Search Results (78)

The seed residue of Perilla frutescens possesses diverse biological properties and is rich in bioactive phytochemicals, including luteolin, rosmarinic acid, and apigenin. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of perilla seed residue crude extract (PCE) and its impact on the composition of the gut microbiome in rats with diabetes induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ). Forty male Wistar rats were fed on an HFD for six weeks before receiving an injection of STZ injection to induce diabetes. These rats were then treated for four weeks with metformin (100 mg/kg bw) or PCE (100 and 1000 mg/kg bw) alongside a control group maintained on a normal diet. The results showed that PCE treatment improved metabolic parameters in diabetic rats, as evidenced by reduced water and food intake, increased body weight gain, lower blood glucose levels, and enhanced insulin secretion effects, especially at the 100 mg/kg bw dosage. PCE also promoted the regeneration of pancreatic β-cells and improved utilization of glucose. PCE also suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and reduced circulating triglyceride levels. Most notably, PCE administration increased gut microbial diversity and shifted the microbiome closer to that of healthy controls, demonstrating its prebiotic effect. It promoted the abundance of beneficial bacteria that are linked to improved glucose metabolism and reduced inflammation—specifically, Bacteroides fragilis, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, and Akkermansia. Harmful bacteria associated with inflammation and poor glycemic control were reduced. Collectively, these results suggest that PCE not only helps restore a balanced gut microbiome but also offers metabolic benefits that could improve diabetic outcomes. These findings position PCE as a promising supplement for the management of diabetes and encourage further exploration of the mechanisms associated with its actions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo, a member of the Lamiaceae family, has been previously reported to reduce neuroinflammation and potentially decrease Aβ plaque accumulation in 5XFAD mice. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of a standardized 60% ethanol extract of Perilla leaves (PE), optimized for commercial application. Methods: The inflammatory response was assessed in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells, and the cognitive improvement was evaluated in an AD animal model induced by intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ. Results: Using LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and an Aβ-injected ICR mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, we found that PE significantly suppressed the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB, iNOS, and COX-2, along with inhibition of JNK and p38 MAPK activation. Furthermore, PE upregulated CREB and BDNF expression. In vivo, PE administration alleviated Aβ-induced cognitive deficits, which were associated with reduced expression of JNK, NF-κB, iNOS, and COX and increased CREB/BDNF signaling in the hippocampus. Behavioral assessments—including passive avoidance, Morris water maze, novel object recognition, and Y-maze tests—confirmed the improvement in cognitive function. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that PE exerts significant anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects, supporting its potential as a functional ingredient for cognitive enhancement. Full article

Perilla seed meal (PSM) is a waste biomass of perilla seed extraction that retains flavonoid and phenolic compounds. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of PSM extracts (PSMEs) from Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton as a sustainable source of natural active pharmaceutical ingredients (NAPIs) containing rosmarinic acid and luteolin for promoting bone health. PSMEs were obtained through shaking incubation and ultrasonic extraction, with 40% ethanol (PS-E40) and 80% ethanol (PS-E80) being found to be the most effective solvents. The effects of PSMEs on bone formation markers were evaluated in human fetal osteoblast cells (hFOB 1.19) using bone formation parameters. The results demonstrated that PS-E40 and PS-E80 extracts significantly increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin (OC) production, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels while concurrently reducing receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in a dose-dependent manner, particularly at 100 µg/mL on day 7 and 50 and 100 µg/mL on day 14 of the co-incubation period. Moreover, Alizarin Red S staining demonstrated that PS-E40 enhanced calcium deposition in both normal and osteogenic media, further supporting the effect of PSMEs on mineralization and osteoblast differentiation. Our findings suggest that PSMEs rich in rosmarinic acid and luteolin enhance bone health by promoting osteoblast activity and reducing osteoclastogenesis. Full article

