Twelve-month Studies on Perilla Oil Intake in Japanese Adults-Possible Supplement for Mental Health

Association analysis of leaf aromatic substances in cultivated and weedy types of Perilla crop using SSR markers

In East Asia, particularly South Korea, the two cultivated varieties of Perilla are commonly grown. They are clearly distinguished by their aromatic substances and have different uses as leafy vegetables or oil crop. This study was performed for the development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers linked to volatile compounds in Perilla leaves that show differences between cultivated var. frutescens (CF), weedy var. frutescens (WF), and weedy var. crispa (WC) of Perilla. Fifty Perilla SSR primer sets were used to analyze genetic diversity for the 80 Perilla accessions of the three types. A total of 276 alleles were detected, with an average of 5.5 alleles per locus. The average genetic diversity values for CF, WF, and WC accessions were 0.402, 0.583, and 0.437, respectively. WF accessions exhibited the highest genetic diversity among the three types of the Perilla crop. Phylogenetic tree analysis classified 80 Perilla accessions of the three types into four groups, showing 37.2 % genetic similarity. Three types of the Perilla crop were clearly distinguished except for outstanding accessions. Through the application of an association analysis involving 50 Perilla SSR primer sets and five volatile compounds (perilla aldehyde, perilla ketone, myristicin, dill apiol, (Z,E)-α-farnesene) in the three types of the Perilla accessions, we detected 11 significant marker-trait associations duplicated in both Q GLM and Q + K MLM methods. These findings serve as valuable insights for identifying the aromatic substances in Perilla plants originating from various regions of South Korea.

Effect of Refined Edible Oils on Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neurodegenerative diseases are comprise a prominent class of neurological diseases. Generally, neurodegenerative diseases cannot be cured, and the available treatments can only regulate the symptoms or delay the disease progression. Among the several factors which could clarify the possible pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, next to aging as the main risk, the dietary related diseases are the most important. Vegetable oils, which are composed of triacyclglycerols as the main components and several other components in a trace amount, are the main part of our diet. This review aims to study the effect of refined or unrefined vegetable oil consumption as a preventive or aiding strategy to slow or halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In the refining process, owing to the chemical materials or severe temperatures of the refining process, removal of the desirable minor components is sometimes unavoidable and thus a worrisome issue affecting physical and neurological health.

Applications of Perilla frutescens Extracts in Clinical Practice

(1) Background: Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. is an important pharmaceutical crop that remains a focus point for researchers worldwide due to its complex phytochemical constituents, medicinal effects, and nutraceutical properties. The literature data are based on animal and cell culture studies, so the clinical evidence for the therapeutic effects is poorly outlined. The aim of this review was to provide an updated and thorough understanding of Perilla frutescens applications in clinical practice using data derived from human studies, and to outline the potential directions and perspectives for further studies on this crop. (2) Methods: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were used to find relevant studies. All interventional studies that evaluated the effect of Perilla frutescens in human subjects were assessed. (3) Results: The main perspectives that can be contoured from the presented literature evaluation are an important clinical effect of Perilla frutescens extracts on allergic rhinoconjuctivitis, especially in young populations, a potent hypolipemiant effect that, in conjunction with increased serum biological antioxidant potential, determines significant improvements in cognitive function and a wide variety of miscellaneous clinical effects that need further exploration. (4) Conclusions: Supplementary research is needed in order to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of Perilla frutescens in controlled clinical settings.

Perilla seed oil improves bone health by inhibiting bone resorption in healthy Japanese adults: A 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Accumulating evidence suggests the beneficial effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on bone mineral density (BMD). However, the effects of perilla (Perilla frutescens) seed oil (PO), a rich source of α-linoleic acid (LNA), on human bone have not yet been elucidated. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effects of long-term PO intake on bone health in Japanese adults. After screening for eligibility, 52 participants (mean age 54.2 ± 6.4 years) were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 25) and PO (n = 27) groups, which received 7.0 ml of olive oil and PO daily, respectively. At baseline and 12-month, quantitative ultrasound of the right calcaneus was measured with an ultrasound bone densitometer and percentage of the Young Adult Mean (%YAM) was calculated. Serum levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were evaluated. In addition, PUFA levels in the erythrocyte plasma membrane (RBC-PM), serum biological antioxidant potential (BAP), and diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM) were evaluated. Compared with the placebo group, %YAM levels increased and serum TRACP-5b levels decreased significantly in the PO group at 12-month, while serum BALP levels remained unchanged. Moreover, RBC-PM LNA levels and BAP/d-ROM ratios increased significantly in the PO compared with the placebo group. These results suggest that long-term PO intake may improve age-related BMD decline by suppressing bone resorption and increasing LNA levels.

