adipocyte differentiation.
TL;DR: According to the results, perilla seed may be the source of an antimicrobial agent that could prevent dental caries and periodontal diseases.
Abstract: A perilla seed (Perilla frutescens Britton var. japonica Hara) extract was examined for its antimicrobial activity against oral cariogenic streptococci and periodontopathic Porphyromonas gingivalis. Luteolin, one of the components of perilla seed, showed the strongest antimicrobial effect among the phenolic compounds. According to our results, perilla seed may be the source of an antimicrobial agent that could prevent dental caries and periodontal diseases.