Perilla seed has long been recognized in traditional diets for its health-promoting properties, but its potential role in hair loss prevention remains underexplored. This study compared three extraction methods—maceration (MAC), screw pressing (SC), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)—to determine their efficiency in recovering bioactive compounds and their effects on androgenetic alopecia (AGA)-related pathways. The SFE extract contained the highest levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols, while MAC uniquely recovered a broader range of polyphenols. Among all extracts, SFE-derived perilla seed extract showed the most consistent biological effects, promoting proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) by 139.4 ± 1.1% at 72 h (p < 0.05). It also reduced TBARS and nitrite levels in HFDPCs to 66.75 ± 0.62% of control and 0.87 ± 0.01 μM, respectively, indicating strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Importantly, the SFE extract significantly downregulated SRD5A1-3 and TGF-β1 expression—key genes involved in androgen-mediated hair follicle regression—outperforming finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil in vitro by approximately 1.10-fold, 1.25-fold, and 1.50-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that perilla seed extract obtained via supercritical fluid extraction may offer potential as a natural candidate to prevent hair loss through multiple biological mechanisms. These in vitro results support its further investigation for potential application in functional food or nutraceutical development targeting scalp and hair health. Full article

Seed germination is recognized for enhancing the accumulation of bioactive compounds. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., commonly known as perilla seed, is rich in fatty acids that may be beneficial for anti-hair loss. This study investigated the hair regeneration potential of perilla seed extracts—non-germinated (NG-PS) and germinated in distilled water (0 ppm selenium; G0-PS), and germinated with 80 ppm selenium (G80-PS)—obtained from supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and screw compression (SC). SFE extracts exhibited significantly higher levels of polyphenols, tocopherols, and fatty acids compared to SC extracts. Among the germinated groups, G0-PS showed the highest bioactive compound content and antioxidant capacity. Remarkably, treatment with SFE-G0-PS led to a significant increase in the proliferation and migration of hair follicle cells, reaching 147.21 ± 2.11% (p < 0.05), and resulted in complete wound closure. In addition, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were reflected by a marked scavenging effect on TBARS (59.62 ± 0.66% of control) and suppressed nitrite amounts (0.44 ± 0.01 µM). Moreover, SFE-G0-PS markedly suppressed SRD5A1-3 gene expression—key regulators in androgenetic alopecia—in both DU-145 and HFDPCs, with approximately 2-fold and 1.5-fold greater inhibition compared to finasteride and minoxidil, respectively. Simultaneously, it upregulated the expression of hair growth-related genes, including CTNNB1, SHH, SMO, GLI1, and VEGF, by approximately 1.5-fold, demonstrating stronger activation than minoxidil. These findings suggest the potential of SFE-G0-PS as a natural therapeutic agent for promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss. Full article

In this study, a new edible gel of Perilla essential oil (PE)/grape seed extract (GSE)–chitosan/gelatin was prepared, and it was applied to the preservation of silver carp. By establishing a fuzzy mathematical model, using a single-factor experiment and Box–Behnken response surface optimization combined with matlab analysis, the optimum preparation conditions of composite gel films were determined: the addition of PE (p < 0.01) was 6.91 μL/mL, the addition of GSE (p < 0.05) was 0.45 mg/mL, and the addition of gelatin (p > 0.05) was 1.63%. Under these conditions, the composite gel films exhibited an excellent water vapor barrier and mechanical properties. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, it was found that the addition of PE enhanced or weakened the absorption peaks, indicating the molecular interaction between PE and the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observed that the surfaces of the composite gel films with added PE were smooth, but there were a few pores in the cross-section. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that PE had good compatibility with other components. The fresh-keeping experiment showed that the composite gel films could significantly prolong the fresh-keeping period of grass carp. After 10 days of storage at 4 °C, compared with the blank group (without plastic wrap) and the control group (with composite gel film, no PE added), the experimental group (with composite gel films, PE added) showed better fresh-keeping effect in terms of sensory score, moisture content, pH value, TBARS value, and TVB-N value (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis further confirmed the positive effects of composite gel films on water content, pH value, TVB-N, and other quality indexes of silver carp, indicating that the composite gel films will have broad application prospects in the food preservation field. This study provides an innovative basis and theoretical basis for the development and application of natural polysaccharide/protein composite edible film, which is helpful to promote the development of green food-packaging materials. Full article

