Adlay Seeds Research Articles

Exploring the relationship between seed weight and seed coat characteristics in the adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) cultivar WATANI-2 through N, P and K treatment compositions

Adlay plant (Coix lacryma-jobi) grown in many Asian countries, as a source of carbohydrates. The cultivation of adlay faces challenges such as long growth periods, low yields, and hard seeds. Efforts to enhance productivity are crucial, specifically by applying Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium fertilizers at the appropriate and balanced doses that have not yet been established. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between seed weight and seed coat characteristics under optimal N, P, and K fertilizer doses. The exploration process was conducted at the Research Station and Plant Production Technology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, from April 2019 to November 2020. Features of the location included an altitude of 750 – 800 m above sea level, a climate type C3 (Oldeman), an average temperature of 23.8oC, and a soil classified as Inceptisols with a pH of 5.83. The experimental design incorporated several treatments at minimum, optimum, and maximum dosage levels, namely N (90kg/ha, 180 kg/ha, and 270 kg/ha), P (37.5kg/ha, 75 kg/ha, and 150 kg/ha), and K (60 kg/ha, 120 kg/ha and 240 kg/ha) fertilizers, each was repeated twice. Fertilizer application was administered at the beginning of growth and the late vegetative phase, while P was given during the late vegetative phase and before seed formation. Subsequently, a regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship of the weight of 100 seeds with thickness and hardness, generating the equation: Y = 13.755 + 0.061 X1 + 0.012 X2, where X1 = seed hardness and X2 = seed coat thickness. Observations were carried out on the weight, thickness, and hardness of adlay seeds, both macroscopically by measuring length and width or diameter and microscopically through the evaluation of coat and silica layer thickness). The results showed a significant relationship between seed weight, thickness, and hardness, yielding 5.56 t/ha with an 80% land efficiency.

HPLC/DAD Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Adlay Sprouts and Seeds

Adlay is an annual plant known for its abundant bioactive compounds and diverse pharmacological activities. Coixol, a key component found in various parts of adlay, significantly contributes to its biological activity. This study was conducted to extract adlay sprouts and seeds using different solvents (methanol and ethanol) and extraction methods (reflux and ultrasonic extraction). The extracts were then evaluated for their total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant ability (DPPH and ABTS+). Additionally, the coixol content of these extracts was analyzed using HPLC/DAD analysis. The results showed that the extraction methods and solvents used impacted the bioactive compounds and their activities in the samples. Adlay sprouts exhibited a higher compound content and stronger antioxidant capacity than adlay seeds. Moreover, a substantial amount of coixol was found in the sprouts, while it was not detected in the seeds. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate extraction methods to optimize the biological activities of adlay sprouts and seeds. Adlay sprouts, with their enriched phytochemical compounds and enhanced antioxidant ability, could serve as a valuable material for health product applications.

The Effects of Adlay Tea Intake on Immune Homeostasis and Vascular Endothelial Function in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Comparative Study.

Excessive immune response and inflammation are associated with an increased risk of various diseases. In particular, excessive myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in neutrophils causes inflammatory reactions and lifestyle-related diseases. Adlay has a long history of being used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Polyphenols present in adlay seeds are expected to have the effect of suppressing excessive immune and inflammatory responses. Here, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the suppressing effects of adlay seeds extract on excessive immune responses. One hundred and twenty adults participated in the study and they were equally divided into an adlay tea intake group and a placebo group. MPO activity was significantly elevated in the placebo group after 8-wk ingestion, while no significant change was observed in the adlay group. Vascular endothelial functions improved in the adlay group, especially in subjects over 40 y old. These results indicate that adlay tea intake may suppress an excessive immune and inflammatory responses, and improve arterial stiffness. Since caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid detected in adlay tea are known to inhibit MPO activity, these polyphenols may be the major functional molecules. Collectively, adlay tea is considered to have a preventative effect against lifestyle-related diseases through improving vascular endothelial function by effects to maintain immune homeostasis of the contained polyphenols. This trial was registered at University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000032263).

Dehulled Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) ameliorates hepatic gluconeogenesis and steatosis in streptozotocin/high-fat diet-induced diabetic rats.

Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with various biological activities. We investigated the anti-diabetic effects of different parts of adlay seeds, including polished adlay (PA), adlay bran (AB) and dehulled adlay (DA) in a streptozotocin (STZ)/high fat diet (HFD) diabetic rat model (DM). DM rats supplemented with or without PA (43%), AB (3%), or DA (46%) diet for 8 weeks. The plasma glucose and insulin levels and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were increased in DM group; among the three adlay diets, DA has the best effects attenuating all of these alterations in DM rats. Both AB and DA alleviated diabetes-impaired glucose tolerance. The increased hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase protein expression in DM group was improved by all of the three adlay diets. The increased ratio of glucose-6-phosphatase to glucokinase in DM group was suppressed by DA supplementation, further suggesting DA diet is most effective among the three diets. Both AB and DA diets had beneficial effects against hepatic steatosis, with better effects observed in DA group. These results suggest that the DA diet, composed of both polished adlay and adlay bran, possesses the best potential to improve glucose homeostasis, at least in part, by alleviating hepatic glucose metabolism and steatosis.

Comparison of Quality, Antioxidant Capacity, and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Adlay [Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen (Rom. Caill.) Stapf.] Sprout at Several Harvest Time.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the consumption of plant-based foods such as vegetables and grains for the purpose of disease prevention and treatment. Adlay seeds contain physiologically active substances, including coixol, coixenolide, and lactams. In this study, adlay sprouts were cultivated and harvested at various time points, specifically at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 days after sowing. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using assays such as DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, reducing power, and total polyphenol contents. The toxicity of the extracts was assessed using cell culture and the WST-1 assay. The aboveground components of the sprouts demonstrated a significant increase in length, ranging from 2.75 cm to 21.87 cm, weight, ranging from 0.05 g to 0.32 g, and biomass, ranging from 161.4 g to 1319.1 g, as the number of days after sowing advanced, reaching its peak coixol content of 39.38 mg/g on the third day after sowing. Notably, the antioxidant enzyme activity was highest between the third and fifth days after sowing. Regarding anti-inflammatory activity, the inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression was most prominent in samples harvested from the ninth to eleventh days after sowing, corresponding to the later stage of growth. While the overall production mass increased with the number of days after sowing, considering factors such as yield increase index per unit area, turnover rate, and antioxidant activity, harvesting at the early growth stage, specifically between the fifth and seventh days after sowing, was found to be economically advantageous. Thus, the quality, antioxidant capacity, and anti-inflammatory activity of adlay sprouts varied depending on the harvest time, highlighting the importance of determining the appropriate harvest time based on the production objectives. This study demonstrates the changes in the growth and quality of adlay sprouts in relation to the harvest time, emphasizing the potential for developing a market for adlay sprouts as a new food product.

Exploring the hydration promotion and cooking quality improvement of adlay seed by high hydrostatic pressure

Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf), a minor cereal, has long been consumed as both a food and a medicine. However, adlay seeds have a dense episperm and its tissue is hard, which makes water absorption difficult. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP), as a non-thermal processing technology, enables batch hydration of grains in a short time. In this work, the hydration promotion and cooking quality improvement of adlay seeds by HHP (300–600 MPa) were investigated. Results showed that HHP pretreatment promoted seed hydration by inducing cracks in the seed cross-section and disrupting the cell wall and ventral groove structure. HHP pretreatment increased the proportion of intracellular water and unbound water in the cooked adlay seeds, facilitated water infiltration from the seed grooves and increased the hydration rate by creating a water gradient between the soak water and seeds. After applying HHP during soaking, the cooking time of adlay seeds was reduced, and the cooked adlay seeds were softer, brighter in color.

