488 Handbook of herbs and spices
29.5 Functional properties and pharmacological studies......................
29.5.1 Anti-microbial activity
Perilla leaves are extensively used for food preservation and also for detoxifying fish
and crab poisons. Perilla leaf extract is reported to be toxic to Staphylococcus aureus.
However Honda et al. (1984) reported that the aqueous extract is inactive against
Gram-negative bacteria, and weakly inhibits Gram-positive microbes. Either extract
is reported to inhibit dermatophytic fungi such as Trichophyton, Microsporum,
Sabourandites and Epidermophyton. Perillaldehyde is the active ingredient. The steam
distillate of leaves inhibited Salmonella choleraesuis (Kang et al., 1992). Perillaldehyde
has shown a wide spectrum of microbicidal activity.
Effects on CNS
Dried leaf of Perilla is prescribed for neurosis in Kampo medicine. Sugaya et al.
(1981) studied the effect of aqueous extract on CNS and obtained the following
positive results: (i) a decrease in motility in rats following oral administration of
aqueous extract; (ii) inhibition of nervous reflex following intravenous injection in
cats; (iii) significant prolongation of hexabarbitol induced sleep by oral administration
of aqueous extract. The sleeping time was prolonged by 80–90% for the PA, PK and
TK genotypes; 170% for the PP-M (phenyl propanoid-myristicin) type and 380% for
the PP-DM (phenylpropanoid-dillapiole-myristicin) and 52% for the L-PA (limonene-
Table 29.3 Cell and tissue culture studies of Perilla
Culture conditions Authors (year)Metabolites:
Perilla pigments MS medium, 100 ppm NAA, 2 ppm KT, Ota (1986)
25 ∞C, with light
LS medium, 10 mM NAA, 1 mM BA, Koda et al. (1992)
25 ∞C, light 3000 lux for 12 h
LS medium, 1 mM 2,4-D and 1 mM BA, Zhong et al. (1991,
25 ∞C, light at 17–20.4 W/m^2 1993, 1994)
Phenylpropanoids B 5 medium, 5 ppm NAA, 1 ppm KT, Tamura et al. (1989)
25 ∞C, light at 2000 lux
Caffeic acid MS medium, 1 ppm 2,4-D, 0.1 ppm KT Ishikura et al. (1983)
Monoterpenes MS medium, 1 ppm 2,4-D, 5 ppm KT, Sugisawa and Ohnishi (1976)
25 ∞C, slightly dark
Sesquiterpene MS medium, 1 ppm NAA, 1 ppm, KT, Nabeta et al. (1985)
25 ∞C, light 3000 lux
Modified MS, 1 ppm 2,4-D, 5 ppm KT Shin (1986)
Ursolic acid LS medium, 1 mM NAA, 10 mM KT Tomita & Ikeshiro (1994)
Cuparene MS medium, 1 ppm NAA, 1 ppm KT, Nabeta et al. (1984)
25 ∞C, light at 3000 lux
Essential oil Modified MS, 1 ppm NAA, 5 ppm Shin (1985)
KT, 27 ± 2 ∞C
Glucosylation LS medium, 1 mM 2,4-D, 25 ∞C, dark Tabata et al. (1988)
MS medium, 1 mM 2,4-D, 26 ∞C, dark Furukubo et al (1989)
Resolution LS medium, 2,4-D, 26 ∞C, dark Terada et al. (1989)
Morphogenesis MS medium, NAA, or 2,4-D, BA, NOA Tanimoto and Harada (1980)
Abbreviations: BA, benzylamino-purine; 2-4,D,2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; KT, kinetin; NAA,
1-naphthaleneacetic acid; NOA, naphthoxyacetic acid; MS, Murashige and Skoog’s; LS, Linsmaier and Skoog’s.
Source: Zhong and Yoshida, 1997.