Extract of perilla inhibits allergic reaction The leaves and seeds of the perilla plant (Perilla frutescens) have long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to relieve symptoms of allergies such as cough, shortness of breath, and excess phlegm. In Kampo, also known as Japanese herbal medicine, extracts of perilla are used to help treat asthma—a chronic condition characterized by inflammation of the lung passageways that can lead to symptoms ranging from wheezing to severe shortness of breath. In many cases, an asthma attack can be triggered by an allergic response; therefore, asthma is often referred to as an allergic disease. In order to assess the contribution of perilla extract in treating allergic disease, researchers evaluated its effects on histamine levels in mice. (It is established that high histamine levels are a key indicator of an allergic reaction.) In this study, mice were pretreated with perilla extract or saline solution and subsequently injected with a compound that induced a severe allergic reaction. Mice pretreated with perilla extract demonstrated a marked reduction in histamine levels compared to those pretreated with saline solution. These findings suggest that perilla extract may possess significant antihistamine properties. As concluded by T. Shin and colleagues in Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, "...the results obtained in the present study provide evidence that perilla extract importantly contributes to the prevention or treatment of allergic diseases." SOURCE: Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2000;22(3):489-500. Advanced Nutrition Publications ©2002
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