Inhibitors of arachidonate lipoxygenase from defatted perilla seed

The effects of phenolic compounds isolated from defatted perilla (Perilla frutescens var, japonica Hara) seed on arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) activities were investigated using fat platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The ethyl acetate layer obtained by partitioning the ethanolic extract of defatted perilla seed proved to have significant inhibitory activity against lipoxygenases. Potent inhibitory principles in the ethyl acetate layer were isolated and identified as luteolin, chrysoeriol, and rosemarinic acid and its methyl ester. The most effective inhibitor of lipoxygenases was luteolin (IC50 = 20 and 102 nM for 12-LO and 5-LO, respectively). These results indicate that defatted perilla seed, now an industrial waste product, may be developed into a useful source of an agent that prevents allergic hyper-reactivity and inflammatory responses due to its antilipoxygenase activity.