Investigation of microsatellite loci for the identification of registered varieties of Perilla frutescens and a discussion on the ancestor species of P. frutescens.

Techniques for identifying varieties of crops used as spices and food additives have important implications for the safety of food production, prevention of false labeling, protection of breeders' rights, and prevention of theft or outflow to other countries. Presently, there are 16 varieties of Perilla frutescens in the variety registration system of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishes in Japan (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Variety registration data search. http://www.hinshu2.maff.go.jp/ . Accessed 03 Nov 2022). One such variety is "Shimoadachi," which contains citral as a main essential oil component and has a lemon-like smell. To our knowledge, no other cultivars with similar characteristics in P. frutescens have been identified. Additionally, the registered variety "per-001" contains high contents of perillaldehyde and rosmarinic acid, with practical applications for herbal medicines and functional foods. Therefore, the development of variety identification techniques is necessary for stable production and protection. In this study, we investigated microsatellite loci for the accurate identification of registered varieties of red perilla. These loci provide a basis for breeding superior varieties of medicinal plants.

Mechanisms and Safety of Antidepressant-Like Effect of Nutmeg in Mice.

Nutmeg, a dried seed kernel of a tall evergreen Myristicaceae tree, is widely used as a spice and herbal medicine and is known to have antidepressant-like effects. This study evaluates the mechanisms underlying this antidepressant-like effect and safety of nutmeg n-hexane extract (NNE) in mice. Tail suspension and open field tests showed that NNE (10 mg/kg, per OS (p.o.)) significantly decreased the immobility time of mice without effecting their spontaneous locomotor activity. The reduction of immobility time of mice elicited by NNE was significantly inhibited by ketanserin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A/2C receptor antagonist), ondansetron (5-HT3 receptor antagonist), and yohimbine (α2 receptor antagonist). WAY100635 (5-HT1A receptor antagonist) tended to inhibit the effect of NNE but without significance. Testing according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines, no mice died due to administrated NNE (2000 mg/kg, p.o.), and behavioral and weight changes were not seen in the acute toxicity test. In the Ames test, no increase in the number of revertant colonies for each bacterial strain test strains TA98 and TA100 by nutmeg powder was observed either with or without metabolic activity by S9 mix. These results suggest that NNE shows an antidepressant-like effect involving various serotonergic and noradrenergic nervous systems and maybe a highly safe natural preparation.

Caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid contents in genus Perilla.

Caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid are common components of Labiatae plants, such as shiso (Perilla frutescens Britton var. crispa W. Deane) and Boraginaceae plants. These compounds have various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and anti-depressive activities, but the content of these compounds in perilla has not been studied in detail. This study investigated the caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid contents of several pure strains in genus Perilla. Perilla plants cultivated under a certain set of conditions had different caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid contents. For example, their contents were higher in P. setoyensis ("Setoegoma"), suggesting that the genetic background of the species greatly affects caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid contents. Several strains of P. frutescens var. crispa were cultivated at the Experimental Station for Medicinal Plants, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University and differences in their caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid contents were also observed. The total content of anthocyanins, which are closely related to the leaf color of perilla, was measured as cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents, and a weak positive correlation was observed between the content of rosmarinic acid, and the total content of total anthocyanins. Furthermore, the results suggest that luminosity and photon flux density of light during cultivation can affect rosmarinic acid content.

Rosmarinic acid in Perilla frutescens and perilla herb analyzed by HPLC.

High-quality perilla leaves are defined as those having purple upper and lower surfaces and a pleasant smell. The Japanese Pharmacopoeia specifies the content of essential oils in perilla leaves but not the content of rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinic acid is a common component of Labiatae plants such as shiso (Perilla frutescens Britton var. crispa W. Deane). Rosmarinic acid has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity but the factors affecting the content of rosmarinic acid in plants remain unknown. This study describes a simple and reproducible method for quantifying rosmarinic acid. We elucidated the main causes for the different rosmarinic acid contents of plants by examining various samples of perilla using the proposed method. Significant differences in rosmarinic acid content between varieties and cultivators were observed. The rosmarinic acid content was higher in green perilla compared with red perilla, in wild species compared with cultivated species, and in plants cultivated in outdoor nurseries compared with in indoor nurseries. The proposed quantitative method was used to examine the rosmarinic acid content in a Kampo formula, Hangekobokuto, and was found to be higher in decoctions prepared using the Kouge method compared with the typical preparation method. We examined the chlorophyll and caffeic acid contents of several samples and their relationship with the rosmarinic acid content.

Leaf extract of Wasabia japonica relieved oxidative stress induced by Helicobacter pylori infection and stress loading in Mongolian gerbils.

Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can induce gastric disorders, and though its presence cannot explain disease pathogenesis and does not have associations with other factors, it is well known that H. pylori infection causes stomach inflammation following oxidative stress. We examined the suppressive effects of a leaf extract of Wasabia japonica on H. pylori infection and on stress loading in Mongolian gerbils. Following oral administration of wasabi extract of 50 and 200 mg/kg B.W./d for 10 d, the animals were exposed to restraint stress for 90 and 270 min. As for the results, the level of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in the stomach and oxidative DNA damage in peripheral erythrocytes at 270 min significantly increased. That elevation was significantly suppressed by the addition of the leaf extract. We concluded that the simultaneous loading of H. pylori infection and physical stress loading might induce oxidative DNA damage additively, while a leaf extract attenuated this DNA damage in the stomach as well as the peripheral erythrocytes.