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Context: Adlay seed [Job’s tears, Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf (Poaceae)] is a Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been investigated to treat inflammatory diseases and rheumatism. Objective: This study evaluates the ameliorative effects of adlay seed extract (ASE) in a complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats. Materials and methods: The RA Sprague–Dawley rat model was induced and randomly divided into six groups with or without ASE treatment (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg). After 28 d administration, the symptoms, biochemical parameters and molecular mechanisms were investigated. Results: The values of paw oedema, PGE2 and MMP-3 decreased from 1.46 ± 0.04 to 0.66 ± 0.07 cm3, from 126.2 ± 11.48 to 79.71 ± 6.8 pg/mL and from 142.7 ± 8.36 to 86.51 ± 5.95 ng/mL, respectively; the values of body weight increased from 177.25 ± 5.94 to 205 ± 6.52 g in HASE group. In addition, treatment of ASE reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1), and increased the activities of antioxidant enzyme (GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT). Furthermore, ASE could suppress the mRNA expression of COX-2 and CHI3L1 and improve the mRNA expression of CAT and GPx-1 in ankle tissues of RA rats. Discussion and conclusions: For the first time, our results indicated ASE exerts anti-RA effects via inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors and alleviating oxidative stress. Our finding sheds light on the research and development of anti-RA functional foods from adlay seed.

Dysmenorrhea is one of the most prevalent disorders in gynecology. Historically, adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. Ma-yuen Stapf.) has been explored for its anti-tumor, pain relief, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adlay seeds on the inhibition of uterine contraction and thus dysmenorrhea relief, in vitro and in vivo. HPLC-MS and GC were used to elucidate the ethyl acetate fraction of adlay testa ethanolic extract (ATE-EA) and ethyl acetate fraction of adlay hull ethanolic extract (AHE-EA). Elucidation yielded flavonoids, phytosterols, and fatty acids. Uterine leiomyomas and normal adjacent myometrial tissue were evaluated by oxytocin- and PG-induced uterine contractility. ATE-EA and AHE-EA suppressed uterine contraction induced by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α), oxytocin, carbachol, and high-KCl solution ex vivo. In addition, the external calcium (Ca2+) influx induced contraction, and increased Ca2+ concentration was inhibited by ATE-EA and AHE-EA on the uterine smooth muscle of rats. Furthermore, ATE-EA and AHE-EA effectively attenuated the contraction of normal human myometrium tissues more than adjacent uterine leiomyoma in response to PGF2α. 3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-Heptamethoxyflavone and chrysoeriol produced a remarkable inhibition with values of IC50 = 24.91 and 25.59 µM, respectively. The experimental results showed that treatment with ATE-EA at 30 mg/day effectively decreased the writhing frequency both on the oxytocin-induced writhing test and acetic acid writhing test of the ICR mouse.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum NCU137 on the nutritional, sensory and stability properties of Coix (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seed. The nutritional compounds, including free amino acid, free fatty acid, soluble dietary fiber and organic acids of fermented coix seed were significantly (p

Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen has been a source of food and traditional folk medicine in some parts of Asia for thousands of years; however, the roots of this plant have not been phytochemically investigated. Herein, we report the isolation of a new benzoxazinoid glycoside, coixlachryside B (1), along with ten known compounds (2–11), from the roots of C. lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen using a variety of chromatographic methods. Among the known compounds, the absolute configuration of compound 4 was determined. The structures of all compounds were elucidated by interpreting NMR spectroscopic data, and experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra.

A new lignan glycoside, 1-[3,6-(4,4⿲-dihydroxy-3,3⿲-dimethoxy-δ-truxinyl)-β-fructofuranosyl]-α-glucopyranoside (1), named coixlachryside A, together with nine known simple phenolic compounds (3⿿11) were isolated from the roots of Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen using various chromatographic methods. Their chemical structures were determined based on the spectroscopic data interpretation, particularly circular dichroism (CD), 1D and 2D NMR data including HSQC and HMBC.