Inverse association of a traditional Korean diet composed of a multigrain rice-containing meal with fruits and nuts with metabolic syndrome risk: The KoGES

Background

Hansik, a traditional Korean diet, may have a beneficial impact on metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk as dietary westernization increases its prevalence. We examined the hypothesis that adherence to the hansik diet may be inversely associated with the risk of MetS and its components and sought to understand the gender differences in 58,701 men and women aged over 40.

Materials and methods

Hansik was defined using 14 components from which the Korean dietary pattern index (K_diet-index) was generated by summing their scores. Low-hansik intake was defined as the K_diet-index with <8. MetS was categorized based on the 2005 revised NCEP-ATP III criteria modified for Asians.

Results

The K_diet-index score was negatively associated with the dietary inflammation index and showed that the high intake of a meal with multigrain rice, fruits, and their products, and nuts, and low intake of fried foods were inversely associated with MetS by 0.707, 0.864, 0.769, and 0.918 times, respectively, after adjusting for covariates. More women and participants with more educated and lower income belonged to the high-hansik group, and participants with high self-rated health scores consumed more hansik. All participants on a high-hansik diet were associated with a 0.87 time lower risk of MetS. Specifically, the association between hansik intake and MetS risk was not significant among men following stratification by gender. Body composition, including the body mass index, waist circumference, and fat mass, was inversely associated with hansik intake, while the skeletal muscle mass index was positively associated with the hansik intake in each gender and all participants. In all the participants in the high-hansik group, no significant changes were seen in the serum glucose and HDL concentration. However, a high-hansik intake showed lower blood pressure and serum LDL and triglyceride concentrations only in men and a higher glomerular filtration rate in both genders.

Conclusions

Hansik intake might improve MetS risk, with its primary beneficial effects on body composition, dyslipidemia, and blood pressure gender-dependently.

Genetic variation of seed oil characteristics in native Korean germplasm of Perilla crop (Perilla frutescens L.) using SSR markers

BACKGROUND

In order to maximize the use of valuable native Perilla germplasm in South Korea, knowledge of the Perilla seed oil content and genetic variation among native Perilla germplasm resources is very important for the conservation and development of new Perilla seed oil varieties using the native Perilla germplasm accessions preserved from the Rural Development Administration Genebank (RDA-Genebank) collection from South Korea.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we studied population structure and association mapping to identify Perilla SSR markers (PSMs) associated with the five fatty acid contents and two seed characteristics of the native Korean Perilla germplasm accessions of cultivated var. frutescens of the RDA-Genebank collected in South Korea.

METHODS

For an association mapping analysis to find PSMs associated with the five fatty acid contents and two seed characteristics of the Perilla germplasm accessions of cultivated var. frutescens, we evaluated the content of five fatty acids of 280 native Korean Perilla germplasm accessions and used 29 Perilla SSR primer sets to measure the genetic diversity and relationships, population structure, and association mapping of the native Korean Perilla germplasm accessions of the RDA-Genebank collected in South Korea.

RESULTS

Five fatty acids of 280 native Korean Perilla accessions were identified as follows: palmitic acid (PA) (5.30-8.66%), stearic acid (SA) (1.60-4.19%), oleic acid (OA) (9.60-22.5%), linoleic acid (LA) (8.38-25.4%), and linolenic acid (LNA) (52.7-76.4%). In a correlation analysis among the five fatty acids and two seed characteristics of the 280 Perilla accessions, the combinations of PA and SA (0.794**) and SA and OA (0.724**) showed a particularly high positive correlation coefficients compare to other combinations. By using an association analysis of the 29 PSMs and the five fatty acids in the 280 Perilla accessions, we found 17 PSMs (KNUPF1, KNUPF2, KNUPF4, KNUPF10, KNUPF16, KNUPF25, KNUPF26, KNUPF28, KNUPF37, KNUPF55, KNUPF62, KNUPF71, KNUPF74, KNUPF77, KNUPF85, KNUPF89, and KNUPF118) associated with the content of the five fatty acid components and two seed characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

These PSMs are considered to be useful molecular markers related to five fatty acid components and two seed characteristics for selecting accessions from the germplasm accessions of the Perilla crop and their related weedy types through association mapping analysis and marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding programs.

