perilla fruit

Perilla fruit refers to the dried ripe fruit (seed) of *Perilla frutescens*, a plant widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and East Asian herbal practices. In TCM, perilla fruit (Zi Su Zi) is categorized as a warm herb that transforms phlegm and stops cough. It is primarily used to direct rebellious Lung Qi downward, arrest wheezing and coughing due to cold-phlegm accumulation in the lungs, expel phlegm by moistening the lungs and intestines, and lubricate the bowels for constipation relief. The main active constituents include phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties[5][7]. Modern research suggests potential anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects; however clinical evidence for specific indications remains limited[2][8]. The seeds are also rich in dietary fiber and minerals such as calcium and iron[7].

Other names

Zi Su Zi紫苏子Fructus PerillaePerilla seedsPerillae Fructus PraeparataKorean perillaJapanese sweet basilShiso