• Air
• DNA
• Herbs
• PCR amplification
• Species authentication

• Mice
• Animals
• Diet, High-Fat
• Liver/metabolism
• Mice, Obese
• Lipid Metabolism
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism
• Glucose/metabolism
• Lipids/pharmacology
• Mice, Inbred C57BL

Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between harmful free radicals and antioxidants. Long-term oxidative stress can lead to an “exhausted” status of antioxidant defense system triggering development of metabolic syndrome and chronic inflammation. Green perilla (Perilla frutescens) is commonly used in Asian cuisines and traditional medicine in southeast Asia. Green perilla possesses numerous beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. To investigate the potentials of green perilla leaf extract (PE) on oxidative stress, we induced oxidative stress by high-fat diet (HFD) in aging mice.

C57BL/6J male mice were fed HFD continuously for 53 weeks. Then, mice were divided into three groups for 12 weeks: a normal diet fed reference group (NDcon), high-fat diet fed group (HDcon), and high-fat diet PE treated group (HDPE, 400 mg/kg of body weight). Biochemical analyses of serum and liver tissues were performed to assess metabolic and inflammatory damage and oxidative status. Hepatic gene expression of oxidative stress and inflammation related enzymes were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

PE improved hepatopathology. PE also improved the lipid profiles and antioxidant enzymes, including hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum and liver. Hepatic gene expressions of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory related enzymes, such as SOD-1, CAT, interleukin 4 (IL-4) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) were significantly enhanced by PE. PE also reduced the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and liver; moreover, PE suppressed hepatic gene expression involved in pro-inflammatory response; Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6).

This research opens opportunities for further investigations of PE as a functional food and possible anti-aging agent due to its attenuative effects against oxidative stress, resulting from HFD and aging in the future.

• Angiogenesis
• Colitis
• Inflammatory mediator
• Perilla frutescens Britton var. frutescens leaf

• 3T3-L1 preadipocytes
• C57BL/6J mice
• obesity
• purple perilla
• β-oxidation

• ABTS2: 2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid)
• AD: Alzheimer’s disease
• ARE: antioxidant response element
• DCFH-DA: 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate
• DPPH: 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl
• ECL: electrochemiluminescence
• ERK: extracellular regulated kinase
• FBS: Fetal bovine serum
• FITC: fluorescein isothiocyanate
• FRAP: ferric reducing antioxidant power
• HO-1: Heme oxygenase-1
• JNK: c-jun N-terminal kinase
• MAPKs: mitogen-activated protein kinases
• MDA: malondialdehyde
• MMP: mitochondrial membrane potential
• MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide
• NQO1: NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1
• Nrf2: nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2
• PD: parkinson’s disease
• PEPF: polysaccharide extracts isolated from Perilla frutescens
• PI3K: phosphatidylinositol-3kinase
• PVDF: polyvinylidene difluoride
• Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo
• ROS: reactive oxygen species
• SOD: Superoxidedismutase
• TPTZ: tripydyltriazine
• neuroprotection
• neurotoxicity
• oxidative stress
• polysaccharide

Development of type 2 diabetes has been linked to β-cell failure coupled with insulin resistance and obesity. Adipose tissue, known as the fat store, secretes a number of hormones and proteins collectively termed adipokines some of which regulate insulin sensitivity. Dysregulation in the secretion of adipokines has been linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In this review, we summarized evidence of the role of adipokines with focus on leptin, adiponectin, adipsin, visfatin and apelin in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and discussed the potential of saponins to modify the ill-regulated adipokines secretions, which could promote the use of this class of phytochemicals as potential antidiabetics agents.

• Adipokines
• Adipose tissue
• Insulin resistance
• Antidiabetic
• Obesity

• Apoptosis
• Flavanone
• G2/M cell cycle arrest
• Lung cancer
• Perilla frutescens
• p53

• Matrix metalloproteinases
• Perilla frutescens leaves extract
• Photoaging
• Reactive oxygen species
• Type I collagen
• Ultraviolet

• Adolescent
• Animals
• Cells, Cultured
• Child
• Collagen Type I/metabolism
• Dermatologic Agents/isolation & purification
• Dermatologic Agents/pharmacology
• Dermis/drug effects
• Dermis/metabolism
• Dermis/pathology
• Dermis/radiation effects
• Extracellular Matrix/drug effects
• Extracellular Matrix/metabolism
• Extracellular Matrix/pathology
• Extracellular Matrix/radiation effects
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism
• Female
• Humans
• JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism
• Mice, Hairless
• Perilla frutescens/chemistry
• Phosphorylation
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts/isolation & purification
• Plant Extracts/pharmacology
• Plant Leaves/chemistry
• Plants, Medicinal
• Procollagen/metabolism
• Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
• Signal Transduction/drug effects
• Skin/drug effects
• Skin/metabolism
• Skin/pathology
• Skin/radiation effects
• Skin Aging/drug effects
• Skin Aging/radiation effects
• Transcription Factor AP-1/metabolism
• Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects
• Young Adult

