Perilla

Perilla leaf extract and seed oil both contain a wide variety of flavones, states "natural medicines comprehensive database" flavones are plant compounds that have potent antioxidant activity and help to prevent free radical-induced damage to your cells and dna.

Flavones also bind to heavy metals and help to remove them from your body. Perilla seed oil and leaves both appear to have tumor-preventing properties. In addition, the seeds of perilla have cholesterol-lowering properties and extracts of the leaves demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties.

Perilla frutescens seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (pufas). The seeds of perilla are small end globular weight about 4 g/1000, contained approximately 35a45% oil. However the leaves are a very poor source of oil, since they contain only 0.2%.

In addition, only the seed oil contains the omega 3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ala). In comparing to other plant oils, perilla seed oil consistently contains the one of the highest proportion of omega-3 (ala) fatty acids, at 54a64%.

The omega-6 (linoleic acid) component is usually around 14% and omega-9 (oleic acid) is also present in perilla oil. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are most beneficial to human health and in prevention of different diseases like cardiovascular disorders, cancer, inflammatory, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Like many botanicals, perilla is a great source of antioxidants. Also known as natureas answer to aging, antioxidants help lessen the systemic damage caused by free radicals.

Japanese research suggests that perillaas antioxidant action supports healthy circulation and has a positive effect on cholesterol. The leaves of perilla frutescens are less frequently used, by are sometimes used medicinally for the purpose of easing the stomach (served alongside some seafood); the oil pressed from the leaves, which is much less common, may have different properties than the seed oil and the two should be seen as somewhat different supplements.

Perilla oil suppresses the production of chemical mediator in the allergy and inflammatory responses. These essential fatty acids have been associated with benefits in a wide range of inflammatory conditions, heart diseases, colitis/crohnas disease, asthma, allergies, anti-microbial, anticancer etc. Perilla is also used for nausea, sunstroke, to induce sweating and as an antispasmodic.

In vivo metabolism of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, it mainly exists in the form of dha (docosahexaenoic acid) and epa (eicosapentaenoic acid). These two specific omega-3 fatty acids metabolites are inserted in cell membranes throughout the body, where cellular machinery converts them into substances which prevent abnormal clotting, reduce inflammation, and relax blood vessels and improved ventilatory parameters. Traditional chinese medicine practitioners use perilla seeds and leaves to induce sweating and to help treat nausea, allergies, sunstroke, muscle spasms and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

In addition, drugs perilla leaves are used to prevent food poisoning and perilla seed oil is used to prevent age-related learning deficiencies. These uses are based primarily on anecdotal reports however, not solid scientific evidence. Perilla seeds contain a high amount of the omega-3 essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, or ala. Due to the high content of ala present in perilla seed oil, the oil is thought to decrease serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

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Rosmarinic acid, an abundant compound in perilla, provides anti-inflammatory benefits that reduce allergy symptoms, according to dr.

Steven bratman, author of "collins alternative health guide" both chronic, seasonal allergies and sudden, life-threatening allergic reactions such those to fish, peanuts and bee stings respond well to perilla.

A laboratory animal study published in the january 2011 issue of the journal "experimental biology and medicine" found that perilla leaf extract reduced symptoms such as runny nose and red, watery eyes.

Luteolin, a flavonoid antioxidant; triterpene compounds; and rosmarinic acid in perilla may convey anti-cancer benefits, according to marja mutanen, co-editor of the book "vegetables, whole grains, and their derivatives in cancer prevention" topical application of perilla leaf extract may inhibit skin cancer.

A study published in the 2012 issue of the "international journal of nanomedicine" found that a substance called perillyl alcohol inhibited skin cancer tumors from progressing and resulted in an 80 percent survival rate in laboratory animals.

Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

The university of maryland medical center lists perilla seed oil among other plant oils including soybean, pumpkin seed, and purslane as containing high levels of omega-3 alpha-linoleic acid, which is useful for managing autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and asthma.

Asthma may respond well to treatment with perilla seed oil, according to a study published in the january 2007 issue of the journal "planta medica" in the laboratory animal study, doses of 1.1 grams per kilogram body weight of perilla oil inhibited airway constriction in response to an inhaled irritant.

Perilla seed oil also inhibited migration of white blood cells into the lungs and helped prevent anaphylaxis -- a severe and life-threatening immune response.

Researchers concluded that perilla seed oil may be helpful at managing the symptoms of asthma.

Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Asthma:

Perilla seed oil is thought to increase lung function and it may be beneficial to asthma sufferers.

A four-week placebo-controlled study published in the june 2000 edition of "international archives of allergy and immunology" examined the effects of perilla seed oil on asthma sufferers.

At the end of the four weeks, the patients taking the oil experienced a notable increase in lung capacity and enhanced air-flow capabilities.

The exact mechanism of action is unknown, but researchers suspect that perilla seed oil benefits asthma suffers because the ala in it suppresses the production of leukotriene, which is an inflammatory substance associated with reduced respiratory function.

Perilla leaf is used to resolve the exterior and dissipate cold; perilla stem (sugeng) has the effect of rectifying the qi and quieting the fetus and is often used for vomiting or for abdominal distention in pregnancy; perilla stem and leaf together is used to downbear qi and disperse phlegm.

Perilla leaf, which has aromatic qi, aromatically repels foulness, dispels summerheat and transforms turbidity, and resolves the toxins of fish and crabs; therefore, it is often used for summerheat-damp foul turbidity or poisoning from fish and craps that results in oppression in the chest, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Perilla seed has a strong qi-precipitating and phlegm-dispersing action and is effective in treating panting counterflow and phlegm cough. A chinese herbal formula used to treat depression includes perilla as one of its ingredients, according to dr. Lesley braun, co-author of the book "herbs and natural supplements; an evidence-based guide" in a laboratory animal study published in the 2011 issue of the journal "evidence based complementary and alternative medicine" inhalation of perilla essential oil resulted in decreased symptoms of stress.

Researchers concluded that inhalation of perilla essential oil may offer antidepressant benefits.