Adlay( Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf ) is a grass crop that has long been used in traditional medicine as a nourishing food. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of adlay related substances on carcinogenesis and anti-inflammation. The hot water extract of all parts of adlay (CRD) were compared with the hot water extract of dehulled adlay (yokuinin). In addition, the Monoolein and Trilinolein components of adlay were compared.
As a screening date, antiproliferative effect of human cancer cells showed weak biological potency on physical dose response. Prevention effect of carcinogenesis and anti-inflammatory effect were also observed in all samplles. CRD showed stronger anti-UVB inflammatory effect than that of yokuinin; while yokuinin showed stronger anti-heating injury inflammatory effect than that of CRD. Moreover, Monoolein showed stronger effect than Trilinolein on both prevention effect of carcinogenesis and anti-inflammatory effect. These result indicated that these two extracts of adlay exhibited inhibitory effect on both tumor and inflammation. In addition, it is also suggested that Monoolein is more effective than Trilinolein.