Cosmetics · Plant extracts
Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
シソ葉エキス (Shiso-ha ekisu)
Also known as: Shiso Extract, Perilla Extract
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| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract↗ |
| Japanese labeling name | シソ葉エキス |
| Common Japanese notations | シソ葉エキス, シソエキス, 大葉エキス |
| Origin | Plant-derived (Perilla frutescens, shiso) |
| Typical functions | Skin conditioning, Antioxidant, Soothing |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary. The plant and its leaf are also widely used as a food and are regulated under the Food Sanitation Act in that context. |
Shiso (Perilla frutescens) is the distinctive herb that accompanies sashimi, flavors umeboshi, and grows in Japanese gardens across the country. Its leaves come in green (aojiso) and red (akajiso) varieties. As a cosmetic ingredient, shiso leaf extract is used in formulations oriented toward sensitive or reactive skin, drawing on polyphenol and rosmarinic acid content in the leaf.
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Classification
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Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Facial toners and essences
- Scalp and hair products
- Sensitive skin formulations
- Culinary applications (as food ingredient)
Ingredient profile
Perilla frutescens leaf extract is obtained by water, hydro-alcoholic, or glycol extraction of the leaves of Perilla frutescens. The extract contains rosmarinic acid, luteolin, caffeic acid, and other polyphenols, along with essential oil constituents such as perillaldehyde in trace amounts.
Green shiso (aojiso) and red shiso (akajiso) are varieties of the same species. The red variety accumulates anthocyanins that give it both its color and, in culinary contexts, its role as the colorant for umeboshi and shibazuke pickles.
OEM applications
In Japanese cosmetics, shiso leaf extract appears in toners, essences, and moisturizers — especially in lines positioned for sensitive skin or seasonal skin reactivity (spring pollen-season products). It also appears in scalp-care and hair-care products.
As a food ingredient, shiso is central to Japanese cuisine (sashimi garnish, umeboshi, shibazuke, tempura, salad herb). Cosmetic and food uses are handled under separate regulatory frameworks.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Listed in the JSCI Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex under シソ葉エキス and permitted as a cosmetic ingredient.
Red shiso (Perilla Frutescens (Red) Extract) is a separate INCI name and is handled as a related but distinct ingredient.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Listed in CosIng under the INCI name Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract. Permitted for cosmetic use. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI recognized by PCPC. Commonly used in finished cosmetic products. |
| China | Listed in the IECIC. Permitted for cosmetic use. |
| Korea | Permitted as a cosmetic ingredient under the KFDA / MFDS cosmetic ingredient system. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified.
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Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract?
- Shiso (Perilla frutescens) is the distinctive herb that accompanies sashimi, flavors umeboshi, and grows in Japanese gardens across the country. Its leaves come in green (aojiso) and red (akajiso) varieties. As a cosmetic ingredient, shiso leaf extract is used in formulations oriented toward sensitive or reactive skin, drawing on polyphenol and rosmarinic acid content in the leaf.
- What is the regulatory status of Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract in Japan?
- Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary. The plant and its leaf are also widely used as a food and are regulated under the Food Sanitation Act in that context.
- What products typically use Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract?
- Facial toners and essences / Scalp and hair products / Sensitive skin formulations / Culinary applications (as food ingredient)
- Where does Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract come from?
- Plant-derived (Perilla frutescens, shiso)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract?
- INCI: Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract / JSCI: シソ葉エキス
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Regulatory guidance
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FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. What active compounds are characteristic of shiso (Perilla frutescens) leaf extract?
Perilla frutescens leaf extract contains rosmarinic acid as the dominant polyphenol — published HPLC analyses identify rosmarinic acid as the most abundant phenolic compound by a wide margin — along with luteolin, caffeic acid, apigenin, and other polyphenols. Essential oil constituents such as perillaldehyde are present in trace amounts in extract preparations. Red shiso (akajiso) additionally accumulates anthocyanins.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Q. Is rosmarinic acid from Perilla frutescens documented for human health effects?
A peer-reviewed clinical study published in Experimental Biology and Medicine (2004) reported that an extract of Perilla frutescens enriched for rosmarinic acid inhibited symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in human subjects. This is the basis for the 'pollen-season skincare' positioning some Japanese brands apply to shiso-containing products, though cosmetic claims must conform to Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Act (PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency)) advertising rules.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Q. Are green shiso (aojiso) and red shiso (akajiso) regulated as the same ingredient?
Both are varieties of the same species, Perilla frutescens. The standard INCI name 'Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract' covers the species; the red variety is separately labeled as 'Perilla Frutescens (Red) Leaf Extract' (INCI) reflecting its anthocyanin profile and the visible color contribution it makes to formulations. The two are formulation-distinct ingredients in practice and are typically specified separately on COA.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Use cases
Sensitive-skin facial toner
- Positioning
- Soothing positioning oriented to sensitive or reactive skin — Japanese drugstore lines often launch shiso-containing toners for the spring pollen-allergy season, supported by the rosmarinic acid clinical literature (subject to 医薬品医療機器総合機構 PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency) advertising rules on what may be claimed).
- Typical usage level
- 0.5–3% in toner formulations
Scalp-care lotion
- Positioning
- Antioxidant positioning for scalp-care formats; shiso pairs with hinoki and other Japanese botanical extracts in 'wa-botanical' scalp lotions and tonics.
- Typical usage level
- 0.5–2% in scalp lotion
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Red-shiso colorant + functional umeboshi-positioning food product
- Positioning
- Heritage culinary application — red shiso anthocyanins are the traditional natural colorant for umeboshi (pickled plum) and shibazuke (Kyoto-style pickled vegetables). Some food manufacturers supply red shiso extract as a colorant + functional ingredient to companies producing umeboshi-positioned juices, candies, and konyakku.
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
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Official regulatory databases
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References
- JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name directory — シソ葉エキス
- EU CosIng entry: Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.