Bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seeds: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and industrial applications

Coix lachryma-jobi L. (Job’s tears) is an underutilized cereal crop with a diverse array of phytochemicals, making it an ideal candidate for nutraceutical and industrial exploitation. This review comprehensively examines the diverse compositional profile of coix seeds (CS), highlighting key bioactiv...

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Main Authors: Simardeep Kaur, Maharishi Tomar, Karishma Seem, Ayantika Ghosh, Prabha Singh, Sushmitha J, Gurkanwal Kaur, Amit Kumar, Rakesh Bhardwaj, Amritbir Riar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Applied Food Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225004160
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author Simardeep Kaur
Maharishi Tomar
Karishma Seem
Ayantika Ghosh
Prabha Singh
Sushmitha J
Gurkanwal Kaur
Amit Kumar
Rakesh Bhardwaj
Amritbir Riar
author_facet Simardeep Kaur
Maharishi Tomar
Karishma Seem
Ayantika Ghosh
Prabha Singh
Sushmitha J
Gurkanwal Kaur
Amit Kumar
Rakesh Bhardwaj
Amritbir Riar
author_sort Simardeep Kaur
collection DOAJ
description Coix lachryma-jobi L. (Job’s tears) is an underutilized cereal crop with a diverse array of phytochemicals, making it an ideal candidate for nutraceutical and industrial exploitation. This review comprehensively examines the diverse compositional profile of coix seeds (CS), highlighting key bioactive constituents including phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols, polysaccharides, coixol, and coixenolide, and their extraction and analytical characterization using advanced chromatographic and spectrometrictechniques. These compounds exert multifaceted bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-modulatory, antidiabetic, and antineoplastic effects, mediated through critical molecular targets such as Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase / Protein Kinase B, AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), and Nrf2. Clinical evidence supporting the therapeutic efficacy of coix-derived formulations, particularly Kanglaite®, highlights its translational relevance. Additionally, emerging industrial applications inclduing gluten-free product development, biomaterials, resistant starch innovation, and cosmeceutical formulations, have also been discused. Despite significant advances, further research is required to elucidate genotype–chemotype relationships, optimize green extraction methodologies, and validate bioefficacy through clinical trials. This review serves as a comprehensive scientific resource for researchers aiming to explore the nutraceutical potential, pharmacological mechanisms, and industrial applications of CS through its bioactive composition, extraction methods, and therapeutic insights.
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-2998ec771e4a46b898c3151fc7d8fde92025-08-20T03:33:26ZengElsevierApplied Food Research2772-50222025-12-015210110810.1016/j.afres.2025.101108Bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seeds: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and industrial applicationsSimardeep Kaur0Maharishi Tomar1Karishma Seem2Ayantika Ghosh3Prabha Singh4Sushmitha J5Gurkanwal Kaur6Amit Kumar7Rakesh Bhardwaj8Amritbir Riar9Division of Crop Science, ICAR-Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793103, IndiaDivision of Seed Technology, ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003, India; Corresponding authors.Division of Biochemisty, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, IndiaDivision of Biochemisty, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, IndiaDivision of Seed Technology, ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003, IndiaDivision of Biochemisty, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, IndiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, IndiaDivision of Crop Science, ICAR-Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793103, India; Corresponding authors.Division of Germplasm Evaluation, ICAR- National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, 110012, IndiaDepartment of International Cooperation Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, FiBL, 11 Frick, SwitzerlandCoix lachryma-jobi L. (Job’s tears) is an underutilized cereal crop with a diverse array of phytochemicals, making it an ideal candidate for nutraceutical and industrial exploitation. This review comprehensively examines the diverse compositional profile of coix seeds (CS), highlighting key bioactive constituents including phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols, polysaccharides, coixol, and coixenolide, and their extraction and analytical characterization using advanced chromatographic and spectrometrictechniques. These compounds exert multifaceted bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-modulatory, antidiabetic, and antineoplastic effects, mediated through critical molecular targets such as Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase / Protein Kinase B, AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), and Nrf2. Clinical evidence supporting the therapeutic efficacy of coix-derived formulations, particularly Kanglaite®, highlights its translational relevance. Additionally, emerging industrial applications inclduing gluten-free product development, biomaterials, resistant starch innovation, and cosmeceutical formulations, have also been discused. Despite significant advances, further research is required to elucidate genotype–chemotype relationships, optimize green extraction methodologies, and validate bioefficacy through clinical trials. This review serves as a comprehensive scientific resource for researchers aiming to explore the nutraceutical potential, pharmacological mechanisms, and industrial applications of CS through its bioactive composition, extraction methods, and therapeutic insights.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225004160Coix lachryma-jobiBioactive compoundsPhenolicsPhytosterolsKanglaiteAntioxidants
spellingShingle Simardeep Kaur
Maharishi Tomar
Karishma Seem
Ayantika Ghosh
Prabha Singh
Sushmitha J
Gurkanwal Kaur
Amit Kumar
Rakesh Bhardwaj
Amritbir Riar
Bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seeds: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and industrial applications
Applied Food Research
Coix lachryma-jobi
Bioactive compounds
Phenolics
Phytosterols
Kanglaite
Antioxidants
title Bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seeds: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and industrial applications
title_full Bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seeds: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and industrial applications
title_fullStr Bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seeds: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and industrial applications
title_full_unstemmed Bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seeds: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and industrial applications
title_short Bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seeds: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and industrial applications
title_sort bioactive landscape and therapeutic potential of job s tears coix lachryma jobi l seeds a comprehensive review of phytochemistry pharmacology and industrial applications
topic Coix lachryma-jobi
Bioactive compounds
Phenolics
Phytosterols
Kanglaite
Antioxidants
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225004160
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