1. INTRODUCTION^1,2,3:

The entire coix plant and its seeds pod are commonly called Job’s Tears, which is anEnglish equivalent of the Latin species name (lacryma = tears). The seed pod often has a tear drop appearance. It is a small herbaceous plant. The seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi L. are used as a source of food, sometimes called Adlay seed. One popular application is making rosaries, as the beads are especially resistant to damage by moisture and have a valued symbolism of tears.

Biological source and common name:

Botanical name:

Coix lacryma-jobi L.

Family:

Poaceae or Graminae

Local name :

Vaijanti

Common name:

Gujarati: Kasai

Sanskrit: Gavedhukah

Hindi: Samkru

Marathi: Ran – Maka

Tamil: Kattukundukani

2. HISTORY^4,5:

In Southern European monasteries grass was cultivated by the 1400s. One hundred-fifty seeds were strung to keep track of daily recitations of the Psalms. This use of beads later evolved into the rosary. It is in the monasteries that the seeds were first called Lachrima Jobi (Job’s tears). Their natural colour is white but they can be dyed shades of red, blue, green and yellow. Depending on where you are in the world, this plant goes by various names including David’s tears, Saint Mary’s tears, Christ’s tears and just plain tear drops. The leaves are used as fodder in parts of India and are especially relished by elephants.

In southern India, Job’s tears have been cultivated for at least 4000 years. The seeds are commonly found in archaeological sites. The grass is often growing in rice fields nearby. Archaeologists call the seeds, rice beads. Although extensively used by Asians. The grass is considered a weed in commercial rice fields. The teardrop shaped seeds have a hard shiny coat with a hole at the tip where the flower emerges. When the seed drops from the plant, another hole opens at the base which makes them perfect for stringing. In archaeological sites dating to approximately 2000 years ago, large numbers of the seeds have been found arranged in a manner that suggests they were strung as necklaces.

In Japan, the seeds are called juzudama which means prayer beads referring to the use by Buddhists for their meditations.

Job’s tears were introduced into China in the first century A.D. by a Chinese general who conquered Tong king, where the grains were widely used as a cereal. The general became so fond of Job’s tears that he carried back several cartloads of the seeds to his own country.

In Central America, strings of Job’s tears are used for the arms and legs of little seed dolls. Strings of Job’s tears were reportedly given to teething babies. Job’s tears are also used for musical instruments. Shaker gourds are probably one of the earliest musical instruments.

In Africa, hollow gourds are covered with a loose net strung with hundreds of Job’s tears. The generic name of Job’s tears, coix, comes from the Greek koix, meaning “palm”, a name given by Linnaeus. The specific name lacryma-jobi means tears of Job, an allusion to the large tear-like sheaths enclosing the flowers.

3. DESCRIPTION^5,6:

This annual grass is native to south-east Asia. It is a small herbaceous plant which can grows to a height of around 3 feet (Fig. 1). The leaves are glossy deepgreen in colour. The size of leaves is up to 2 inches wide with slightly wavy edges. The leaf sheaths are glorious and the leaf blades are narrowly lanceolate, measuring 20-50 cm long and 1.5-4 cm wide. The midrib is prominent. The flowers are monoecism both male and female flowers can be found on the same plant. The flowers are pollinated by the wind. Fruits are tears shaped 8 mm by 1.1 cm, with glossy berries which turn black upon maturity (Fig 2).The seeds are used for beads and other decorative purposes. Some selected strains are cultivated for their edible grains. It is in leaf from May to October, in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from September to November.

Fig. 1: Coix plant

[Fig 2: Seed]

4. CULTIVATION⁶:

Job’s tear succeeds in ordinary garden soil and are best grown in an open sunny border. It prefers a little shelter from the wind. The average annual temperature of 41 to 50°F and a pH in the range of 4.5 to 8.4. Seeds are propagated by pre-soaked for 2 hours in warm water and sown February/ March in a green house. The seed usually germinates in 3 – 4 weeks at 57°F. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. Grow them on in cool conditions and plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Seed can also be sown in situ in May. In a suitable climate, it takes about 4 – 5 months from seed to produce new seed. Crop harvested in 4-5 months after sowing. Plants are cut off at base and grain separated by threshing. Seeds are dried in sun prior to milling and the husks are removed.

5. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS^7,8:

Seed contains 50–79% Starch, 16–19% Proteins, 2–7% Fixed Oil, Lipids (5.67% Glycolipids, 1.83% Phospholipids, Sterols, Fatty Acids such as Palmitic acid (PubChem CID: 985), Stearic acid (PubChem CID: 5281), Oleic acid (PubChem CID: 445639) and Linoleic acids (PubChem CID: 5280450)and Trace Minerals. Two sterols Stigmasterol (PubChem CID: 5280794) and Campesterol (PubChem CID: 173183) are isolated (Fig.:3 and 4). Coixenolide (PubChem CID: 46173943) andCoixol (PubChem CID: 10772) have been isolated from the fixed oil (Fig 5 and 6).Root contains bioactive Benzoxazinone (PubChem CID: 19937448) compounds (Fig.: 7)

Fig 3: Stigmasterol

Fig 4: Campesterol

Fig 5: Coixenolide

Fig 6: Coixol

Fig 7: Benzoxazinone

6. EVALAUATION OF PHYTONEUTRIENTS⁹:

Different Phytonutrients were analysed by using different analytical methods like estimation of total flavonoids content using UV-Vis colorimetric method, estimation of total phenol by FC method (Folin Ciocalteu method), estimation of total tannin, crude alkaloid content, and estimation of secondary metabolites by GC-MS Analysis. Simple methods were used to identify and evaluate the quality of adlay, which is currently in focus for its nutraceutical aspect and functional food. Four varieties of adlay were investigated for their physicochemical properties, DNA fingerprints, antioxidant activities, and the content of Coixenolide. They were called waxy adlay (AD1), stone adlay (AD2), grey adlay (AD3), and normal adlay (AD4). Morphology of intact seeds of the four varieties can bedistinguished visually. Iodine stained on starch granules of all varieties, except AD4, were blue. The gelling temperature sranged from 67.92-73.27°C. TLC-fingerprints of acetone and methanol were documented. DNA fingerprints were establishedto differentiate the varieties. AD1 showed distinct properties over the others in the antioxidant activities, acetone extractiveand Coixenolide content.

7. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY^10,11:

The pharmacological activity of coix plants are Diuretic, Anti- rheumatic, Antispasmodic, Anti-inflammatory, Antidiarrheal, Anthelmintic, Antipyretic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Hypoglycaemic, Anti-Cancer and Tonic.

Both alcoholic and acetone extracts ofcoixseed, Coixenolide inhibited growth of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (ECA) in mice. Acetone extractives also had marked inhibitory effects against murine uterine cervix carcinoma-14 (U-14) and hepatoma as well as anti- mutagenic effects against Aflatoxin B1mutagenesis.The neutral lipid component of the seed inhibited the growth of two human pancreatic cancer cell lines (PaTu-8988 and SW1990) via two possible mechanisms: apoptosis induction and/or gene expression regulation. The free fatty acids were also found to possessin vivoanti-tumour activity against a transplantable mouse tumour.

Coixolhas anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic and numerous other activities, including inhibiting frog muscle contraction, tranquilizing in mice and rabbits, and lowering normal body temperature and experimental fever in rats.

The toxicity is very lowfor daily oral administration of 500 mg/kg to mice for one month. A recent report indicated that the aqueous seed extract (1 g/kg, oral) induced embryotoxicity and uterine contractility that lead to an abortifacient effect inpregnant rats. Coixans A, B, and C exhibited marked hypoglycaemic effects in normal and hyperglycaemic mice treated with alloxan. Coixans showed the strongest activity. The methanolic extract of adlay decreasedprogesterone production in rat granulose cells. Alcohol extractives retarded the oxidation of Linoleic acidin vitro. The six compounds areisolated from Coix hull possessed freeradical scavenging activity in the DPPH (2,2- Diphenyl-1-Picryl Hydrazyl) assay. The methanolic extract of the seed also inhibited the production of nitric oxideand superoxide ions in activated macrophagesin vitro, which supports the anti-inflammatoryeffect of Job’s tears.

8. PRE – CLINICAL DATA:

8.1 Central Muscle Relaxant Activity¹²:

One of the pharmacologically active compounds isolated from Coix lacryma-jobi L. IsCoixol (6-methoxy benzoxazolone). These activities which includes behavioural and EEG effects on mice and rats. In rats it was observed that it could decrease locomotors activities and produced hypothermia. It is able to potentiate thiopental induced sleep, attenuates writhing syndrome induced by 1% acetic acid (Pub Chem CID: 2733), increased the threshold of jumping response to foot shock and prevent convulsion induced by maximal electro-convulsion. On the EEG it could induce drowsy patterns and inhibit EEG arousal response to external auditory stimulus, but failed to suppress the arousal response to midbrain reticular stimulation. These results indicate that Coixol can act as a central muscle relaxant with an anti-consultant effect very much similar to chlorzoxazone.

8.2 Anti-inflammatory Activity¹³:

Two out of six Benzoxazinone is isolated from the roots of Coix lacryma-jobi L. was found to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. It is observed that the free hydroxyl group at the 2-position in the benzoxazone skeleton is important for the expression of the inhibitory activity.

8.3 Effects on Lipid Metabolism^{14, 15}:

The effects of Coix lacryma-jobi L. on lipid metabolism in malerats. They found that it may have an inhibitory action on cholesterol synthesis in liver, a facilitating effect on the biliary excretion of triglyceride, and an acceleratory action on phospholipid synthesis in liver.

