Effects of Perilla frutescens var. crispa herb extract, the essential oil perillaldehyde, and the caffeetannin rosmarinic acid on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility in mice

Abstract

ABSTRACTAimRecently, it has been reported that functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, or functional constipation, affect up to 40% of the general people with two‐thirds exhibiting chronic fluctuating symptoms. The Perilla frutescens var. crispa herb is used to treat gastrointestinal diseases in Japan.MethodsThe present study examined the effects of P. frutescens var. crispa herb extract and its two major components, rosmarinic acid and perillaldehyde, on gastric emptying and small‐intestinal motility in atropine‐, dopamine‐, 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT)‐, and 5‐HT3 receptor agonist‐treated mice.ResultsPerilla herb extract and rosmarinic acid attenuated the atropine‐ and dopamine‐induced inhibition of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility, while rosmarinic acid did not affect 5‐HT‐induced inhibition. Perillaldehyde ameliorated the 5‐HT‐ and 5‐HT3 receptor agonist‐induced suppression of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility. Collectively, these results suggest that gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility were stimulated by rosmarinic acid in Perilla herb extract through the inhibition of dopamine D2 receptors. In HPLC analysis, the amount of perillaldehyde contained in Perilla herb extract is very small; therefore, we think that perillaldehyde does not contribute to gastrointestinal motility in this extract.ConclusionIn this study, rosmarinic acid in Perilla herb may be effective for functional dyspepsia.