Perilla frutescens seed oil combined with Anredera cordifolia leaf powder attenuates age-related cognitive decline by reducing serum triglyceride and glucose levels in healthy elderly Japanese individuals: a possible supplement for brain health

We have shown that Anredera cordifolia extract improves learning and memory in a senescence-accelerated mouse model, and that α-linolenic acid (ALA)-rich Perilla frutescens seed oil (PO) improves brain function in healthy Japanese adults and elderly individuals. Herein, we present a 12-month, randomised, double-blind, parallel-armed intervention trial examining the effects of PO supplementation alone or in combination with A. cordifolia leaf powder on brain function in healthy elderly Japanese individuals. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: the PO group received 1.47 mL PO (0.88 g ALA) daily via soft gelatine capsules, and the POAC group received 1.47 mL PO and 1.12 g A. cordifolia leaf powder (1.46 mg vitexin and 1.12 mg adenosine) daily. After 12 months of intervention, the POAC group showed generally higher cognitive index scores than the PO group. The beneficial effects of combined supplementation on cognitive function were associated with increased ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid levels in red blood cell plasma membranes, increased serum biological antioxidant potential, and decreased serum triglyceride, glucose, and N-(epsilon)-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), an advanced glycation end-product and biochemical marker of oxidative stress levels. The effects of combined supplementation on cognitive function also showed a significant negative correlation with serum CML levels after 12 months of intervention. Our findings suggest that combined long-term supplementation with PO and A. cordifolia more effectively ameliorates age-related cognitive decline than PO alone. These findings may serve as a basis for the development of new supplements for brain health. Clinical Trial Registry, UMIN000040863.

Lowering n-6/n-3 Ratio as an Important Dietary Intervention to Prevent LPS-Inducible Dyslipidemia and Hepatic Abnormalities in ob/ob Mice

Obesity is closely associated with low-grade chronic and systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia, and the consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) may modulate obesity-related disorders, such as inflammation and dyslipidemia. An emerging research question is to understand the dietary intervention strategy that is more important regarding n-3 PUFA consumption: (1) a lower ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs or (2) a higher amount of n-3 PUFAs consumption. To understand the desirable dietary intervention method of n-3 PUFAs consumption, we replaced lard from the experimental diets with either perilla oil (PO) or corn oil (CO) to have identical n-3 amounts in the experimental diets. PO had a lower n-6/n-3 ratio, whereas CO contained higher amounts of PUFAs; it inherently contained relatively lower n-3 but higher n-6 PUFAs than PO. After the 12-week dietary intervention in ob/ob mice, dyslipidemia was observed in the normal chow and CO-fed ob/ob mice; however, PO feeding increased the high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level; further, not only did the HDL-C level increase, the low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels also decreased significantly after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Consequently, extra TG accumulated in the liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) of normal chow- or CO-fed ob/ob mice after LPS injection; however, PO consumption decreased serum TG accumulation in the liver and WAT. PUFAs replacement attenuated systemic inflammation induced by LPS injection by increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines but inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the serum and WAT. PO further decreased hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in comparison with the ND and CO. Hepatic functional biomarkers (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels) were also remarkably decreased in the PO group. In LPS-challenged ob/ob mice, PO and CO decreased adipocyte size and adipokine secretion, with a reduction in phosphorylation of MAPKs compared to the ND group. In addition, LPS-inducible endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stress decreased with consumption of PUFAs. Taken together, PUFAs from PO and CO play a role in regulating obesity-related disorders. Moreover, PO, which possesses a lower ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs, remarkably alleviated metabolic dysfunction in LPS-induced ob/ob mice. Therefore, an interventional trial considering the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs may be desirable for modulating metabolic complications, such as inflammatory responses and ER stress in the circulation, liver, and/or WAT.

