This study was conducted to find out the variation in agronomic trait and chemical composition in the collected Perilla frutescens from China and Japan. From the results of growth investigation, the maximum number if branches was 26.7ea in Japan 134 line, followed by 25 nodes number in China 119 line. Among the different lines investigated, maximum number of panicle number (108.8) were observed in China 114 line. 1000 seed weight was maximum (4.12 g) in China 118 line. Flowering time of different collected lines varied significantly with average value of 175.5 days and the average line required for maturation of seedlings was 205.1 days. Plant height was the highest (248.9 ㎝) in China 107 line. Highest number of total picking leaves was 965ea, and the average picked period was 54 days. The major phenol compounds contained in Perilla frutescens showed wide variation for Syringic acid, Benzoic acid, Naringin, o-Coumaric acid, Myricetin, Naringenin and Hesperetin. Japan 139 line showed the highest level of total phenol contents (8254.0 ㎍/g, dry weight).

Pharmacological studies and clinical practices have indicated that Radix Astragali, a dried root of Astragalusmembranaceus possesses a lot of biological activities, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, tonic, diuretic,antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunological activities. These biological activities approved by the modern pharmacologicalstudies are mainly due to the constituents of Astragalus membranaceus including polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids,amino acids, and trace elements. In resent, the main constituents in the root part showing a lot of biological activities hasbeen isolated also from the aboveground parts such as leaves and sprouts in our laboratory. However, the safety evaluationfor the aboveground parts of Astragalus membranaceus should be checked before expanding their application as one of food.In the study, a 90-day rat oral gavage study has been conducted with the extracts from Astragalus membranaceus-above-ground parts at doses of 1000, 3000, and 5000㎎/㎏/day. The following endpoints were evaluated: clinical observations, bodyweight, gross and microscopic pathology, clinical chemistry, and hematology. Based on the analysis of these endpoints, it wasestimated that NOEL (no observed effect level) for male rats and NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) for female ratsare 5000㎎/㎏/day of the water-extracts from Astragalus membranaceus-aboveground parts.