First cultivation trial ofPerilla frutescens L. in Egypt

Abstract

Imported seeds of Perilla frutescens L. (cv. Aka-Shiso and Ao-Shiso) were propagated and cultivated in Egypt. The growth, herbal yield and volatile oil yield were recorded. The yield of volatile oil, extracted by hydrodistillation, reached 0.17%, 0.01% and 0.16% of fresh weight of leaves, stem and flowers, respectively. The volatile oil of the aerial parts of each variety was analysed by capillary GC–MS. The hydrodistillates of both varieties mainly consist of perillaldehyde, caryophyllene oxide, limonene and caryophyllene, with perillaldehyde as the main constituent (32.9% and 34.2% for Aka-Shiso and Ao-Shiso, respectively). Some significant differences in the oil constituents were observed, where caryophyllene oxide reached 23.3% in Ao-Shiso but accounted for only 6.0% in Aka-Shiso. The antimicrobial activity for both oils was studied. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.