A Narrative Review of the Effects of Citrus Peels and Extracts on Human Brain Health and Metabolism

As life expectancy increases, age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) become a major health problem. The onset of AD involves neurological dysfunction due to amyloid-β accumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in the brain. In addition, lifestyle-related diseases-such as dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and vascular dysfunction-increase the risk of developing dementia. The world population ages, prompting the development of new strategies to maintain brain health and prevent the onset of dementia in older and preclinical patients. Citrus fruits are abundant polymethoxylated flavone and flavanone sources. Preclinical studies reported that these compounds have neuroprotective effects in models of dementia such as AD. Interestingly, clinical and epidemiological studies appear to support preclinical evidence and show improved cognitive function and reduced associated disease risk in healthy individuals and/or patients. This review summarizes the recent evidence of the beneficial effects of citrus peels and extracts on human cognition and related functions.

Perilla seed oil in combination with the nobiletin-rich ponkan powder enhances cognitive function in healthy elderly Japanese individuals: Possible supplement for brain health in the elderly

Perilla (Perilla frutescens) seed oil (PO), rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), can improve cognitive function in healthy elderly Japanese people. Here, supplements containing either PO alone or PO with nobiletin-rich...

Intake of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Enriched Milk Beverage Prevents Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Decreases Serum Bone Resorption Marker Levels

The pathogenic mechanism of dementia is still unknown, and the fundamental treatment remains to be established. Thus, there is growing interest in preventing dementia through diet. One of the functional ingredients attracting attention is docosahexaenoic acid. We conducted a 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in healthy elderly Japanese individuals with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 28 or higher at baseline using a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched milk beverage containing 297 mg docosahexaenoic acid and 137 mg eicosapentaenoic acid. Consumption of a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched milk beverage increased the fatty acid levels of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in erythrocyte membranes, which was the primary outcome of this study. Moreover, intake of this beverage prevented age-related cognitive decline and decreased serum bone resorption marker levels. Our data demonstrate that, even at a low dose, long-term daily intake of docosahexaenoic acid prevents dementia and may show beneficial effect on bone health.

Chronic Administration of Thymoquinone Enhances Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Improves Memory in Rats Via Regulating the BDNF Signaling Pathway

Thymoquinone is a pharmacologically active component of Nigella sativa Linn. seeds. Despite the diverse neuropharmacological attributes of TQ, limited reports related to adult neurogenesis and memory research are available. In this study, we investigated the effects of TQ on the proliferation and neural differentiation of cultured neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs). We also investigated the effect of TQ chronic administration on neurogenesis and memory in adult rats. Under proliferation conditions, TQ (0.05-0.3 μM) significantly increased NSCs/NPCs viability, neurosphere diameter, and cell count. TQ treatment under differentiation conditions increased the proportion of cells positive for Tuj1 (a neuronal marker). Furthermore, chronic oral administration of TQ (25 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks) to adult rats increased the number of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-immunopositive cells double-stained with a mature neuronal marker, neuronal nuclei (NeuN), and a proliferation marker, doublecortin (Dcx), in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. TQ-administered rats showed a profound beneficial effect on avoidance-related learning ability, associated with an increase in the hippocampal mRNA and protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as measured by both real-time PCR and ELISA. Western blot analysis revealed that TQ stimulates the phosphorylation of cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), the upstream signaling molecule in the BDNF pathway. Furthermore, chronic administration of TQ decreased lipid peroxide and reactive oxygen species levels in the hippocampus. Taken together, our results suggest that TQ plays a role in memory improvement in adult rats and that the CREB/BDNF signaling pathways are involved in mediating the actions of TQ in hippocampal neurogenesis.

Molecular Mechanism of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Perilla Seed Oil and Rosmarinic Acid Rich Fraction Extracted from Perilla Seed Meal on TNF-α Induced A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Industrially, after the removal of oil from perilla seeds (PS) by screw-type compression, the large quantities of residual perilla seed meal (PSM) becomes non-valuable waste. Therefore, to increase the health value and price of PS and PSM, we focused on the biological effects of perilla seed oil (PSO) and rosmarinic acid-rich fraction (RA-RF) extracted from PSM for their role in preventing oxidative stress and inflammation caused by TNF-α exposure in an A549 lung adenocarcinoma culture model. The A549 cells were pretreated with PSO or RA-RF and followed by TNF-α treatment. We found that PSO and RA-RF were not toxic to TNF-α-induced A549 cells. Both extracts significantly decreased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this cell line. The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and COX-2 were significantly decreased by the treatment of PSO and RA-RF. The Western blot indicated that the expression of MnSOD, FOXO1, and NF-κB and phosphorylation of JNK were also significantly diminished by PSO and RA-RF treatment. The results demonstrated that PSO and RA-RF act as antioxidants to scavenge TNF-α induced ROS levels, resulting in decreased the expression of MnSOD, FOXO1, NF-κB and JNK signaling pathway in a human lung cell culture exposed to TNF-α.

