BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF PERILLA FRUTESCENS (PURPLE MINT): A REVIEW

Perilla frutescens (Linn.) is an annual herbal medicinal, aromatic, vitamins-rich food and ornamental plant that belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is distributed throughout India, extending to China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. Perilla frutescens seeds, leaves and stems contain fixed oil which is useful edible oil. It is an alternative source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linolenic acid (54%-64%), i.e., omega-3-fatty acids), phenolic compounds (rosmarinic acids, luteolin, chrysoleriol, quercetin, catechin, protocatechuic acid, and apigenin), natural antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Recent advances prove that compounds purified from Perilla frutescens have been proven to be biologically active against several major diseases to treat depression-related diseases, anxiety, asthma, chest stuffiness, vomiting, coughs, colds, flu, phlegm, tumors, allergies, intoxication, fever, headache, stuffy nose, constipation, abdominal pain, and indigestion. It also acts as an analgesic, anti-abortive agent, sedative such as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and neuroprotective activities. This present review deals with the update of biological activities of isolated bioactive chemical constituents of Perilla frutescens and explores pharmacological actions and therapeutic applications.