Effect of Perilla frutescens aqueous extract on free radical production by human neutrophil leukocytes.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was intended to evaluate the antioxidant properties of aqueous extract of the Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The antioxidant properties of Perilla frutescens were analyzed employing neutrophil leukocytes stimulated by the nonopsonized Escherichia coli. The neutrophil leukocytes were affected by adding an aqueous extract of Perilla. The generation of the reactive oxygen species by neutrophil leukocytes was investigated using assessment of luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. RESULTS: We found out that the treatment of neutrophil leukocytes with the Perilla aqueous extract inhibited the release of reactive oxygen species, measured as luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence, by about 30% and more than 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the aqueous extract of the Perilla frutescens inhibits significantly free radical production by neutrophil leukocytes, which was especially obvious when the lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence assessment method was applied.

Inotropic and lusitropic effects of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton extract on the rabbit myocardium.

BACKGROUND: Common perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) is a plant cultivated in many countries around the world. Although its immunomodulating and antioxidative properties are well known, there is a lack of data about the cardiotropic activity of the plant. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of Perilla frutescens extract on the myocardial contractility in vitro and as a food supplement in vivo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rabbits of the experimental group were fed with a supplement of 100 mg/kg of Perilla frutescens extract for 14 days. Rabbits of control group were fed with ordinary food. The maximal mechanical activity of isolated myocardial preparations, obtained from the rabbits of both groups, was tested during the perfusion with Ringer's solution containing 5 microM of adrenaline and 4.5 mM of CaCl2. For the assessment of the direct influence of Perilla frutescens extract on the myocardial contractility in vitro isolated heart preparations were perfused with 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/ml of Perilla frutescens extract. RESULTS: The maximum force of isometric contraction, maximum velocity of force development, and maximum velocity of relaxation were higher among the atrial and ventricular preparations from the experimental group, as compared with the control group. Perfusion of the myocardial preparations with different concentrations of Perilla frutescens extract revealed slight dose-dependent increase in the parameters of contraction and relaxation. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of Perilla frutescens extract as a food supplement leads to an increase in the contractility of the rabbit myocardium. Perilla frutescens extract in vitro had a dose-dependent positive inotropic and lusitropic effect on the rabbit myocardium.

[Lymphocyte subsets in patients with recurrent upper airway infections]. / Limfocitu populiaciju pokyciai sergant pasikartojanciomis virsutiniu kvepavimo taku infekcinemis ligomis.

UNLABELLED: The aim of our study was to evaluate the digressions of lymphocyte subsets in patients with recurrent upper airway infectious diseases. METHODS: We studied 35 patients (mean of age 11.1+/-2.1 years) with recurrent upper airway infections. The first group consisted of patients, who had acute upper airway infections: rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis and tracheitis more than 6 times per last year, sinusitis or otitis more than 4 times per last year. The control group comprised of 9 healthy subjects. Subsets of lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, CD16+/56+ and CD19+) were detected by FACS Calibur cytometer. RESULTS: We found a significantly lower count of CD4+ lymphocytes in the patients' group compared to the control group (37.5+/-1.2 vs 45.7+/-3.1% of total lymphocytes, p<0.01). We did not find any significant differences of other lymphocyte subsets between patients and control groups. CONCLUSION: We propose that patients with recurrent upper airway infections have alterations of the cellular immunity -- decreased amount of CD4+ lymphocytes.

[The influence of common perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) on non-specific cell-mediated immunity--phagocytosis activity]. / Krumines periles (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) itaka nespecifiniam lasteliniam imunitetui--fagocitozes aktyvumui.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of plant preparations, obtained from Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton introduced in Lithuania, on non-specific cell-mediated immunity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-specific cellular immunity was estimated by phagocytosis activity. The study of phagocytosis activity in peripheral rabbits blood (ability of leukocytes to phagocyte polystyrene latex parts of 0.8 microm diameter) was performed before (control) and after the experiments (injecting or administering per os perilla leaves extracts for one week and four weeks, respectively). The extracts were prepared from the leaves of perilla using repercolation method. For the studies in vitro the extract containing 1 mg/ml of perilla was used. In the studies in vitro two preparations of Perilla frutescens were used: 1) 32% sterile aqueous solution derivable from extract of perilla leaves and 2) 38% ethanol extract of perilla leaves. RESULTS. The phagocytosis activity studies in vitro showed that after 30 minutes of incubation with Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton extract phagocytosis activity was stimulated from 39+/-1.2 to 61+/-2.2% (p<0.001). Phagocytosis index increased from 1.26 to 1.79. The experiments in vivo showed that injected perilla leaves preparation to rabbits (1.2 mg/kg) increased phagocytic activity compared to the control (32.17+/-2.13%). The largest increase of phagocytosis activity was detected after seven days - 40.67+/-4.68%. Phagocytic activity of neutrophils in peripheral blood of rabbits increased after oral administration of perilla leaves extracts already after one week, but the largest increase of phagocytic activity was detected after four weeks (62.00+/-2.76%). CONCLUSIONS: Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton contains natural substances that increase the activity of phagocytes in vivo and in vitro and stimulate phagocytosis.

[Common perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton.) as a perspective immunomodulator]. / Krumine perile (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton)--perspektyvus imunomoduliatorius.

Common perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) is a new perspective annual medicinal dead-nettle family (Lamiaceae Lindl.) plant in Lithuania. Its medicinal raw material and preparations produced of it are characterised by the variety of pharmacological effects: desensitizing, antimicrobial, anti tumorous, and antioxidative. This species was introduced from the East Asia and cultivated in many European, Asian, and North American countries. The common perilla has been cultivated in Lithuania as a decorative plant in parks and squares since 1990. This plant has been introduced in the collection and exposition of medicinal plants in Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University since 1998 with the purpose to analyze biological and pharmacological properties of plants and to assess the quality and quantity of the raw herb. It would be reasonable to carry out experimental research on biological qualities and raw material of the common perilla in Lithuania in accordance with the contemporary technologies and requirements of the European Union standards.