Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo ameliorates OVA-induced allergic asthma via inhibiting NF-κB and p38 signaling pathways

Allergic asthma, the most common phenotype of asthma, is a chronic inflammatory airway disease driven by Type 2 immune responses and characterized by eosinophilic infiltration, elevated IgE levels, and activation of inflammatory pathways. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo extract (PFE), a plant rich in rosmarinic acid (RA), using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model of allergic asthma. Given RA’s well-documented anti-allergic properties, extraction conditions were optimized to maximize RA yield. PFE treatment significantly reduced immune cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, suppressed Th2-associated cytokine production, and decreased serum IgE levels, thereby alleviating airway inflammation. Mechanistically, PFE inhibited activation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways, key drivers of inflammatory responses in allergic asthma. These findings suggest that PFE attenuates allergic airway inflammation through both immune regulation and suppression of pro-inflammatory signaling, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for allergic asthma.