RESEARCH ARTICLE t

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. (Lamiaceae) is an edible plant frequently used as a fresh vegetable, to process pickles, and as one of the most popular garnishes and food colorants in Asian countries, particularly China, Korea and Japan. P. frutescens is also a commonly used herbal medicine in China, where it is known as “Zisu”. P. frutescens has been widely cultivated in southern China for centuries. In the Chinese Pharmacopeia 2010 [1], the dried stem of P. frutescens is recorded as Perillae Caulis (PCa), the dried leaf of P. frutescens is recor-ded as Perillae Folium (PFo) and the dried seed of P. frutescens is recorded as Perillae Fructus (PFr). Modern laboratory studies confirm the pharmaco-logical effects of P. frutescens. The stems of P. frutescens are reported to have the effects on the contraction o