Job’s Tears
OTHER NAME(S): Adlai, Adlay, Adlay Millet, Adlay Seed, Chinese Pearl Barley, Coix, Coïx, Coix Lachrymal, Coix Lacryma, Coix Seed, Coixseed, Dehulled Adlay, Gromwell Grass, Herbe aux Perles, Job's-tears, Lágrimas de Job, Larme-de-Job, Larme-du-Christ, Larmes de Job, Larmille, Hiob's Tränen-Gras, Hiobsträne, Jobinkyynelheinä, Jobs Tårar, Juzudama, Lagrimas de Job, Lágrimas de Job, Lagrimas de San Pedro, Soft-shelled Job's Tears, Tear Grass, Yi Hato-mugi, Yi Yi, Yi Yi Ren, Coix lacryma-jobi, Coix ma-yuen, Coix stenocarpa, Jobs Tears, Lágrimas De Job, Larme-de-job
Overview
Job's tears is an annual grass crop that grows in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other Asian countries, where it is considered a health food. The root and seed of the plant are sometimes used as medicine.
People use Job's tears for conditions such as hay fever, high cholesterol, cancer, infections of the airways, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Job's tears contains chemicals that might interfere with cancer cell growth. Other chemicals might also have antioxidant effects and might also decrease growth of bacteria and parasites. But most research on Job's tears is in animals and test tubes. There isn't enough information to know if Job's tears works the same way in people.
However, some research has been done in people. It suggests that fiber contained in Job's tears might decrease how much fat and cholesterol the body absorbs.
Job's tears contains chemicals that might interfere with cancer cell growth. Other chemicals might also have antioxidant effects and might also decrease growth of bacteria and parasites. But most research on Job's tears is in animals and test tubes. There isn't enough information to know if Job's tears works the same way in people.
However, some research has been done in people. It suggests that fiber contained in Job's tears might decrease how much fat and cholesterol the body absorbs.
Uses
We currently have no information for Job's Tears overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Job's tears is possibly safe when consumed in the amounts found in food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if taking Job's tears as a supplement is safe.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Job's tears is possibly safe when consumed in the amounts found in food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if taking Job's tears as a supplement is safe.
Pregnancy: It might be UNSAFE to take Job's tears if you are pregnant. Research in animals suggests that it can poison a developing embryo. It can also cause the uterus to contract, and this might harm the pregnancy.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Job's tears is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Surgery: Job's tears might lower blood sugar levels. There is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using Job's tears at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Job's TearsJob's tears might decrease blood sugar levels. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking Job's tears along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
- Chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte, Paraflex) interacts with Job's TearsJob's tears might increase levels of chlorzoxazone. Taking Job's tears along with chlorzoxazone might increase the effects and side effects of chlorzoxazone.
- Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, others) interacts with Job's TearsJob's tears might increase levels of dextromethorphan. Taking Job's tears along with dextromethorphan might increase the effects and side effects of dextromethorphan.
- Diltiazem (Cardizem, others) interacts with Job's TearsJob's tears might increase levels of diltiazem. Taking Job's tears along with diltiazem might increase the effects and side effects of diltiazem.
- Theophylline interacts with Job's TearsJob's tears might increase levels of theophylline. Taking Job's tears along with theophylline might increase the effects and side effects of theophylline.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of Job's tears depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Job's tears. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Otsuka H, Hirai Y, Nagao T, Yamasaki K. Anti-inflammatory activity of benzoxazinoids from roots of Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen. J Nat Prod 1988;51:74-9.
- Soh CT, Kim SH, Kim KY, et al. Biostatic activity of Coix lacryma seed extract on Toxoplasma gondii in macrophages. Korean J Parasitol 1996;34:197-206.
- Chiang W, Cheng C, Chiang M, Chung KT. Effects of dehulled adlay on the culture count of some microbiota and their metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract of rats. J Agric Food Chem 2000;48:829-32.
- Moreau RA, Singh V, Hicks KB. Comparison of oil and phytosterol levels in germplasm accessions of corn, teosinte, and Job's tears. J Agric Food Chem 2001;49:3793-5.
- Chang HC, Huang YC, Hung WC. Antiproliferative and chemopreventive effects of adlay seed on lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:3656-60.
- Hsu HY, Lin BF, Lin JY, et al. Suppression of allergic reactions by dehulled adlay in association with the balance of TH1/TH2 cell responses. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:3763-9.
- Hung WC, Chang HC. Methanolic extract of adlay seed suppresses COX-2 expression of human lung cancer cells via inhibition of gene transcription. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:7333-7.
- Yu YM, Chang WC, Liu CS, Tsai CM. Effect of young barley leaf extract and adlay on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in hyperlipidemic smokers. Biol Pharm Bull 2004;27:802-5.
- Shih CK, Chiang W, Kuo ML. Effects of adlay on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2004;42:1339-47.
- Kim SO, Yun SJ, Jung B, et al. Hypolipidemic effects of crude extract of adlay seed (Coix lachrymajobi var. mayuen) in obesity rat fed high fat diet: relations of TNF-alpha and leptin mRNA expressions and serum lipid levels. Life Sci 2004;75:1391-404.
- Bao Y, Yuan Y, Xia L, et al. Neutral lipid isolated from endosperm of Job's tears inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells via apoptosis, G2/M arrest, and regulation of gene expression. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2005;20:1046-53.
- Huang BW, Chiang MT, Yao HT, Chiang W. The effect of adlay oil on plasma lipids, insulin and leptin in rat. Phytomedicine 2005;12:433-9.
- Tzeng HP, Chiang W, Ueng TH, Liu SH. The abortifacient effects from the seeds of Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2005;68:1557-65.
- Choi MJ, Oh SH, Cho SB. Coix lacryma-jobi associated symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema. Int J Dermatol 2014;53(4):e301-3.
- Chiang H, Lu HF, Chen JC, et al. Adlay Seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) Extracts Exhibit a Prophylactic Effect on Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020;2020:9519625.
- Yao HT, Lin JH, Liu YT, Li ML, Chiang W. Food-Drug Interaction between the Adlay Bran Oil and Drugs in Rats. Nutrients 2019;11(10):2473.
- Yeh WJ, Ko J, Cheng WY, Yang HY. Dehulled Adlay Consumption Modulates Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Overweight and Obese Young Adults. Nutrients 2021;13(7):2305.
- Djaja N. The Effect of Adding Job's Tears to Yogurt on Plasma Glycated Albumin, Weight, and Lipid Profile in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Nutr Metab 2022;2022:1876731.
- Chung C, Chao TY, Chen HJ, Xie GR, Chiang W, Hsieh SC. Investigating the Impact of Extruded Dehulled Adlay with Specific In Vitro Digestion Properties on Blood Lipids in Subjects with Mild to Moderate Dyslipidemia. Foods 2022;11(4):493.
- Jinnouchi M, Miyahara T, Suzuki Y. Coix Seed Consumption Affects the Gut Microbiota and the Peripheral Lymphocyte Subset Profiles of Healthy Male Adults. Nutrients 2021;13(11):4079.
- Cheng WY, Yeh WJ, Ko J, Huang YL, Yang HY. Consumption of Dehulled Adlay Improved Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation in Overweight and Obese Individuals after a 6-Week Single-Arm Pilot Study. Nutrients 2022;14(11):2250.
- Yeh WJ, Ko J, Cheng WY, Yang HY. Diet containing dehulled adlay ameliorates hepatic steatosis, inflammation and insulin resistance in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Br J Nutr 2022;128(3):369-376.