Coix polysaccharides: Gut microbiota regulation and immunomodulatory

Publication date: Available online 21 April 2018
Source:Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre
Author(s): Hong-Mei Yin, Su-Nan Wang, Shao-Ping Nie, Ming-Yong Xie
Coix (Coix lachryma-jobi L.), commonly known as adlay or Job's tears, is a minor cereal grown in most areas of Asia. It has been used in the traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, used as a stomachic, diuretic, analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory agent. It contains a range of bioactive components including polysaccharides, lipids, polyphenols, phytosterols, carotenoids, spiroenone and lactams. The bioactive constituents contributed to some health benefits include anti-oxidation, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, enhancing immunological activity, regulating endocrine functions, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, gastroprotection, hypolipidemia, and modulating gut microbiota. Polysaccharides have aroused more and more interest from researchers, because the potential of prebiotic and immunity activity. Coix polysaccharides showed anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, gut microbiota modification, hypoglycemic, anti-complementary and immunological modulation activities. In this review, we summarized in detail the current knowledge on the cross-talk mechanisms that mediate polysaccharides, intestinal microbiota, and immune system interactions, as well as the effects of coix polysaccharides on the gut bacteria and immunomodulatory properties.

Graphical abstract

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