The overproduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was suppressed by orally administering a perilla leaf extract (PLE). When mice were successively injected with OK-432, severe TNF-alpha was induced in the serum, but this elevated TNF-alpha level was reduced after an oral administration of PLE (400 microliters/mouse). Oral administration of PLE also inhibited TNF-alpha production that was induced by muramyl dipeptide (500 micrograms/mouse) and OK-432 (3 KE/mouse). These characteristics were obtained from all strains of perilla. The inhibitory activity against TNF-alpha production was heat-stable, and the existence of several active molecules was suggested. When PLE was passed through an ultrafilter, the inhibitory activity against TNF-alpha production was collected in those fractions with a mass of 0.5 to 1 kDa and more than 10 kDa. When PLE was solvent-extracted, the strongest activity was recognized with aqueous preparation, although significant activity was also detected in preparations extracted with n-hexane and ethyl acetate. These findings suggest that the daily use of certain functional foods may be useful for controlling the host defense system.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ueda et al. (1997) studied this question.