Morpho-biochemical Analysis of Underutilized Wild adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) For Medicinal Value

Abstract

Coix lacryma-jobi L. (Adlay) is an economically valuable annual crop in temperate and subtropical areas, but a perennial in warmer climates where frost is mild or absent. The purpose of this research was to study the morpho-biochemical analysis of Coix lacryma-jobi L. (Adlay) and its medicinal value. The experiment was carried out at National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Islamabad. Experimental material comprised seeds of wild Adlay collected from Botanical Conservatory of National Herbarium Program (PGRI, NARC), Islamabad. The biochemical characterization of Adlay leaf and seed extract was carried out. The qualitative phytochemical screening of Adlay leaves methanolic extracts revealed the presence of steroids, alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrate, phenols, glycosides, saponins, and flavonoids, whereas in seeds extract, steroids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, and phenols exhibited higher antimicrobial activity. For medicinal properties, methanolic extract of seeds and leaves were examined against six different bacterial strains. In case of Adlay leaf extract the highest inhibitory activity was shown against Staphylococcus aureus (32.83mm at 50mg/ml) in methanol solvent while, P. aeruginosa showed no inhibition at any concentration of leaf extract. Moreover, in case of seed extract Staphylococcus aureus showed highest inhibition (31.53mm-50mg/ml), while P. aeruginosa and E. coli did not show any inhibition in case of seed extract. According to the findings of this research, methanolic leaf and seed extracts of Adlay revealed a broader range of efficacy against both gram negative and gram-positive bacteria, indicating that they can be utilized as precursors of antibiotic substances for medicine formulation to manage bacterial disorders like diarrhea, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections, and respiratory tract infection.