Adlay or Job’s tears ( Coix lachryma-jobi var ma-yuen ) is one of minor cereals that is not used widely in Indonesia. Research on Adlay as a source of carbohydrate for diabetes patient is rarely found. Diabetes patient needs low Glycemic Index (GI) carbohydrate. As a source of carbohydrate for diabetes, Adlay has not yet been explored. The objective of this research was to determine Adlay processing method, which resulted in low GI product. In this research, first of all, Adlay was processed in three different treatments: (1) cooked with excessive water, like cooking rice; (2) puffed; and (3) flaked. The GI and gelatinization degree of the three types of processed products were then analyzed. Second of all, the ratio of margarine and sucrose in the Adlay flour and the ratio of water and coconut milk in flake products were determined. Biscuits and flakes were then analyzed using hedonic test involving 20 panelists to determine the preferred taste, flavor, texture, and appearance. The GI was then analyzed on the best result gained based on this test. The result showed that the processing method which resulted in low GI was flake (GI 51.3), with gelatinization degree of 35.6 %. Also, based on hedonic test, biscuits which were made of Adlay flour with margarine and sucrose ratio of 1:0.75 was the best one. Meanwhile, the best water and coconut milk ratio was 1: 1. The GIs of both biscuits (GI 40) and flake (GI 36) was low (< 55).

Oil bodies were observed in cells of both embryo and aleurone layers of mature adlay grains (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf). Stable oil bodies were successfully isolated from the adlay grains. Thin-layer chromatography revealed that the contents stored in the adlay oil bodies were mainly neutral lipids (>90% triacylglycerols and about 5% diacylglycerols). The integrity of the isolated oil bodies was presumably maintained via electronegative repulsion and steric hindrance provided by their surface proteins. Immunological cross-recognition using antibodies against sesame oil-body proteins indicated that two oleosin isoforms (termed oleosin-H and oleosin-L) and one caleosin were present in the adlay oil bodies. Full-length cDNA fragments encoding these three unique oil-body proteins were obtained by PCR cloning. MALDI-MS analyses confirmed that the three full-length cDNA fragments encoded the two oleosin isoforms and one caleosin observed in the oil bodies isolated from the adlay grains.

This study was carried out to determine the inhibitory effects of methanol extracts from Korean Orysa sartiva and Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen on mutagenicity using Ames test and growth of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma and HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Both treatments of methanol extracts (5 mg/assay) from Orysa sartiva and Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen to Ames test system inhibited aflatoxin () induced mutagenicity by 76%. In case of N-methyl-N`-nitro-N-nitrosoguamidine (MNNG) induced mutagenicity, the methanol extracts (5 mg/assay) from Orysa sartiva and Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen showed 79% and 69% inhibitory rate, respectively and the inhibitory effect was a little stronger in Orysa sartiva Inhibitory effects of methanol extracts from Orysa sartiva. and Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen on the growth of AGS and HT-29 human cancer cells were increased as dose dependent patterns and the inhibitory effects on AGS and HT-29 cells were similar. The above results indicate that the consumption of these cereals, which contain many nutrients with good quality, may be recommended as potent functional foods for improving health.

College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, KoreaReceived December 5, 2012, Accepted January 17, 2013Key Words : Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf., Gramineae, Fatty acidThe hulled seeds of Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuenStapf. (Gramineae) have been used as a traditional herbalmedicine for treating inflammation, asthma, cough, stomachdisorder, diarrhea, and diabetes.

Improperly practiced postharvest procedures can pose mycotoxin-related risks in the production of medicinal herbs. As a health food with pharmacological supplements, cereal-based adlay has been broadly used in oriental medical practice. Compared with the standard production protocol, three provisional critical control points (CCPs) in the conventional procedure were identified and assessed for mycotoxin contamination in the adlay from small farms in Korea. Although various mycotoxins were present, the prevalence of deoxynivalenol (DON) or zearalenone (ZEN) was relatively high in the adlay. In terms of drying conditions, field drying in the conventional pathway was associated with more exposure to DON than heated-air drying. Moreover, the DON or ZEN levels in chaff were higher than the levels in the inner grain, suggesting that the hulling process as another CCP would reduce the DON or ZEN exposure. In particular, the DON or ZEN levels in adlay stored for protracted periods without dehulling were very high, but a lower storage temperature of 12°C was not effective at significantly reducing these mycotoxins. In this case, the inner grain was more contaminated with DON or ZEN than the chaff after protracted storage because surface fungi, which produce mycotoxins, can penetrate deep into grain with time. Heated-air drying and nonprotracted storage limited DON contamination in adlay. More importantly, an early dehulling process should be adopted as an easy preventive action to reduce the risk of exposure to DON or ZEN in adlay postharvest. This is monitored as a central CCP for safer production of adlay from local farms.