Ethanol Extracts of Rice Bran and Whole Grain Adlay Seeds Mitigate Colonic Inflammation and Damage in Mice with Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with frequent relapsing inflammation in the colon. Whole grains have been promoted as healthy and sustainable foods; however, the use of whole gains in UC is inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts of rice bran (RBE) and whole-grain adlay seeds (ADE) on inflammation, oxidative stress, and colonic damage in UC. Male C57BL/6JNarl mice were intra-rectal injected twice with 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid to induce (day 0) and reactivate (day 21) UC. Control mice were fed AIN-93M diet (R group) and injected with a vehicle. UC mice were fed AIN-93M diet (UC group) supplemented with RBE (RBE group) or ADE (ADE group) for 21 days. The results showed that the UC group had an increased disease activity index, plasma interleukin (IL)-6 and glutathione levels, microscopic injury scores, and inflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels in the colon and decreased colonic claudin-4 compared to the R group. RBE and ADE supplementation significantly reduced UC-elevated plasma IL-6 and colonic glutathione and pro-inflammatory cytokines and a chemokine. In addition, RBE and ADE supplementation significantly decreased T-helper-cell-associated cytokines in the plasma and colon. Moreover, RBE supplementation increased colonic IL-10 and tight junction protein claudin-4 levels, and ADE supplementation alleviated diarrhea in UC mice. In conclusion, these results suggest that RBE and ADE may mitigate colonic inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage in UC relapse.

Actional Mechanisms of Active Ingredients in Functional Food Adlay for Human Health.

Medicinal and food homologous adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) plays an important role in natural products promoting human health. We demonstrated the systematic actional mechanism of functional ingredients in adlay to promote human health, based on the PubMed, CNKI, Google, and ISI Web of Science databases from 1988 to 2022. Adlay and its extracts are rich in 30 ingredients with more than 20 health effects based on human and animal or cell cultures: they are anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-obesity, liver protective, anti-virus, gastroprotective, cardiovascular protective, anti-hypertension, heart disease preventive, melanogenesis inhibiting, anti-allergy, endocrine regulating, anti-diabetes, anti-cachexia, osteoporosis preventive, analgesic, neuroprotecting, suitable for the treatment of gout arthritis, life extending, anti-fungi, and detoxifying effects. Function components with anti-oxidants are rich in adlay. These results support the notion that adlay seeds may be one of the best functional foods and further reveal the action mechanism of six major functional ingredients (oils, polysaccharides, phenols, phytosterols, coixol, and resistant starch) for combating diseases. This review paper not only reveals the action mechanisms of adding adlay to the diet to overcome 17 human diseases, but also provides a scientific basis for the development of functional foods and drugs for the treatment of human diseases.

Functional Properties of Adlay Flour (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. Ma-yuen) Resulting from Modified Durations of Fermentation Using Rhizopus oligosporus

Adlay is a nutritious grain that has the potential as an alternative food because it has a high protein and fat content of 14.10% and 7.90%, respectively. The use of Adlay as flour still has a weakness, namely the functional properties of Adlay flour such as low swelling power. One way to improve the characteristics of Adlay flour is by fermentation using Rhizopus oligosporus. The fermentation duration is the time that allows changes in the characteristics of the flour due to the fermentation. This study aims to determine the effect of differences in fermentation duration using Rhizopus oligosporus on the physical, chemical, and functional characteristics of Adlay flour produced from fermented Adlay seeds. This study used one factor, namely the lengths of fermentation for 0, 12, 24, 30, 36 and 48 hours. The analysis in this study included whiteness, yield, pH, water content, ash content, protein content, fat content, carbohydrate content, swelling power and solubility, oil holding capacity (OHC) and water holding capacity (WHC). The results have shown that the longer the fermentation duration the lower rate of whiteness, pH, yield, water content, fat content, and carbohydrate content will become, while some functional properties of Adlay flour become better with increasing values of ash content, protein content, swelling power, solubility, Oil Holding Capacity (OHC), and Water Holding Capacity (WHC).

Ethanolic Extracts of Adlay Testa and Hull and Their Active Biomolecules Exert Relaxing Effect on Uterine Muscle Contraction through Blocking Extracellular Calcium Influx in Ex Vivo and In Vivo Studies

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.

