Research and Application of Adlay in Medicinal Field

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) adlay has been used as a dietary supplement to promote health and treat various ailments for thousands of years. The effective and safe ingredients of TCM could be used as sources for developing new drugs. This paper reviews the main research and application of adlay seed in medicinal field in the following aspects: botanical resource, ethnopharmacological function, chemical constituents, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, safety evaluation and toxicity, and clinical application. We hope that the review could help researchers mine the scientific values of adlay seed, innovative drug design, provide the guidance for the application in clinical therapy, and enhance the academic level and clinical efficacy of adlay seed.