English Perilla, Wild Coleus.
Peristrophe bicalyculata Nees. 473
Folk Bhanjeer, Ban-tulasi, Banjiraa, Bhasindi.
Action Herb—sedative, antispasmodic, antiasthmatic, resolvent.
P frutescens var. crispa is used in mixtures prescribed for cough and lung affections.
Several chemotypes of Perilla have been detected. The Indian type is rich in rosefuran. Other components are perillene, perilla ketone, beta-caryophyllene, pheilandrene and a few sesquiterpenoids. Aerial parts gave ethyl linolenate, linolenic acid and betasitosterol. The leaves also gave an anthocyanin, perillanin. The leaves and flowering tops yield essential oils containing perilla ketone as major component—94% in leaf oils and 47% in inflorescence oils at fruiting stage.
Perifialdehyde, a major component of the plant extract, inhibits (moderately) a broad range of both bacteria and fungi. The MeOH extract of var. acuta Kudo is reported to prolong hexobarbital-induced sleep in mice. Dillapiol has been isolated as the active principle from the methanolic extract.