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Perilla Seed Extract (PSE) and its active ingredient on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in vitro and in vivo. Thirty-two C57/BL mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): control group (CON), PBS group, LPS group (LPS 3.5 mg/kg given intraperitoneally [ip] on day 7 of the study only), and PSE group (100 mg/kg orally daily + LPS ip at 3.5 mg/kg on day 7). Mice were euthanized 24 h after LPS administration. MODE-K cells were divided into five groups: control group (CON), LPS group (50 μg/mL LPS for 2 h), and PSE group (low dose, 25 μg/mL PSE + LPS; middle dose, 50 μg/mL PSE + LPS; high dose, 100 μg/mL PSE + LPS). In vivo, compared with the CON group, LPS revealed a significant decrease in the villus length-to-crypt depth ratio (p < 0.01) and goblet cell density per unit area (p < 0.01). Conversely, PSE administration resulted in a significant increase in the villus length-to-crypt depth ratio (p < 0.01) and goblet cell density (p < 0.01). LPS significantly increased the ROS content (p < 0.01), the secretion of inflammatory cytokines of IL-6 (p < 0.01), TNF-α (p < 0.01), and the mRNA expressions of HO-1 (p < 0.01). LPS significantly decreased the mRNA expressions of Occludin (p < 0.01) and Claudin1 (p < 0.01). In contrast, PSE treatment led to a marked decrease in ROS levels (p < 0.01), along with a reduction in the secretion of inflammatory factors IL-6 (p < 0.01) and TNF-α(p < 0.05), as well as the mRNA expressions of HO-1 (p < 0.01). Concurrently, PSE significantly increased the mRNA expressions of Occludin (p < 0.05) and Claudin1 (p < 0.01). In vitro, PSE treatment also significantly reversed LPS-induced inflammation, oxidation and tight junction–related factors. Network pharmacology identified 97 potential targets for PSE in treating IBD, while transcriptomics analysis revealed 342 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Network pharmacology and transcriptomics analysis indicated that significant pathways included the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway, of which the PI3K-AKT pathway may represent the primary mechanism. In an in vivo setting, compared with the CON group, LPS led to a significant increase in the protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K (p < 0.01) and p-AKT1/AKT1 (p < 0.01). Conversely, PSE resulted in a significant decrease in the protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K (p < 0.01) and p-AKT1/AKT1 (p < 0.01). In vitro, compared with the LPS group, PSE also significantly blocked the protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K (p < 0.01) and p-AKT1/AKT1 (p < 0.01). The chemical composition of PSE was analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS, which identified six components including luteolin (content 0.41%), rosmarinic acid (content 0.27%), α-linolenic acid (content 1.2%), and oleic acid (content 0.2%). Molecular docking found that luteolin could establish stable binding with eight targets, and luteolin significantly decreased the p-AKT1/AKT1 ratio (p < 0.01) compared to the LPS group in MODE-K cells. In summary, PSE demonstrates efficacy against IBD progression by enhancing intestinal barrier function and inhibiting inflammatory responses and oxidative stress via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and luteolin’s inhibition of AKT1 protein phosphorylation appears to play a particularly crucial role in this therapeutic mechanism. Full article

Background/Objectives: Iron overload is a serious condition that can increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative tissue damage and organ dysfunction. While current pharmaceutical drugs for iron chelation have limitations, the search for natural herbs with iron-chelating properties is crucial. This study aimed to explore the various biological functions of the Perilla frutescens seed, regarding antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective and iron-chelating properties. Methods:Perilla frutescens seeds were subjected to extraction using a solvent-partitioning technique. Each fraction was evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and rosmarinic acid (RA) content by Folin–Ciocalteu assay, aluminum chloride colorimetric assay, and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation was evaluated using the TBARS assay in HepG2 cells and an egg yolk model. The iron-chelating activity was examined using a ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe³⁺-NTA)-binding assay, labile iron pool (LIP) level assessment, and the transferrin receptor (TfR) expression in HepG2 cells. Results: Phytochemical analysis indicated that the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction had the highest TPC, TFC, and RA. This fraction demonstrated strong antioxidant properties and attenuated lipid peroxidation in HepG2 cells and egg yolk. In addition, this fraction exhibited iron-binding activity, decreased LIP levels, and induced TfR expression in iron-loaded HepG2 cells similar to the rosmarinic acid standard. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the EtOAc fraction of the Perilla frutescens seed possesses promising potential as a therapeutic agent for treating iron overload. Full article

