An aromatic, bushy annual, up to 150 cm in height. Leaves broadly ovate, acuminate, coarsely serrate or crenate; flowers small, white in axillary and terminal racemes; nutlets, commonly called seeds, rounded, pale brown, with reticulate markings, weighing c. 250 to a gram.

Sedative, antibacterial, antidote, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitussive, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, emollient, expectorant, pectoral, stomachic, tonic, hypothermic, alleviates spasms, antiasthmatic, abortifacient and stimulates the central nervous system (plant); stimulating the intestinal tract (essential oil); carminative, antiinflammatory and diaphoretic (seed, stem and leaf); antiasthmatic, antitussive, emollient and expectorant (seed)

Perilla
Plants for a Future

Amygdalin, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, caryophyllene, delphinidin, dillapiol, elemicin, luteolin, myristicin, niacin, perillene, perillanin, perilla ketone, protocatechuic acid, quercetin, riboflavin, rosmarinic acid, sesquiterpenoids, thiamin (leaf); apigenin (seed); alpha-pinene, caffeic acid, citral, limonene, phellandrene, rosefuran, shikimic acid (plant).

For alleviating spasms, as a sedative, antiasthmatic, stimulating the secretion of gastric juices and as a tonic (plant); colds, chest stuffiness, vomiting, abdominal pain etc (leaves); to cuts and wounds (leaf juice); for morning sickness (stem)

Dermatitis, pulmonary oedema, respiratory distress and even death following ingestion by cattle and horses

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.