Home Ingredients BeneGut® (Perilla Extract — Vital Solutions)
Gut Health

BeneGut® (Perilla Extract — Vital Solutions)

Perilla frutescens
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

BeneGut® is a standardized perilla (Perilla frutescens) leaf extract from Vital Solutions, developed for digestive comfort. Perilla is rich in rosmarinic acid and other polyphenols, and one small pilot trial in 50 healthy adults found that 4 weeks of the extract eased everyday digestive discomfort such as bloating, rumbling, and feelings of fullness compared with placebo. That single pilot study is the whole of the human evidence.

Studied Dose Not established. The published pilot study's abstract does not state the daily dose that was tested, so follow the amount listed on the product label.
Active Compound Standardized perilla leaf extract concentrated for rosmarinic acid and related polyphenols.

Benefits

Digestive comfort

In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of 50 healthy adults aged 30 to 70 with everyday digestive discomfort, 4 weeks of perilla extract lowered symptom scores versus placebo for bloating (-0.44, p=0.0003), gut rumbling (-0.55, p=0.0014), abdominal discomfort (-0.54, p=0.004), feeling of fullness (-0.36, p=0.0152) and passage of gas (-0.30, p=0.0264). All five measures moved the same way, which is a consistent signal, but this is one pilot study of 50 people and it has not been repeated.

Supported by Trial 1

Gut-calming support

The one published study measured people's own ratings of digestive symptoms such as bloating, gas and fullness, and those scores improved compared with placebo. The people studied were healthy adults with ordinary digestive complaints, not people with irritable bowel syndrome or any diagnosed gut condition, and perilla extract has not been shown to treat any such condition.

Supported by Trial 1

Antioxidant gut support

Rosmarinic acid behaves as an antioxidant polyphenol in laboratory work, but the human pilot study did not measure antioxidant activity or anything about the digestive lining. Treat this as an untested explanation rather than a proven benefit.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Anti-inflammatory polyphenols

Perilla's rosmarinic acid and luteolin are proposed to act on inflammatory and cramping signals in the gut. This is a laboratory-based explanation only. The one human study recorded how people said they felt, not any inflammatory or muscle activity.

2

Gut-motility support

It has been suggested that the extract supports more comfortable gut movement and less gas-related bloating. Gut motility itself was not measured in the published study, which recorded only self-reported symptoms.

Clinical trials

1
Perilla Extract and GI Discomfort — RCT
PubMed

Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind human pilot study of perilla extract on gastrointestinal discomfort. (Buchwald-Werner et al. 2014, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine)

50 healthy adults aged 30 to 70 who reported gastrointestinal discomfort and reduced bowel movements. This was not a population with irritable bowel syndrome or any diagnosed digestive condition.

After a 2-week run-in and 4 weeks of treatment, perilla extract beat placebo on five symptom scores: bloating (-0.44, p=0.0003), gut rumbling (-0.55, p=0.0014), abdominal discomfort (-0.54, p=0.004), feeling of fullness (-0.36, p=0.0152) and passage of gas (-0.30, p=0.0264). Limitations: this was a pilot study of only 50 people over 4 weeks, and the published abstract does not report the dose that was used.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Perilla extract appears well tolerated at typical supplement amounts, but the only published human study followed just 50 people for 4 weeks, so longer-term safety is not established.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported.
Discontinue if any unusual reaction occurs.

Important Drug interactions

No drug interactions have been established, largely because perilla extract has been tested in only one small human study.
Tell your doctor about all supplements if you take prescription medication.
Use caution if pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a health condition.

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Frequently asked questions about BeneGut® (Perilla Extract — Vital Solutions)

What is BeneGut?

BeneGut® is a standardized perilla (Perilla frutescens) leaf extract from Vital Solutions, developed for digestive comfort. Perilla is rich in rosmarinic acid and other polyphenols, and one small pilot trial in 50 healthy adults found that 4 weeks of the extract eased everyday digestive discomfort such as bloating, rum…

What is BeneGut used for?

BeneGut is researched primarily for Gut Health. In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of 50 healthy adults aged 30 to 70 with everyday digestive discomfort, 4 weeks of perilla extract lowered symptom scores versus placebo for bloating (-0.44, p=0.

What is the recommended dosage of BeneGut?

The clinically studied dose is Not established. The published pilot study's abstract does not state the daily dose that was tested, so follow the amount listed on the product label. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is BeneGut safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, BeneGut is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Perilla extract appears well tolerated at typical supplement amounts, but the only published human study followed just 50 people for 4 weeks, so longer-term safety is not established. Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. It may also interact with some medications. BeneGut is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does BeneGut interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No drug interactions have been established, largely because perilla extract has been tested in only one small human study. Tell your doctor about all supplements if you take prescription medication. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for BeneGut?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for BeneGut as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Buchwald-Werner S, Fujii H, Reule C, et al. Perilla extract improves gastrointestinal discomfort in a randomized placebo controlled double blind human pilot study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014;14:173..PubMedUsed to support: Single randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study in 50 healthy adults over 4 weeks; five digestive symptom scores improved versus placebo, dose not stated in the abstract.