Bioefficacy of Nga-Mon ( Perilla frutescens ) Fresh and Dry Leaf: Assessment of Antioxidant, Antimutagenicity, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential.

Perilla leaves are known to be a rich source of polyphenols, which have been shown to exhibit various biological effects. This study aimed to compare the bioefficacies and bioactivities of fresh (PLE f ) and dry (PLE d ) Thai perilla (Nga-mon) leaf extracts. Phytochemical analysis indicated that both PLE f and PLE d were abundant in rosmarinic acid and bioactive phenolic compounds. PLE d , which had higher levels of rosmarinic acid but lower levels of ferulic acid and luteolin than PLE f , exhibited greater effectiveness in a free radical scavenging assay. Furthermore, both extracts were found to suppress intracellular ROS generation and exhibit antimutagenic activity against food-borne carcinogens in S. typhimurium . They also attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells by inhibiting the expression of nitric oxide, iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 through the suppression of NF-κB activation and translocation. However, PLE f exhibited a higher ability to suppress cellular ROS production and higher antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory activities than PLE d , which can be attributed to its combination of phytochemical components. Overall, PLE f and PLE d have the potential to serve as natural bioactive antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anti-inflammatory agents to achieve potential health benefits.