Effect of kansui on the physicochemical, structural, and quality characteristics of adlay seed flour-fortified wheat noodles

Adlay seeds are rich in nutrients and can be processed into noodle ingredients. Adding kansui into the dough system is an effective strategy to improve the quality of coarse grain noodles. The effect of kansui (0–1.2%) on the physicochemical, structural properties and quality characteristics of adlay seed flour-fortified wheat noodles was investigated. Alkali increased G′ and G″ of the doughs, which is consistent with the extension of the dough development time and dough stability time. Kansui induced free –SH to participate in the formation of disulfide bonds of doughs, and the starch granules were surrounded by continuous gluten networks. In addition, the increased pasting temperature and reduced breakdown were consistent with the increased degree of order and degree of the double helix, which indicates that kansui could maintain the integrity of starch granules. In terms of noodle quality, the cooking loss and water absorption increased by 45% and decreased by 25%, respectively. Kansui also imparts a yellowish appearance, firm and elastic mouthfeel to the noodles. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that pasting characteristic values were significantly correlated with most parameters in the evaluation of noodle qualities. As a result, 0.6% kansui is the optimal formula to produce adlay seed-wheat noodles.

Adlay Testa (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. Ma-yuen Stapf.) Ethanolic Extract and Its Active Components Exert Anti-Proliferative Effects on Endometrial Cancer Cells via Cell Cycle Arrest

Endometrial cancer is the most common malignant tumors of gynecologic neoplasms in Western society. In recent years, the incidence of endometrial cancer has increased, and it has become the third most common female gynecological cancer (after ovarian and cervical cancer) in Taiwan. Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. Ma-yuen Stapf.) has been demonstrated to have bioactive polyphenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, and essential nutrients for health benefits, including anticancer effects in humans. However, little is known about the effect of adlay seeds on endometrial cancer. Our study aimed to investigate the potential growth inhibitory effects of several adlay seed fractions, including ethyl acetate (ATE-EA) and its bioactive constituents, separately on endometrial cancer cells—HEC-1A (phosphatase and tensin homolog-positive) and RL95-2 (phosphatase and tensin homolog-negative)—and identify related active ingredients. In addition, the potential active fractions and the phytochemical compounds were elucidated. The results demonstrate superior activity of ATE-EA with significant in vitro cell proliferation inhibitory capacity, particularly its C.D.E.F-subfraction. Moreover, HPLC- and GC/FID-based quantification of ATE-EA subfractions showed that phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde), flavonoids, steroids, and fatty acid compounds exert anti-proliferative effects in the cell model. Finally, it was shown that cell growth and cell cycle arrest most significantly occurred in the in G1 or G2/M phase under ATE-EA treatment. Collectively, our results demonstrate an antiproliferative effect of ATE-EA on endometrial cancer cells that suggest a positive health outcome for women from consumption of these compounds.

율무 종자의 Fusarium 속 진균 저감화를 위한 약제선발 및 방제시기 연구

Background: Adlay [Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen (Rom.Caill.) Stapf] is a nutritionally superior resource, but food hygiene problems are emerging due to mycotoxin contamination. It is difficult to predict the source and timing of mycotoxin contamination. Prevention and reduction methods for mycotoxins are important. Experiments were conducted to determine the optimal time for spraying pesticides and to select pesticides effective in the reduction of mycotoxins.<BR>Methods and Results: Metconazole and fludioxonil were sprayed onto the test field during the three growth stages, i.e., before the flowering stage, after the flowering stage, and at the maturing stage. Experiments were conducted on fungal density, seed yield, and mycotoxin evaluation of fumonisin (FUM), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEN). The harvested adlay seeds were analyzed for residual pesticides. Seed yield, fungal density and mycotoxins were better than in other treatments when metconazole was administered after flowering. The residual pesticides increased over time; after flowering, metconazole (1.25 ㎎·㎏<SUP>−1</SUP>) was up to 1.3 times higher than fludioxonil (0.96 ㎎·㎏<SUP>−1</SUP>). Spraying in the after-flowering stage was superior to other growth stages, and metconazole was more effective than fludioxonil in reducing mycotoxins.<BR>Conclusions: It is considered most effective to treat adlay with metconazole after the flowering phase to reduce fungal toxins in Fusarium spp.

In vitro digestibility and the characteristics of puffed products from different degrees of milling and moisture content of adlay grain (Coix lacryma – jobi L.)

