Alteration of intestinal flora by the intake of enzymatic degradation products of adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) with improvement of skin condition

Effect of polysaccharide derived from dehulled adlay on regulating gut microbiota and inhibiting Clostridioides difficile in an in vitro colonic fermentation model

Human body can digest only a few sugars with a low degree of polymerization. The rest of the carbohydrates become food for gastrointestinal symbiotic bacteria, affecting gut microbiota composition and human health. Adlay is a medicinal and food homologous crop. The study aims to determine whether dehulled adlay-derived polysaccharide regulates gut microbiota and barrier function to against Clostridioides difficile infection. Major molecular weight of adlay polysaccharide is 27 kDa. The growth of next-generation probiotics were promoted by adlay polysaccharides. In colonic fermentation model, the ratio of C. difficile was decreased when adding the condition medium of adlay polysaccharides-treated fecal microbiota. In addition, adlay polysaccharide promoted the expression of tight junction proteins and mucin in intestinal cells. This study shows that adlay polysaccharide can be used as prebiotics to regulate microbiota and maintain barrier function, which has the potential to be developed as novel functional food ingredients to protect intestinal health.

Adlay, an ancient functional plant with nutritional quality, improves human health

Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.), a crop closed related to maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), originated in tropical/subtropical regions of Asia and Africa; southwest China primary center of this plant's origin, evolution and migration. Adlay is a traditional high-value minor crop used for both medicinal and dietary purposes. Adlay has anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, blood sugar-lowering, and blood lipid-lowering effects. To clarify the main bioactive components and phytochemical compounds and to fully explore their utility, this review summarizes the research done on the main functional ingredients of adlay, including amino acids and proteins, oils, vitamins and minerals, polysaccharides, and polyphenols. This study also highlighted the application of genome sequencing to tailor nutrient-rich adlay cultivars and nutraceutical product development. Additionally, the acquisition of high-density genomic data combined with next-generation phenotypic analysis will undoubtedly improve our understanding of the potential genetic regulation of adlay nutraceutical traits. This review provides new insights and ideas for the research of adlay in comparison and evolutionary genomics, and a useful reference for molecular breeding and genetic improvement of this important minor crop.

Functional coix seed protein hydrolysates as a novel agent with potential hepatoprotective effect

The aim of this study is to explore the hepatoprotective potential of coix seed protein hydrolysates (CPP) against alcohol-induced liver injury, and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Coix lacryma-jobi chymotrypsin inhibitor displays antifungal activity

A novel chymotrypsin inhibitor, named ClCI, was purified from coix seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) by aqueous two-phase extraction, chymotrypsin-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography and centrifugal ultrafiltration. ClCI was a 7.9 kDa competitive inhibitor with pI 6.54. The inhibition constants (K_i) for bovine pancreatic chymotrypsin and bacterial subtilisin were 1.27 × 10^-10 M and 1.57 × 10^-9 M respectively. ClCI had no inhibitory activity against bovine trypsin and porcine elastase. ClCI had wide pH stability and good heat resistance. It can maintain >90% inhibition activity against chymotrypsin at 20-80 °C for 1 h. The primary structure of ClCI was highly similar (57%-92%) to those of several inhibitors belonging to the Gramineae crop potato protease inhibitor- I superfamily and showed the typical sequence motif of the protease inhibitor of the seed storage protein group. ClCI (12.5 mg) inhibited mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungi Mycosphaerella melonis, Helminthosporium turcicum, Alternaria solani, Phytophthora capsici, Isariopsis griseola, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and caused 89% inhibition of the proteases from spore germination of plant-pathogenic fungi. The results of the present study indicate that ClCI had biotechnological potential as an alternative agent to combat the important phytopathogenic fungi.

Effects of β-Cyclodextrin and Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin Inclusions on the Degradation of Magnolol by Intestinal Bacteria

Cyclodextrin (CD) inclusions are generally used to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. In this study, magnolol (MAG) was used as a model drug for exploring the effects of CD on the degradation of pharmaceutical drugs by intestinal microflora. MAG/β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and MAG/hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HP-β-CD) inclusion complexes were successfully prepared by the saturated aqueous solution and freeze-drying methods, respectively. Structural characterisation along with analyses of solubility, residual water content and drug content of the inclusion complexes was performed. The intestinal microflora of male rats was used to study MAG degradation in vitro. At three concentrations, the degradation of both the inclusion complexes was slower than that of the MAG monomer, MAG and CD mixtures and the MAG-poloxamer 188 micelle. There were no statistically significant differences in the degradation of the MAG/β-CD and MAG/HP-β-CD inclusion complexes. A simulation first-order equation of the degradation parameters revealed that the degradation of the inclusion complexes was slower and pronounced, judging by slope. The experimental findings were verified by molecular docking for predicting the stable molecular structure of the inclusion complexes. In conclusion, the inclusion complexes partially protected MAG from degradation by the intestinal bacteria.

Simplified Physical Upgrading of High-Acid Adlay Bran Ethanol Extracts by Supercritical CO2

Deacidification is one of the key steps in oil-refining processes. This study reported a simple approach for upgrading high-acid adlay bran oil by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction. The high-acid adlay bran oil was obtained by three-stage countercurrent ethanol extraction of adlay bran, with high free fatty acids (34 % FFAs). The FFA content in adlay bran oil reduced to 10.6 % by SC-CO2extraction under optimized conditions. Interestingly, the SC-CO2deacidification process also markedly reduced oil color value from 11.5 (Red) to 0.3 (Red) and acetone-insoluble matters in the oil from 1.56 % to 0.17 %. The results indicated solvent extraction combined with SC-CO2deacidification method could be a feasible approach to significantly upgrade high-acid adlay bran oil and simplify refining process of adlay bran oil.