The Apoptosis Induction and Immunomodulating Activities of Nga-Kee-Mon (Perilla frutescens) Seed Extract

Perilla frutescens, “Nga-Kee-Mon” in Thai, is a high-nutritional-value plant. This study aims to identify the phytochemicals, apoptosis induction and immunomodulating activities of the perilla seed extract (PSE) and highlight the high pharmaceutical value of perilla. The phytochemical profile of PSE was characterized using HPLC. Antioxidant capacity was studied using DPPH assay. Apoptosis was confirmed by morphological changes and DNA fragmentation of the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29). Immunomodulating activity was studied in an LPS-stimulated murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7). PSE had high levels of TPC (375.04 ± 11.45 mg GAE/g) and TFC (223.45 ± 16.02 mg QE/g) with strong radical scavenging capacity (312.87 ± 12.98 mg TE/100 g). Rosmarinic acid (0.116 g%) and luteolin (0.010 g%) were the major phytochemicals. PSE at 50 µg/mL, equivalent to 0.85 and 0.08 µg/mL of rosmarinic acid and luteolin, respectively, caused morphological alterations and DNA fragmentation within 24 h. PSE at 200 µg/mL, equivalent to 3.38 and 0.30 µg/mL of rosmarinic acid and luteolin, respectively, had significant inhibitory activity on IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α secretion. These results demonstrate that PSE has high antioxidant capacity, with rosmarinic acid and luteolin as the major phytochemicals. It can trigger apoptosis in HT-29 cells and has immunomodulatory effects. These findings highlight the potential of perilla seed extract as a promising natural source for therapeutic applications related to oxidative stress, cancer prevention, and immune modulation.