Physicochemical properties of starches from eight coix (Coix lachrymajobi L.) accessions were investigated. There was considerable variation in most measured traits, generally corresponding to the separation into waxy and normal amylose types. The amylose contents of five normal coix ranged from 15.9 to 25.8%, and those of three waxy coix were 0.7–1.1%. Swelling power of waxy coix starches varied between 28.6 and 41.0 g/g, generally higher than waxy maize. Normal coix starches had significantly higher gelatinization peak temperature (Tp) than the normal maize, 71.9–75.5°C. The Tp of waxy coix starches was 71.1–71.4°C, similar to waxy maize. Rapid Visco-Analyser (RVA) pasting profiles of normal coix showed little variation and closely matched the normal maize starch profile. Pasting profiles of waxy coix showed more variation and had lower peak viscosities than waxy maize starch. Waxy coix starches formed very weak gels, while the gel hardness of normal coix starches was 11.4–31.1 g. Amylose conte...

A new neolignan, named coixide A (1), along with fifteen known compounds, (7 R,8 S)-3′-demethyl-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-3′- O-β-glucopyranoside (2), (7 R,8 S)-3′-demethyl-9′-butoxy-dehydrodiconiferyl-3′- O-β-glucopyranoside (3),adenosine (4), 2- O-caffeoyl isocitricacid (5), pseudolaroside A (6), 2-hydroxy-7-methoxy-(2 H)-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one (7), 2- O-β-glucopyranosyl-7-methoxy-2 H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one (8), 2- O-β-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2 H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one (9), 2- O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-7-hydroxy-2 H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one (10), p-coumaric acid ethyl ester (11), caffeic acid ethyl ester (12), p-coumaric acid (13), cis-N-p-coumaroyltyramine (14) trans-N-p-coumaroyltyramine (15), and coixol (16) have been isolated from Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen. Their chemical structures were elucidated by chemical evidence on the basis of spectroscopic and MS data, and as well as by comparison with those reported.

A portable infra-red gas analyser was used to investigate the interactive effects of light, temperature, and CO 2 /O 2 ratios under controlled environmental conditions in an attempt to model gas exchange characteristics of Coix lachryma - jobi L. Plotting light response curves as a function of temperature (20, 25, 30 and 35°C) revealed no sign of light saturation even at a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) close to 2000 μmol m -2 s -1 . High net assimilation rates ( A ) of approximately 24 μmol CO 2 m -2 s -1 were realized at 30 – 35°C. Assimilation ( A ) versus internal CO 2 partial pressure ( C i ) curves showed a steep rise in A with increase in C i but saturated at approximately 150 μl l -1 and the effect was similar in either the absence or presence of O 2 , under all temperature regimes. C . lachryma - jobi exhibited low CO 2 compensation points ( Γ *) between 0 and 10 μl l -1 at either 0 or 21% O 2 . The slopes of double reciprocal plots of 1/ A versus 1/ C i , were nearly identical and crossed the y-intercept at almost identical points under all O 2 concentrations. This data indicated that there was no apparent O 2 inhibition and that the apparent inhibitor constant ( K ) for O 2 at the site of carboxylation did not change with an increase in [O 2 ] from 0 to 21%. These observations were further confirmed by results obtained from the analysis of apparent carboxylation efficiency where no inhibition of A with increase of [O 2 ] occurred. These characteristics are thus consistent with typical features of C 4 photosynthesis.

The absolute configurations of 2- O -β- D -glucopyranosyl-7-methoxy-1,4(2H)-benzoxazin-3-one and three congeners isolated from Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen were determined by X-ray analysis and chemical correlation as the 2 R type. 13 C NMR spectra of all congeners and coixol were fully assigned.

The anti-inflammatory activities of six benzoxazinoids isolated from roots of Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen and structurally related synthetic materials were investigated by measurement of their inhibition of histamine release from rat mast cells stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) and sensitized with immunoglobulin E (reagin). Because the inhibition data for either Con A or IgE with these compounds were comparable, Con A can be used for rapid first-stage screening of active compounds. Four glycosides out of the eleven compounds investigated were not active. Other results showed that the free hydroxyl group at the 2-position in the benzoxazinone skeleton is important for the expression of inhibitory activity.

A water extract of the Oriental crude drug “yokui-nin” (coix seeds), COIX LACHRYMA-JOBI var, MA-YUEN seeds, disclosed a marked hypoglycemic action when administered to mice. Fractionation of the extract, by monitoring the pharmacological activity, led to isolation of three glycans, coixans A, B and C. These components elicited remarkable hypoglycemic effects in normal and hyperglycemic mice treated with alloxan.