Adlay (Coix lacryma–jobi L.) is one of the cereals that can be developed into slowdigesting instant food. The degree of milling and moisture content of cereals can affect the digestibility of the food products. The purpose of this study was to determine the proper degree of milling and moisture content of adlay seeds so that a puffing product with high slowly digestible starch (SDS) content and organoleptic characteristics acceptable to the panelists was produced. This study used an experimental method consisting of two main treatments: the degree of milling (whole grain and polished) and the moisture content of adlay seeds (10%, 13%, 16%, and 19%). In vitro digestibility was measured by used pancreatic porcine α-amylase. The results showed that puffed adlay with the highest SDS and organoleptic characteristics that were still acceptable to the panelists was puffed polished adlay with an initial moisture content of 13%. The adlay puffed had SDS of about 35.98%, hardness 2795.83 gf, degree of gelatinization 67.90%, the moisture content of 5.94%, and rehydration power of 59.40%. The preferences for color, taste, aroma, and after-taste of adlay puffed were in the normal category while the texture was in the preferred category.

Preparation Adlay and Black Sesame Seeds Extracts Using Osmotic Dehydration and Increasing the Stability of Extracts Using Encapsulation

Osmotic dehydration is an effective pretreatment method for preservation of herb, fruits and vegetables. This method can be conducted at low temperature so it can maintain the nutritional composition and food quality. In the present study, the effect of osmotic dehydration in 50, 60 and 70o Brix sugar solution at 40oC syrup temperature and drying air temperature (50, 60, 70 oC) on drying behavior of sample (adlay and black sesame seeds) were investigated before drying the sample and determined the percentage yield and total phenolic contents. All results from osmotic dehydration were compared with the soxhlet and maceration extraction methods. Among the three concentration of osmotic agents and drying temperature, percentage yield and total phenolic contents were higher at 70% concentration of osmotic agents and 60 oC air temperature which exhibited the total phenolic contents at 11.29±1.13 mg GAE/g extract and percentage yield of 4.36±0.34, respectively. From this osmotic dehydration, the surface morphologies of prepared bead containing sample had higher degree of surface smoothness and more spherical shape than non-sample bead and exhibited the encapsulation efficiency of micro-bead sample at 80.52 ± 0.36%.

Optimization of adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi) bran oil extraction: Variability in fatty acids profile and fatty acid synthase inhibitory activities

Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) bran has recently attracted much attention because it is rich in neutral oil, which promises its potential usage as a health-promotion product. This study was firstly designed to select and optimize an optimum method to extract adlay bran oil (ABO). Secondly, differences of fatty acids profile and fatty acid synthase inhibitory activities between ABO and Kanglaite® injection (commercial adlay seeds oil) were determined to explore the potential application of ABO as an antitumor product. The optimized extraction conditions of ABO were ethanol-water extraction at AB particle size of 30.5 μm, pH of 7.0, ethanol volume of 30%, solid to liquid ratio of 1:5 (w/v), the temperature of 50 °C and reaction time of 2 h. After refining, the refined ABO had better properties than crude ABO except for the content of vitamin E. In addition, both crude and refined ABO extracted by ethanol-water had higher proportions of palmitic acid (C16:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2) to oleic acid (C18:1) than Kanglaite®. The fatty acid synthase inhibitory activities of crude ABO were higher than refined ABO and Kanglaite® injection at a dose of 10 μL/mL inhibition for 2 h under 25 °C. The results proved that crude ABO extracted by the ethanol-water method probably had a potential higher anticancer function than Kanglaite® injection. The results will provide a theoretical foundation in studying the mechanism of the anti-cancer effects of ABO. It can also reduce production and increase the economic value of adlay processing industry.

Insights into the hierarchical structure and digestibility of starch in heat-moisture treated adlay seeds

In the present study, starches isolated from heat-moisture treated (HMT) adlay seeds were characterized with hierarchical structures and digestibility to understand the relationships in structural and digestible behaviors of starches in a HMT starch-based food system. The results indicated that HMT not only caused the disorganizations of hierarchical structures, but also promoted the molecular rearrangements and reassembly of starch chains to form a new ordered molecular aggregation architecture (i.e., highly ordered molecular structure, amylose-lipids complexes and thicker crystalline lamella). And the reinforced molecular interactions between starch molecules during HMT occurred to form more densely ordered structure, thus reducing the digestibility and digestion rate coefficients (k) of adlay starch. Particularly, HMT applied directly in adlay seeds with 30% moisture content displayed the highest resistant starch level (20.6%) and lowest k (2.74 × 10−3 min−1). Thus, the results are useful to realize the desired regulation of starch digestibility in adlay products following HMT.

