Researchers at Nagoya City University in Japan have recently discovered through animal experiments that the luteolin contained in the seeds of Bai Su can inhibit non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and the canceration of liver cells caused by it. This research result was published in the online edition of the new British journal Carcinogenesis. This discovery will help to develop new drugs to prevent non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Bai Su belongs to the Perilla variety in the Lamiaceae family. It is an annual herb native to China. It’s also distributed in Japan, Korea and northern India. Previous studies have shown that the onset and aggravation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are related to the oxidation of liver cells that accompanies aging, and that abundant luteolin in Bai Su seeds has a powerful antioxidant effect.
Aya Uchigi, an assistant professor in Nagoya City University and others believes that luteolin should help prevent non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and conducted experiments for this. Researchers used genetic manipulation to breed "aging rats” that are prone to cancer, fed them with foods that can cause non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and added luteolin to some of their food. After 3 months, the researchers found that compared with the control group rats that did not take luteolin, the rats that took luteolin had about 10% less liver cell fat, the number of hepatocytes that had inflammation and decreased function after deformation. The number of hepatocytes is about 20% to 30%, which indicates that the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is inhibited. In addition, the number of liver cells that may become cancerous in the former is only about half that of the latter.
Aya Uchiki pointed out: "Experiments have shown that the antioxidant effect of luteolin can inhibit inflammation of liver cells. In the daily diet more intake of white sesame oil and other foods containing luteolin will help prevent non-alcoholic fat Hepatitis and inhibit its development.
