Job's Tears Seed (Coix lacryma-jobi): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Frequently asked questions

How does Job's Tears seed work to resolve dampness in the body?

Job's Tears seed contains active compounds including coixenolide, coixol, and polysaccharides that contribute to its therapeutic effects. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it strengthens the spleen's transformative function, helping process and eliminate excess dampness from the body. The polysaccharides and coixenolide have demonstrated immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties in preliminary research. These compounds may help reduce fluid retention and support healthy digestion. Evidence level: C (preliminary research and traditional use).

Is Job's Tears seed safe to take during pregnancy?

Job's Tears seed is not considered safe during pregnancy and should be avoided, particularly in therapeutic doses. Traditional Chinese Medicine sources indicate it may stimulate uterine contractions and potentially affect pregnancy. While small amounts consumed as food in a varied diet may not pose significant risk, concentrated supplements or medicinal preparations should be strictly avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Always consult a healthcare provider before using any herbal products during pregnancy. Evidence level: C.

What is the recommended dosage for Job's Tears seed?

The typical adult dosage for Job's Tears seed ranges from 9-30 grams daily. It is commonly prepared as a porridge (congee) or decoction. For general health maintenance, smaller doses of 9-15 grams may be sufficient, while therapeutic applications for conditions like joint discomfort or digestive issues may use doses up to 30 grams. The seeds should be cooked thoroughly before consumption. Consult a qualified herbalist for personalized dosing recommendations. Evidence level: Traditional use.

Does Job's Tears seed interact with any medications?

There are no well-documented drug interactions for Job's Tears seed in current medical literature. However, due to its potential effects on immune function and preliminary anti-tumor research findings, individuals taking immunosuppressive medications or undergoing cancer treatment should consult a healthcare provider before use. As with any herbal supplement, it is advisable to separate timing of herbal preparations and prescription medications by 1-2 hours. Evidence level: C (limited clinical data available).

What conditions does Job's Tears seed treat?

Job's Tears seed is traditionally used to resolve dampness and strengthen the spleen in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Common applications include treating diarrhea caused by damp-heat, supporting recovery from lung abscess, and addressing joint conditions associated with damp accumulation. Modern preliminary research has also explored its potential anti-tumor properties. It is valued for clearing heat while simultaneously tonifying the digestive system. Evidence level: C (traditional use with some preliminary research support).

PubMed-compiled information sheet

This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.

Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b

Summary

Job's Tears Seed (Coix lacryma-jobi), also known as adlay, is a nutrient-dense cereal crop used in Asian culinary and traditional medicinal applications [PMID:41392849, PMID:32528499]. It is recognized for its anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and metabolic regulatory properties [PMID:36618703, PMID:35956759].

Background

Coix lacryma-jobi is an annual herbal plant in the Poaceae family, primarily originating from tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa [PMID:36618703, PMID:32528499]. It is utilized as both a food source and a medicinal crop [PMID:32528499, PMID:38106506].

Traditional uses

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is used to treat warts, chapped skin, rheumatism, neuralgia, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases [PMID:24716141]. It is also used for edema, athlete's foot, poor urination, spleen deficiency with diarrhea, lung and intestinal carbuncles, and verruca [PMID:38179404].

Active compounds

Bioactive components include polyphenols [PMID:36214059], polysaccharides (such as (1→6)-α-glucan) [PMID:36584288], amides (coixdines A and B) [PMID:35707908], coixol [PMID:39519379], and a chymotrypsin inhibitor (ClCI) [PMID:31519257]. It also contains tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) when fermented by Bacillus subtilis [PMID:33071330].

Mechanism of action

Mechanisms include the activation of the p-AMPK/p-ACC pathway to improve lipid metabolism [PMID:36214059], inhibition of Rho-kinase I and II [PMID:28722478], and the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) while upregulating IL-10 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) via seed-derived exosomes [PMID:41203172]. It may also induce cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase by decreasing CDK4/Cyclin D1 expression [PMID:35807238].

Clinical evidence

Evidence DUlcerative Colitis

Seed-derived exosomes (CLS-Exos) suppressed ROS, NO, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, ameliorating symptoms in a murine model [PMID:41203172]

Evidence DNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Adlay polyphenol (AP) decreased body weight, liver weight, hepatic triglycerides, and serum glucose in high-fat diet-fed mice [PMID:36214059]

Evidence DDiabetes

Dehulled adlay (DA) was most effective in attenuating plasma glucose, insulin levels, and HOMA-IR in STZ/HFD diabetic rats [PMID:38526822]

Evidence DPruritus

Coix sprouts extract inhibited histamine release and IL-31 production, outperforming prednisolone in a mouse model [PMID:39519379]

Evidence DCancer

Ethanolic extracts (AHE-Ea and ATE-Ea) showed dose-dependent growth inhibitory effects and induced apoptosis in human breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines [PMID:35807238]

Evidence DRheumatoid Sarcopenia

Safety & adverse effects

Mycotoxin contamination (e.g., ZEN, aflatoxin) has been detected in field-to-market chains, posing potential health risks [PMID:41734557].

Evidence summary

The evidence is primarily based on in vitro cell cultures and in vivo animal models (Level D), with some supporting review articles (Level C). There is a lack of human clinical trial data in the provided abstracts.

PubMed sources

1.PMID: 41203172 (2025) — Emerging nutritional potential of edible-medicinal homologous coix lacryma-jobi seed-derived exosomes for treatment of ulcerative colitis. · International journal of biological macromolecules
2.PMID: 24716141 (2012) — Adlay ( yì yĭ; "soft-shelled job's tears"; the seeds of Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) is a Potential Cancer Chemopreventive Agent toward Multistage Carcinogenesis Processes. · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
3.PMID: 35707908 (2023) — Two new amides from the seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi var. lacryma-jobi. · Natural product research
4.PMID: 36214059 (2022) — Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) Polyphenol Improves Hepatic Glucose and Lipid Homeostasis through Regulating Intestinal Flora via AMPK Pathway. · Molecular nutrition & food research
5.PMID: 35807238 (2022)

Job's Tears Seed

Sources & Citations

Calculate a safe dose of Job's Tears Seed

La Loi

Agnimantha

Annona Senegalensis

Frequently asked questions

Summary

Background

Traditional uses

Active compounds

Mechanism of action

Clinical evidence

Safety & adverse effects

Evidence summary

PubMed sources

Government sources

Job's Tears Seed

Sources & Citations

Calculate a safe dose of Job's Tears Seed

Related Herbs

La Loi

Agnimantha

Annona Senegalensis

Frequently asked questions

Summary

Background

Traditional uses

Active compounds

Mechanism of action

Clinical evidence

Safety & adverse effects

Evidence summary

PubMed sources

Government sources