A series of pentacyclic tritperpenes found in Perilla frutescens (P. frutescens), including ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), corosolic acid (CA), 3-epi-corosolic acid (3-epiCA), maslinic acid (MA), and 3-epi-maslinic acid (3-epiMA) were evaluated for their effects on epidermal cell signaling, proliferation, and skin inflammation in relation to their ability to inhibit skin tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and compared to UA as the prototype compound. All compounds were given topically 30 min prior to each TPA application and significantly inhibited skin tumor promotion. 3-epiCA and MA were significantly more effective than UA at inhibiting tumor development. All of these compounds significantly inhibited epidermal proliferation induced by TPA, however, CA, 3-epiCA and MA were more effective than UA. All compounds also reduced skin inflammation (assessed by infiltration of mast cells and T-cells) and inflammatory gene expression induced by TPA, however, 3-epiCA and MA were again more effective than UA. The greater ability of 3-epiCA and MA to inhibit skin tumor promotion was associated with greater reduction of Cox-2 and Twist1 proteins and inhibition of activation (i.e., phosphorylation) of IGF-1R, STAT3 and Src. Further study of these compounds, especially 3-epiCA and MA, for chemopreventive activity in other cancer model systems is warranted.

• P. frutescens
• chemoprevention
• pentacyclic triterpenes
• skin tumor promotion
• ursolic acid

This study was to investigate the effects of different fractions of Perilla frutescens (Pf) leaves extracted by water or ethanol on asthma. BALB/c mice sensitized intraperitoneally and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) were divided into six groups. Each group of mice was tube-feeding with 0 (control), 80 μg (PfWL), or 320 μg (PfWH) water extracts or 80 μg (PfEL) or 320 μg (PfEH) ethanol extracts of perilla leaves daily for 3 weeks. A negative control group (PBS) was neither sensitized nor treated with Pf. The effects of perilla leave extracts on allergic immune response were evaluated. The results showed that OVA-specific IL-5 and IL-13 secretions from OVA-stimulated splenocytes were significantly suppressed in the ethanol extract groups PfEL and PfEH. Serum level of anti-OVA IgE tended to be lower in the PfEH group. The inflammatory mediators, such as eotaxin and histamine, and total cells, particularly eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), were also decreased in the PfEL and the PfEH groups. Therefore, the PfEL and the PfEH groups had significantly lower methacholine-induced hyperresponsiveness (AHR). In conclusion, ethanol extracts, rather than water extract, of perilla leaves could significantly suppress Th2 responses and airway inflammation in allergic murine model of asthma.

• Perilla leaf
• adhesion
• cancer cell
• cell growth
• migration

The inhibitory effects of perilla oil on the platelet aggregation in vitro and thrombosis in vivo were investigated in comparison with aspirin, a well-known blood flow enhancer. Rabbit platelet-rich plasma was incubated with perilla oil and aggregation inducers collagen or thrombin, and the platelet aggregation rate was analyzed. Perilla oil significantly inhibited both the collagen- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregations, in which the thromboxane B₂ formation from collagen-activated platelets were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Rats were administered once daily by gavage with perilla oil for 1 week, carotid arterial thrombosis was induced by applying 35% FeCl₃-soaked filter paper for 10 min, and the blood flow was monitored with a laser Doppler probe. Perilla oil delayed the FeCl₃-induced arterial occlusion in a dose-dependent manner, doubling the occlusion time at 0.5 mL/kg. In addition, a high dose (2 mL/kg) of perilla oil greatly prevented the occlusion, comparable to the effect of aspirin (30 mg/kg). The results indicate that perilla oil inhibit platelet aggregation by blocking thromboxane formation, and thereby delay thrombosis following oxidative arterial wall injury. Therefore, it is proposed that perilla oil could be a good candidate without adverse effects for the improvement of blood flow.

• Platelet aggregation
• perilla oil
• thrombosis
• thromboxane B2

• Anti-Allergic Agents/pharmacology
• Antioxidants/pharmacology
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods
• Cinnamates/isolation & purification
• Cinnamates/pharmacology
• Depsides/isolation & purification
• Depsides/pharmacology
• Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology
• Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors
• Mast Cells/drug effects
• Mast Cells/metabolism
• Perilla frutescens/chemistry
• Plant Extracts/chemistry
• Plant Extracts/pharmacology
• Plant Leaves/chemistry
• beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases/metabolism
• Rosmarinic Acid

