Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Perilla frutescens Ethanol Extract in Asthma

This study evaluates the anti-asthmatic potential of Perilla frutescens, a plant traditionally used for its medicinal properties. Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilic infiltration, and elevated levels of Th2 cytokines. In this study, mice were sensitized and challenged with allergens to induce asthma-like symptoms and were subsequently treated with ethanol extracts of Perilla frutescens. The treatment resulted in a significant reduction in airway hyperresponsiveness, as measured by lung function tests, and markedly decreased eosinophil infiltration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Moreover, the extract suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, which are central to Th2-mediated allergic responses. Histological analysis further confirmed reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion in lung tissues. These findings suggest that the ethanol extract of Perilla frutescens exerts protective effects against allergic asthma by modulating immune responses, particularly through the inhibition of Th2 cytokine-mediated pathways and suppression of eosinophilic inflammation.

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4429230/