Perilla extract and LDL cholesterol oxidation in people and lab tests
What it found
Drinking red perilla extract slowed the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in eight young women.
Lab tests on cells showed the same protective effect.
What they found
Studies in people
LDL oxidation in people
After eight women drank red perilla extract, their LDL took longer to oxidize at 2 hours and 4 hours. The amount of lipid peroxides dropped at every time point measured.
Animal and lab studies
Red versus green perilla
Both types contained polyphenols and cleared free radicals in lab tests. Red perilla had more polyphenols (4.6 mg/mL) than green perilla (1.7 mg/mL) and stronger antioxidant activity.
Slower LDL oxidation in cells
In lab tests, both perilla types delayed LDL oxidation. Without perilla, oxidation started after 24 minutes. Green perilla extended that to 51 minutes, and red perilla to 87 minutes.
Antioxidant enzymes in cells
Treating human blood vessel cells with red perilla raised levels of two protective enzymes called SOD and catalase. This happened in both gene messages and proteins made by the cells.
Other findings
Polyphenol dose given
The eight volunteers each drank 120 mL of red perilla extract. That single drink contained about 1,000 mg of polyphenols.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that perilla, especially the red variety, shows strong antioxidant activity and slows the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
- The authors suggest that drinking perilla may lower risk factors linked to artery disease.
How it was done
Oxidation of LDL cholesterol is linked to artery disease, and scientists do not yet know much about how perilla might protect against it. The authors wanted to see if perilla could slow this oxidation in lab tests and in people.
In lab tests, they compared extracts from red and green perilla leaves on human blood vessel cells. They also gave 120 mL of red perilla extract to eight healthy women aged 20 to 25 after an overnight fast. Blood was taken before drinking it and again at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours afterward.
What it can’t tell you
- Only eight young women took part, so the results may not apply to men or older adults.
- The study measured changes over just four hours, so longer-term effects are unknown.
- Slowing LDL oxidation in a short test does not prove that perilla prevents heart disease.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Ochanomizu University, Tokyo
The paper
- Title
- Antioxidant activities of Perilla frutescens against low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro and in human subjects
- Type
- Clinical trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Saita E, Kishimoto Y, Tani M, et al (2012). Antioxidant activities of Perilla frutescens against low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro and in human subjects. Journal of oleo science. doi:10.5650/jos.61.113Free full textPubMed 22362141DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error