Perilla ketone

Perilla ketone is the principal constituent of some perilla oils. The compound has considerable acute toxicity in laboratory animals and is a well-known lung toxin in cattle that graze on perilla leaves.

Parenteral. Intraperitoneal LD50 was 6 mg/kg in male mice and 10 mg/kg in male rats. A single intravenous injection of 19 mg/kg in a male sheep was followed by respiratory distress on day 3 and capillary congestion in the lungs.

Human. Whether perilla ketone presents a hazard to humans remains unclear. Perilla oil is used as a flavor ingredient in Japan, and no reports linking its use with pulmonary conditions in humans have been noted.

Several perilla oil chemotypes exist. The perilla ketone chemotype is markedly toxic, while the perillaldehyde chemotype is substantially safer.