Grapes are prone to rot and deterioration during storage, seriously affecting their food value. The effects of five extracts, cinnamon, perilla, green tea, pomegranate peel, and ginger, on the microbial growth, weight loss, and sensory quality of grapes were investigated using colony counting and sensory scoring methods. The results showed that perilla and cinnamon extracts had the best effect on maintaining the overall freshness of grapes on the 35th day of storage. The sensory scores were 82 and 80, respectively, and the number of microorganisms was below 6.13 log CFU/g. Further studies revealed that the combination of perilla and cinnamon extracts with Ɛ-polylysine resulted in better inhibition of microbial growth, reduced weight loss, maintained grape quality, and extended storage period to 40 days. An analysis of the active ingredients of the perilla and cinnamon extracts revealed that both extracts contained active antioxidant and antimicrobial ingredients, such as protocatechuic acid, coumaric acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, and rutin. The active ingredients of the perilla extract also included luteolin and apigenin, and those of the cinnamon extract included pinocembrin and epicatechin. These ingredients were deduced to have contributed to preserving the freshness of grapes by the plant extracts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Perilla frutescens has historically been used to protect against inflammation and redox stress. This has been partly attributed to its high polyphenolic content; however, polyphenolic components in Perilla extract remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to characterise the polyphenolic composition in Perilla extract and evaluate its effect on the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), regulating antioxidant defenses during inflammation and oxidative stress. Methods: Hot water extraction from Perilla leaves was followed by fractionation using four solvents of different polarity, namely methanol, butanol, ethyl acetate and ether. The polyphenolic composition of these fractions was analysed using RP-HPLC, and some of these compounds were quantified. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and ortho-diphenolic contents of each Perilla fraction were determined. The antioxidant activity was assessed using metal cation reduction and radical scavenging assays. A dual-luciferase assay using a human NQO1 ARE-luciferase reporter plasmid was employed to quantify Nrf2 activation by the Perilla fractions. Results: HPLC analysis identified 35 polyphenolic compounds, with the highest phenolic content present in the polar fractions and rosmarinic acid being the major constituent. Radical scavenging tests (DPPH and ABTS) confirmed the highest antioxidant capacity in the polar fractions. On cells in vitro, the methanol Perilla fraction displayed the strongest antioxidant activity, showing up to a 1.5-fold increase in human NQO1 ARE-luciferase reporter induction. Conclusions: This study has shown that Perilla extract contains a diversity of polyphenolic compounds contributing to its potent antioxidant effects, with methanol and butanol being the most efficient extraction solvents. While rosmarinic acid is expected to be the major contributor towards providing protection against inflammation and redox stress, further work is required on the synergystic effects between different polyphenols. Full article

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural active compound widely found in many plants belonging to the family of Lamiaceae, Boraginaceae, and so on, which has various important bioactivities, including being anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, etc. Herein, novel hydrophilic magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (HMMIPs) with a regular core-shell structure were successfully developed using RA as a template molecule, acrylamide (AM) as a functional monomer, N-N ’methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a cross-linking agent, and water as the porogen. After a series of characterization and adsorption performance analyses, it was found that HMMIPs are hydrophilic with an adsorption capacity of 8.012 ± 0.54 mg/g, an imprinting factor of 3.64, and a selectivity coefficient of 2.63~2.91. Furthermore, the HMMIPs can be rapidly separated from other components under the influence of external magnetic fields. The HMMIPs were employed for the determination of RA present in the Perilla frutescens and Rosmarinus officinalis aqueous extract with recoveries of 88.2~107.3%. These results indicated that HMMIPs of RA have the benefits of straightforward operation, rapid adsorption, and high selectivity, rendering it an appropriate way for the expedient and selective isolation of RA in an intricate matrix. Full article

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure worsens chronic respiratory diseases through oxidative stress and inflammation. Perilla frutescens (L.) has potential respiratory protective properties, but the impact of growth stages on its beneficial metabolites is unclear. We aimed to evaluate how different growth stages affect phenolic acids, flavonoids, and polycosanols in perilla seeds and flowers and their efficacy in countering PM2.5-induced damage. Perilla seeds and flowers from five varieties at 10, 20, 30, and 40 days post-flowering were analyzed for metabolite content. Their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and respiratory protective effects were tested in RPMI 2650 cells. Our findings indicated that perilla flowers contained higher levels of functional components than seeds and exhibited significant variation with maturation. Phenolic acids of perilla flowers were highest at the early stages of maturation after flowering. However, individual flavones of perilla flowers were the highest at the late maturation stages after flowering. Extracts from perilla flowers harvested 20 days after flowering exhibited significant respiratory protection, effectively inhibiting inflammatory cytokines, mucus secretion, and oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, the flower parts of perilla, particularly those harvested 20 days after flowering, are useful materials for obtaining phenolic compounds, including rosmarinic acid, with high antioxidant and respiratory enhancement effects. Full article