Adlay Seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) Extracts Exhibit a Prophylactic Effect on Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common worldwide and closely associated with metabolic dysfunction. NAFLD leads to a higher risk of development of severe liver diseases, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, no pharmacotherapy targeting NAFLD has received general approval. Adlay is a plant that has been used as traditional herbal medicine in Asia and is a promising candidate to solve this global issue. We have established a mouse model of NAFLD by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks. Here, ethanolic or water extracts of adlay seed (ASE and ASW, respectively), mixed with HFD, were fed to the mice for 10 weeks. The ASE and ASW treatment ameliorated hyperglycemia and improved the glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in the HFD mice. Hyperlipidemia in HFD mice was prevented by the ASE and ASW diet. In addition, the ASE and ASW supplementation attenuated hepatic steatosis and inflammation, improved liver function, and caused no harm to the kidneys. Moreover, the mechanism of the effect of ASE and ASW on inhibiting hepatic lipogenesis and inducing fatty acid β-oxidation was certified by the simulated human fatty liver cell model. Our study showed the regulatory potential of the extracts of adlay seeds for alleviating NAFLD, as well as related liver and metabolic diseases.

Chemical compositions and antioxidant activity of adlay seed (Coixlachryma-jobi L.) oil extracted from four main producing areas in China.

Adlay oil (AO) is an important component of adlay seeds that has many beneficial functions to human health. In this study, the variations in the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of AOs extracted from adlay samples obtained from four main producing areas of China were first investigated. Results revealed that the AO of the adlay samples varied from 7.398 ± 0.486% to 8.464 ± 0.725%. The highest contents of total fatty acid, triolein, total phenolic, and total flavonoid were observed in Xingren AO, whereas coixol content was found to be highest in Pucheng AO. The AO samples were grouped successfully in accordance with the origins by partial least squares-discriminant analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis based on the contents of the chemical components. Furthermore, AOs exhibited considerable levels of 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity (IC50 , 0.924 ± 0.113 to 1.116 ± 0.109 mg/mL) radical scavenging activity, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity (EC50 , 0.019 ± 0.002 to 0.028 ± 0.002 mg/mL) activity, and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching activity (IC50, 0.233 ± 0.008 to 0.414 ± 0.012 mg/mL) activity. Total phenolic and total flavonoid both demonstrated highest correlation with ABTS values (r = -0.952 and r = -0.960, respectively). The results derived from above studies suggest that geographic origin has a certain influence on the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity of the AOs. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The chemical composition and antioxidant activity of adlay oils extracted from the adlay samples obtained from four main producing areas of China were evaluated, including total fatty acid, triolein, total phenolic, and total flavonoid, and ABTS radical scavenging activity, FRAP activity, and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching activity.

Understanding the mechanism of change in morphological structures, visualization features, and physicochemical characteristics of adlay seeds (Coix lacryma-jobi L.): The role of heat soaking

Heat soaking is an essential factor deciding the final quality of hard-to-cook grains. In this study, the morphological structures, visualization features, and physicochemical characteristics of adlay seeds soaked at 30–70 °C were investigated compared with waxy rice (easy to cook). The morphology of macromolecules and section cracks were observed by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy as these are the crucial factors for penetrate water penetration, which showed that starch granules were slightly eroded when adlay seeds were soaked at 70 °C. The MRI images showed that at higher soaking temperatures, the moisture of soaked adlay seeds was distributed more evenly across a gradient. Meanwhile, heat soaking has a minor effect on starch and protein content of adlay seeds, and the proportion of bound water of adlay seeds slightly declined after heat soaking. Moreover, hardness analysis and pasting measurements exhibited structural changes and viscosity transition in the grains. However, the contribution of heat soaking to the infrared spectrogram and relative crystallinity of adlay seeds was insignificant. This study provides effective methods to evaluate changes in adlay seeds during heat soaking and explains why it is hard to cook.