Characterization of volatile compounds of Perilla crop (Perilla frutescens L.) in South Korea

This study was performed to identify and profile the volatile compounds present in three different types of Perilla leaves collected from South Korea. Volatile compounds were analyzed by gas-chromatograph-mass spectrometry. In total, 41 volatile compounds were identified belonging to nine chemical classes (six alcohols, seven aldehydes, two benzodioxoles, two esters, three ethers, four ketones, five monoterpenes, one phenylpropanoid, and eleven sesquiterpenes). In cultivated type of var. frutescens (CF), weedy type of var. frutescens (WF), and weedy type of var. crispa (WC), a total of 34, 39, and 41 volatile compounds, respectively, were identified. The predominant compound in CF and WF was perilla ketone (PK; 87.2% and 64.5%, respectively) and in WC was perilla aldehyde (PA; 26.4%). There were 29 and 27 volatile compounds that showed significant differences of content between WC and CF or WF, respectively. In terms of chemotype based on the volatile compounds, CF and WC were PK type and PA or phenylpropanoid (PP) types, respectively. WF accessions, which were PK and PP types in chemical composition, showed intermediate characteristics in the composition of volatile compounds compared with CF and WC. The results obtained in this study identified successfully the composition and content of volatile compounds in Perilla crop in South Korea. These results will provide useful information for industries and research related to Perilla crop.