The abnormal content of blood lipids often results in metabolic diseases, such as hyperlipidemia and obesity. Many agents, including natural sources from traditional food, have been developed to regulate the blood lipid contents. In this study, we examined the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of Rhynchosia nulubilis seeds pickled with brown rice vinegar (RNSpBRV), a Korean traditional pickled soybean food. Since RNSpBRV is made of R. nulubilis seeds (RNS) soaked in brown rice vinegar (BRV), we compared the anti-adipogenic activity between RNS, BRV and solid fraction of RNSpBRV (SF-RNSpBRV), liquid fraction of RNSpBRV (LF-RNSpBRV). For this, the inhibitory effect of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocyte was checked by adding methanol extracts of mixed RNS and BRV, LF-RNSpBRV, and SF-RNSpBRV. The addition of each methanol extract up to 1 mg/ml showed no cytotoxicity on 3T3-L1 adipocyte, and approximately 20% of the lipid droplet formation was suppressed with the methanol extract of BRL or SF-RNSpBRV. The highest suppression (42.1%) was achieved with LF-RNSpBRV. In addition, mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) supplemented with 5% RNSpBRV powder led to increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and lower blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol compared to mice fed with a HFD diet only. Interestingly, the size of the epididymis cells gradually decreased in HFD + 1% RNSpBRV- and HFD + 5% RNSpBRV-fed mice if compared those of HFD-fed mice. Taken together, these results provide evidence that RNSpBRV has a regulatory role in lipid metabolism that is related to hyperlipidemia.

• Hyperlipidemia
• Rhynchosia nulubilis seeds
• brown rice vinegar
• epididymis cell
• high-fat diet

Isaria sinclairii (Cicada Dongchunghacho) was studied as a potential crude natural food in powdered form. The role of tissue fatty acids in relation to the anti-obesity effects of I. sinclairii (IS) was examined by feeding the powder to SD rats ad libitum at 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10% (calculated about 8 g/kg) of the feed for a period of 3 months and 6 months. The fatty acid composition profile as indicated GC-MS, showed significantly slight dose-dependent increases in the levels of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly, arachidonic acid (C20: 4n6) , oleic acid, linoleic acid, eicosadienoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (C20: 5) concentration in the the ad libitum IS-fed groups compared to the control group in SD abdominal fat over 6 month period. Over viewing of the SD and Ob mice treated Isaria sinclairii powder; there were increases in the single (mono) unsaturated fatty acids ratio but decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acid. In IS-fed groups in proportion to the treatment period, this Dongchunghacho also induced an increase in the level of same result of unsaturated fatty acid in C57BL/6 obese (ob/ob) mice over a 6-month period treatment compared to those given 10% dry mulberry leaf powder (ML) or silkworm powder mixed with the standard diet.

• 6 months treatment
• Anti-diabetic effect
• Isaria sinclairii
• Obese mice

Sida rhomboidea. Roxb leaf extract (SRLE) is being used by the populace of North-East India to alleviate symptoms of diabetes and obesity. We have previously reported its hypolipidemic and anti-diabetic properties. In this study, we report the effect of SRLE on (i) in vivo modulation of genes controlling high fat diet (HFD) induced obesity and (ii) in vitro 3T3L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation and leptin release. Supplementation with SRLE significantly prevented HFD induced increment in bodyweight, plasma lipids and leptin, visceral adiposity and adipocyte hypertrophy. Also, SRLE supplementation reduced food intake, down regulated PPARγ2, SREBP1c, FAS and LEP expressions and up-regulated CPT-1 in epididymal adipose tissue compared to obese mice. In vitro adipogenesis of 3T3L1 pre-adipocytes was significantly retarded in the presence of SRLE extract. Also decreased triglyceride accumulation, leptin release and glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate dehydrogenase activity along with higher glycerol release without significant alteration of viability of 3T3L1 pre-adipocytes, was recorded. Our findings suggest that prevention of HFD induced visceral adiposity is primarily by down regulation of PPARγ2 and leptin gene expression coupled with attenuation of food intake in C57BL/6J mice. SRLE induced prevention of pre-adipocytes differentiation, and leptin release further substantiated these findings and scientifically validates the potential application of SRLE as a therapeutic agent against obesity.

• 3T3L1 cells
• PPARγ2
• Sida rhomboidea. Roxb
• leptin
• obesity

• 3T3-L1 Cells
• Adipocytes/cytology
• Adipocytes/drug effects
• Adipocytes/metabolism
• Animals
• Anti-Obesity Agents/chemistry
• Anti-Obesity Agents/pharmacology
• Cell Differentiation/drug effects
• Cell Survival/drug effects
• Diet, High-Fat
• Down-Regulation/drug effects
• Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases/metabolism
• Glycerol/metabolism
• Leptin/genetics
• Leptin/metabolism
• Male
• Malvaceae/chemistry
• Malvaceae/metabolism
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• PPAR gamma/genetics
• PPAR gamma/metabolism
• Plant Extracts/chemistry
• Plant Extracts/pharmacology
• Plant Leaves/chemistry
• Plant Leaves/metabolism
• Triglycerides/metabolism