Perilla Seed Oil Alleviates Gut Dysbiosis, Intestinal Inflammation and Metabolic Disturbance in Obese-Insulin-Resistant Rats

Background: High-fat diet (HFD) consumption induced gut dysbiosis, inflammation, obese-insulin resistance. Perilla seed oil (PSO) is a rich source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with health promotional effects. However, the effects of PSO on gut microbiota/inflammation and metabolic disturbance in HFD-induced obesity have not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of different doses of PSO and metformin on gut microbiota/inflammation, and metabolic parameters in HFD-fed rats. Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were fed either a normal diet or an HFD for 24 weeks. At week 13, HFD-fed rats received either 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg/day of PSO or 300 mg/kg/day metformin for 12 weeks. After 24 weeks, the metabolic parameters, gut microbiota, gut barrier, inflammation, and oxidative stress were determined. Results: HFD-fed rats showed gut dysbiosis, gut barrier disruption with inflammation, increased oxidative stress, metabolic endotoxemia, and insulin resistance. Treatment with PSO and metformin not only effectively attenuated gut dysbiosis, but also improved gut barrier integrity and decreased gut inflammation. PSO also decreased oxidative stress, metabolic endotoxemia, and insulin resistance in HFD-fed rats. Metformin had greater benefits than PSO. Conclusion: PSO and metformin had the beneficial effect on attenuating gut inflammation and metabolic disturbance in obese-insulin resistance.

Identifying SSR Markers Related to Seed Fatty Acid Content in Perilla Crop (Perilla frutescens L.)

Perilla seed oil has been attracting attention in South Korea as a health food. Five fatty acids of 100 Perilla accessions were identified as follows: palmitic acid (PA) (5.10-9.13%), stearic acid (SA) (1.70-3.99%), oleic acid (OA) (11.1-21.9%), linoleic acid (LA) (10.2-23.4%), and linolenic acid (LNA) (54.3-75.4%). Additionally, the 100 Perilla accessions were divided into two groups (high or low) based on the total fatty acid content (TFAC). By using an association analysis of 40 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and the six Perilla seed oil traits in the 100 Perilla accessions, we detected four SSR markers associated with TFAC, five SSR markers associated with LNA, one SSR marker associated with LA, two SSR markers each associated with OA and PA, and four SSR markers associated with SA. Among these SSR markers, four SSR markers (KNUPF14, KNUPF62, KNUPF72, KNUPF85) were all associated with TFAC and LNA. Moreover, two SSR markers (KNUPF62, KNUPF85) were both associated with TFAC, LNA, and OA. Therefore, these SSR markers are considered to be useful molecular markers for selecting useful accessions related to fatty acid contents in Perilla germplasm and for improving the seed oil quality of Perilla crop through marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding programs.

Oils and Bioactive Lipids: Quality, Stability, and Functionality

The dietary consumption of positive bioactive lipids has been shown to be beneficial to human health and to decrease the risk of non-communicable diseases [...].

Perilla Seed Oil Enhances Cognitive Function and Mental Health in Healthy Elderly Japanese Individuals by Enhancing the Biological Antioxidant Potential

Oxidative stress plays an important role in age-associated cognitive decline. We recently reported that dietary intake of perilla seed oil (PO), a rich source of α-linolenic acid (LNA, C18:3, ω-3), helps in maintaining good mental health in adults. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of dietary PO intake on cognitive functions and mental health in healthy, elderly Japanese individuals. Seventy-five healthy volunteers aged 64–84 years were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and a PO-administered group. At baseline and at 12 months of intervention, cognitive function, mental health condition, fatty acid profile of the red blood cell plasma membranes (RBC-PM), and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. Results showed that serum biological antioxidant potential and LNA levels in the RBC-PM at 12 months after the trial were significantly higher in the PO group compared to the control group. Further, both the cognitive function measures, as evaluated by the Frontal Assessment Battery test and the apathy scores, tended to be improved after 12 months in the PO group. Our results demonstrate that dietary PO intake enhances the antioxidant potential and prevents the age-related cognitive and mental decline in healthy elderly individuals by enhancing the blood LNA levels.