Volatile oil, mainly extracted from aromatic plants, is widely used in medical, cosmetics, and other industries for its disinfection, sterilization, antioxidant, and other effects. The yield of volatile oil was influenced by plant density and harvest time. Here, two common aromatic plants, Perilla frutescens and Ysphania ambrosioide, were taken as examples to investigate the effects of plant density and harvest time on plant yield-related traits, content, and yield of volatile oil, and the oil yield was determined by steam distillation. Results showed that plant density and harvest time significantly affected the yield and quality of the two plants (p < 0.05). Increasing plant density significantly increased the dry yield and leaf dry yield of P. frutescens, while the dry yield and volatile oil content and yield of Y. ambrosioides significantly decreased, and the maximum value exhibited was at the plant density of 80 cm × 80 cm. In P. frutescens, the maximum volatile oil content was obtained at the plant density of 60 cm × 60 cm, and the maximum volatile oil yield was obtained at the plant density of 30 cm × 30 cm. The yield and volatile oil yield of these two plants increased first and then decreased with the extension of harvest time. The maximum of P. frutescens was in mid-September, and that of Y. ambrosioides was in late October to early November. Our study provides new data for improving plant volatile oil yield and commercial value by optimizing planting density and harvest time and highlights the importance of optimizing planting management mode. Full article

Excessive alcohol intake leads to significant physiological complications, particularly alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). The extent of liver damage caused by ethanol correlates with increased oxidative stress and accumulation of lipids in the hepatic tissue. In this study, we investigated the defense properties of the aqueous extract of Perilla frutescens Briton Var. acuta Kudo (PF) on hepatic injury in chronically ethanol-treated mice. The mice were orally administered the water extract from PF for 4 weeks with ethanol treatment (3 g/kg. P.O.). The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver tissues was determined. A substantial increase in MDA generation was detected in the livers of mice subjected to ethanol exposure, whereas the administration of PF markedly reduced MDA levels in hepatic tissues. Additionally, histological analysis of the liver tissue was performed. Histopathological investigation revealed a significant reduction in hepatocellular necrosis in the PF-treated group. This study demonstrated that the aqueous extract of Perilla frutescens Briton Var. acuta Kudo (PF) attenuated chronic ethanol-induced liver injury by augmenting the antioxidant capacity of mice. These results can be utilized for the development of high-value-added products using PF. Full article

Perilla frutescens var. acuta (Lamiaceae) is widely used not only as an oil or a spice, but also as a traditional medicine to treat colds, coughs, fever, and indigestion. As an ongoing effort, luteolin-7-O-diglucuronide (1), apigenin-7-O-diglucuronide (2), and rosmarinic acid (3) isolated from P. frutescens var. acuta were investigated for their anti-adipogenic and thermogenic activities in 3T3-L1 cells. Compound 1 exhibited a strong inhibition against adipocyte differentiation by suppressing the expression of Pparg and Cebpa over 52.0% and 45.0%, respectively. Moreover, 2 inhibited the expression of those genes in a dose-dependent manner [Pparg: 41.7% (5 µM), 62.0% (10 µM), and 81.6% (50 µM); Cebpa: 13.8% (5 µM), 18.4% (10 µM), and 37.2% (50 µM)]. On the other hand, the P. frutescens var. acuta water extract showed moderate thermogenic activities. Compounds 1 and 3 also induced thermogenesis in a dose-dependent manner by stimulating the mRNA expressions of Ucp1, Pgc1a, and Prdm16. Moreover, an LC-MS/MS chromatogram of the extract was acquired using UHPLC-MS² and it was analyzed by feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) and the Progenesis QI software (version 3.0). The chemical profiling of the extract demonstrated that flavonoids and their glycoside derivatives, including those isolated earlier as well as rosmarinic acid, are present in P. frutescens var. acuta. Full article