Perilla
Summary
Perilla seed oil is a rich plant source of the omega-3 fat ALA. Small trials found 7 ml/day for 12 months slowed calcaneal bone loss markers in 52 Japanese adults, and 4.8 g/day for 8 weeks lengthened platelet clotting time in smokers. A 100-person Korean trial reported better cognitive scores with a leaf extract.
Key facts
- Perilla seed oil (an alpha-linolenic acid source) and standardized purple perilla leaf extract are different supplements with different trials[1][3]
- 12 months of 7 ml/day perilla oil raised calcaneal %YAM and lowered the bone-resorption marker TRACP-5b vs olive oil[1]
- 4.8 g/day for 8 weeks prolonged collagen-ADP closure time and raised blood ALA and EPA in healthy smokers[2]
- 500 mg/day leaf extract for 12 weeks improved K-MMSE-2 and ADAS-Cog scores more than placebo in adults with cognitive impairment[3]
- 2 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 13, 2026
How it works
ProposedPerilla seed oil supplies alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which raised ALA and EPA in red cells and plasma in trials and is proposed to reduce bone resorption and platelet reactivity. The leaf extract's polyphenols are proposed to act on brain pathways; plasma amyloid-β and BDNF did not change in its trial.[1][2][3]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognition | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 100 · 2026 | 1 row |
| Bone | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 52 · 2023 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive scores in early cognitive impairment | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 100 · 2026 Adults with cognitive impairment (Korea) Form: Standardized ethanol extract of purple perilla leaves · Dose: 500 mg/day · Duration: 12 weeks K-MMSE-2 and ADAS-Cog scores improved more than placebo; plasma amyloid-β and BDNF did not differ; no safety concerns. | 41901135 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Calcaneal bone density and bone-resorption markers | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 52 · 2023 Healthy Japanese adults, mean age 54 (Japan) Form: Perilla seed oil vs olive oil placebo · Dose: 7.0 ml/day · Duration: 12 months %YAM (calcaneal ultrasound) rose and serum TRACP-5b fell vs placebo; bone formation marker BALP did not change; red-cell ALA and antioxidant ratio rose. | 36637040 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perilla seed oil | Varies[1][2] | No head-to-head human absorption data; raised red-cell and plasma ALA in trials.[1][2] | No safety issues reported over 12 months at 7 ml/day.[1] | Bone health and platelet function |
| Purple perilla leaf extract (standardized ethanol extract) | Varies[3] | No head-to-head human absorption data. | No clinically significant safety changes over 12 weeks at 500 mg/day.[3] | Cognitive impairment (one trial) |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 500 mg/day of leaf extract (12 weeks) to 4.8 g/day of seed oil (8 weeks) and 7.0 ml/day of seed oil (about 6.4 g, 12 months).[3][2][1]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Medicines
- Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugsRCTPerilla oil lengthened platelet closure time in healthy smokers, so it could add to the effect of drugs that slow clotting; not studied together.[2]
Who should be careful
- Bleeding risk or upcoming surgery
- Perilla oil prolonged a platelet clotting test in a trial.[2]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
How to read the label
Frequently asked questions
Is perilla oil an omega-3?
Yes. It is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and in trials it raised ALA and EPA levels in blood.[1][2]
Does perilla oil help bones?
One 52-person Japanese trial found 7 ml/day for a year slowed heel bone loss markers vs olive oil.[1]
Does perilla help memory?
One 100-person Korean trial found a standardized leaf extract improved cognitive test scores over 12 weeks.[3]
Does perilla oil thin the blood?
It lengthened a platelet clotting test in smokers, which matters for people on blood thinners.[2]
Sources
- [1]Perilla seed oil improves bone health by inhibiting bone resorption in healthy Japanese adults: A 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.. Phytother Res, 2023. RCT
- [2]Effects of perilla oil on platelet and inflammatory responses in healthy smokers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial.. Food Funct, 2026. RCT
- [3]Efficacy and Safety of Standardized Ethanol Extract of Purple Perilla (Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo) Leaves in Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.. Nutrients, 2026. RCT
- [4]Two cases of anaphylaxis caused by perilla seed.. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2006. observational
- [5]Clinical and Immunological Characterization of Perilla Seed Allergy in Children.. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol, 2023. observational
What changed
- Independent adversarial review: added perilla seed allergy and anaphylaxis (PMIDs 16751022, 34643183) to who should avoid and FAQ.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for the cited rows.
- Self-review pass (strict second read): seed oil and leaf extract kept separate; smokers platelet trial kept out of the evidence table because its abstract gives no participant count. Drug interactions checked explicitly: anticoagulants/antiplatelets (listed, platelet RCT); diabetes and blood-pressure drugs, antibiotics, levodopa and chemotherapy (no data, stated).