The crude extract of the seeds could modulated the expression of leptin and TNF-alpha and reduced body weights, food intake, fatsize, adipose tissue mass and serum hyperlipidaemia in obese rats. Based on this they suggested that it could be considered for use in anti - obesity therapy. They further found that the water extracts of the seed exhibit anti-obesity activity through regulating neuroendocrine activity in the brain.The effects of seeds oil on plasma lipids, insulin and leptin in rats and found that it could decrease low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), insulin, and leptin and Thio Barbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) concentrationsafter 4 weeks of feed.

8.4 AntiDiabetic Activity^{16, 17}:

A screening activity of twelve anti - diabetic plants that Coix lacryma-jobi does havehypoglycaemic effects. It is confirmed this when they found that the dehulled seed of coixlacryma-jobicould reduce the blood glucose level in diabetic rats (Huang et al. 2005; Roman et al. 1992).

8.5 Macrophage Activation Activity¹⁸:

Water extract of seeds and several separated components were used to determine their effects on murine peritoneal macrophages infected with Toxoplasma gondii found that the addition of modulators could enhance the production of nitrite by the macrophages. There was a retro verse relationship between the amount of nitrite produced and the phagocytic index of macrophages and the fold increase of tachyzoites in the macrophages. They concluded that some components other than the non-proteinousand defatted components of seeds may contribute to activate macrophages through induction of no for the biostatic activity.

8.6 Cytotoxic Activity¹⁹:

A number of studies were done to determine the cytotoxic activity of seeds seen in lung, colon, pancreatic, breast cancers and hepatoma. The acid fraction of the acetone (PubChem CID: 180) extract to have anti- tumour activity against transplantable mouse tumour. This acid fraction was found to be four freefatty acids i.e. Palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. There was spontaneous uterine contraction when an isolated pregnant uterus of rats was exposed to the water extract. This action was attributed to induction of COX-2 protein expression along with enhancement of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase.

8.7 Anti-Osteoporotic activity²⁰:

Water extract of the seeds could reverse the decreased alkaline phosphatise activities and calcium levels and increased tartrate-resistant acidic phosphatise activities induced by para-thyroid hormone in cultured metaphyseal tissues. In vasectomized rats, it could reverse the osteoporotic effects.

9. CLINICAL DATA^21,22:

9.1 Clinical Trials:

A clinical trial on the effects of Coix lacryma-jobi (adlay) on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in hyperlipidaemic smokers. They found that adlay could reduce the total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) while at the same time increase the lag phase of LDL oxidation. The antioxidative effects were found to be less pronounced in smokers than in non-smokers. Studied the antiviral activity ofseeds based on traditional uses in China and Japan for the treatment of verruca vulgaris and verrucae plane juveniles. The increase in the peripheral cytotoxic lymphocytes could be the mechanism of antiviral activity i.e. through the enhancement of cytotoxic activity.

9.2 Pregnancy / Breastfeeding:

The abortifacient activity would contraindicate the use of seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi for during pregnancy.

10. CONCLUSION:

Adlay seeds are bearing significant medicinal value in human. Adlayseeds are a rich source of Phytonutrients, justifying the dietary food status of adlay in oriental countries. The seeds of plant have been traditionally used for treating Diuretic, Anti-rheumatic, Antispasmodic, Anti-inflammatory, Antidiarrheal, Anthelmintic, Antipyretic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Hypoglycaemic, and Anti-Cancer. This review help the researcher to evaluate and establish the use of plant in various conditions as a curative as a prophylactic agent.

11. REFERENCES:

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4. Job's Tear Plants.www.britannica.com(accessed 16.03.2017).

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8. Xiu-Jie X, Yun- Guo Z, Ying-Peng. Assessment of the Genetic Diversity of Different Job's Tears (Coixlacryma- job's L.) Accession and the Active Composition and Anticancer Effect of its Seed Oil. PLOS ONE. 2016; 11(4):1-22.

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15. Kim SO, Yun SJ, Jung B, Lee EH, Hahm DH, Shim I and Lee HJ. HypolipidemicEffects of Crude Extract of Adlay Seed (Coixlachrymajobi var. mayuen) in obesity rat fed high fat diet: relations of TNF-alpha and leptin mRNA expressions and serum lipid levels. Life Sci. 2004; 75(11):1391-404.

16. Huang BW, Chiang MT, Yao HT and Chiang W. The effect of Adlay Oil on Plasma Lipids, Insulin and Leptin in Rat.Phytomedicine; 2005:12(6-7):433-439.

17. Roman Ramos R, Alarcon-Aguilar F, Lara-Lemus A, Flores-Saenz JL. Hypoglycemic effect of plants used in Mexico as Antidiabetic. Arch Med Res.1992;23(1):59-64.

18. Soh CT, Kim SH, Kim KY, Park H, Chung HT, Kim TU, Jeon SM and Han YB. Biostatic Activity of CoixLacryma Seed Extract on Toxoplasma Gondii in Macrophages.Korean J. Parasitol. 1996; 34(3):197-206.

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Received on 02.06.2017 Modified on 22.06.2017

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2017; 9(4): 248-252.

DOI: 10.5958/0975-4385.2017.00046.2