rvH1N1 Neuraminidase Inhibitory Activities of Phenolics from Perilla frutescens (L.) and Comparison of Their Contents Among Cultivars and Germplasms

Pharmacological strategies for dealing with influenza pandemic is now based on antiviral drugs, in which neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors are the most important. There is no doubt that the agricultural production is the most important of Perilla frutescens. In comparison with the production, the phytopharmacology is not fully investigated in biological activity, although it is widely used as traditional Chinese medicines for various diseases, such as cold due to wind-cold, headache and cough. To the best of our knowledge, the investigation regarding NA inhibition of this plant has still not been reported. This prompted us to examine major four phenolic compounds isolated from Perilla to gain new insights into their NA inhibitory action on a molecular basis. We also quantified the content of these compounds of Korean perilla germplasms and cultivars.