Popularity of wheatgrass is on the rise, no surprise, scientific research continues to establish a wide range of health benefits, anticancer and antioxidant potential atttibuted to the young Triticum Aestivum plant. The micro form of wheat is gluten free and components include chlorophyll, flavonoids, enzymes, plus vitamins C and E. Laboratory in vitro studies and animal experiments have demonstrated anti-cancer potential (identifying apoptosis as a possible mechanism).

Wheatgrass is beneficial for cancer prevention, an adjunct to cancer treatment, to diminish chemotherapy-related side effects, as well as benefiting cholesterol, iron levels, immunological activity, oxidative stress, and nurturing overall health.

Forms of wheatgrass include fresh juice, frozen juice, tablets, and powders, with compositions and level of beneficial affect varying according to their growing conditions and production processes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26156538/

Wheatgrass Has AntiCancer Effect

Scientific research on wheatgrass established its anticancer and antioxidant potential. 

A study was preformed to determine the antileukemic effect of wheatgrass. Leukemia induced Wister rates were given wheatgrass powder (Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, carbohydrates, and amino acids). The blood was collected and analyzed. The extract of wheatgrass aroused the process of phagocytosis (killed Candida albicans) and also significant chemotactic activity at all tested concentrations. Concluding, extract of wheatgrass demonstrated antileukemic potential that might be due to the presence of flavonoids and polyphenolics in it.

Cancer Cells Die and Proper Iron Level Achieved

Study Methylphophorbide (MPa) was isolated from the wheatgrass plant. Its antioxidative efficacy was evaluated; cancerous cell survivability decreases with increasing concentration of MPa! The MPa wheatgrass compound also shows iron-binding capacity where the Fe(2+) binds with MPa by two types of binding patterns with dissociation constants 157.17 and 27.89. It has antioxidative and cytotoxic effects on cells: HeLa (lab hosted human cells, kept alive since 1951, and used to study radiation, toxins, cosmetics, or other chemicals effect on human cells) and Hep G2 (a human liver cancer cell line). These findings provide evidence for wheatgrass use in the treatment of cancers, oxidative stress and iron overloaded disorders.

Wheatgrass For Chemotherapy Patients

Beneficial Effects of Wheatgrass Juice on Immune System 

Colorectal cancer (CC) is the third most common type of cancer, accounting for 10% of all cancer cases. study In addition to chemotherapy, additive care is also recommended in stages II-III CC. Wheatgrass juice (WGJ) has high nutritional values, inducing a synergistic benefits to chemotherapy and alleviates chemotherapy-related side effects. In an aimed to elucidate the effects of chemotherapy with supportive treatment of WGJ on CC patients’ subcellular membrane blebs (popped dead cells) were evaluated from extracellular vesicles (EV). (Extracellular vesicles are lipid vesicles secreted from cells, filling the space around cells, and assisting in cell communication). Specifically, exosomes (generated in the endosome, in size <150 nm) and microvesicles (shed from the plasma cell membrane) were used to provide information on their parental cells and play a role in intercellular communication.

Methods: EVs were isolated from the blood samples of 15 healthy controls (HCs) and 50 CC patients post-surgery, treated by chemotherapy, with or without additional daily WGJ. Blood samples were taken before, during, and at the end of chemotherapy. EVs were characterized by size, concentration, membrane antigens and cytokine content using nanoparticle-tracking analysis, western blot, flow cytometry, and protein array methods.

Results: EVs were found to be similar by size and concentration with reduced levels of exosome markers (CD81) on samples at the end of combined treatment (chemotherapy and WGJ). Higher levels of endothelial EVs, which may indicate impairment of the vascular endothelial cells during treatment, were found in CC patients treated by chemotherapy only compared to those with chemotherapy and daily WGJ. Following treatments, the majority of growth-factors/pro-inflammatory cytokines were higher in EVs of patients treated by chemotherapy only than in EVs obtained from patients with the combined treatment.

Conclusion: Daily consumption of WGJ during chemotherapy reduces vascular damage and chemotherapy-related blood clotting, growth factors and cytokines.

Again, Wheatgrass Benefits Cancer Patients

A study was devised to examine the effects of wheatgrass juice on the immune system. Daily wheatgrass juice intake, in addition to chemotherapy, was administered among colorectal cancer patients to observe immune parameters and white blood cells. In a controlled prospective trial, 100 stage II–III colorectal cancer patients were enrolled. According to patient preference, they were divided into two subgroups, control group and intervention group, 50 patients each, all of whom received the same standard postoperative chemotherapy. However, the intervention group also received 60 cc of wheatgrass juice daily. Blood samples were collected at the start of the intervention and then again 5–6 months later. The end results showed anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 concentrations were significantly higher in the wheatgrass juice group than in the control group. The white blood counts also significantly lower in the wheatgrass juice group as compared to the control. White blood count decline during chemotherapy gives evidence of the beneficial effects of wheatgrass juice on immune system. Wheatgrass has the potential to mitigate a number of different chemotherapy-induced damages as well and has no adverse effects comparable to chemical drugs. Therefore, wheatgrass juice is an effective, inexpensive, non-toxic supplement. This study contributed evidence-based recommendations for the use of wheatgrass juice among cancer patients during chemotherapy. How cool.

Wheatgrass For Cholesterol Reduction & Menopause

A study was conducted to evaluated the effect of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) on atherogenic lipoproteins (fat in arteries and blood cholesterol), inflammation, and menopausal symptoms. Fifty-nine hyperlipidemic women (women with high levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides) were randomized. Nearly half, 29, were administered 3.5 g of freeze-dried wheatgrass powder daily for 10 weeks, while the remaining 30, control group, did not. The intervention wheatgrass group experienced a reduction of 5.4% in total cholesterol, 4.4% in LDL cholesterol (the cholesterol you want to be low), and 9.5% in triacylglycerols. Menopausal symptoms saw: vasomotor, 42%; somatic, 33%; and psychological, 50%, reductions and urogenital symptoms remained unaltered. The study concluding that wheatgrass supplementation results in remarkable reductions in LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides without significantly reducing the HDL cholesterol.

Additional Benefits of Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass Used to Alleviate Stress and For Nourishing Human Health.

Study The contribution of plants in the field of medicine is very well known. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds and seedlings (wheatgrass) are important due to the presence of various health-promoting compounds such as: minerals, phytochemicals, active enzymes, and vitamins that can be easily absorbed. An analysis of three stages of wheat seed development (germination day 0, 8, and 16) was carried out. A total of 297 proteins were identified and a majority of them were involved in preventing many diseases, oxidative stress, primary metabolism, storage, and energy related mechanisms. Particularly, peroxidases, superoxide dismutases, and cytochromes are abundantly present in wheatgrass. Also discovered, antioxidant activity was increased by 1.55 times at stage day 16 of germination as compared to stage day 0 gemination. Observations obtained revealed that antioxidant power of the plants is directly proportional to the age of seedlings. Results of this work revealed that Triticum aestivum seedlings can act as a strong antioxidant agent due to their free radical scavenging activity and can be constructive to control or treat many health complications. 

Most Nutrient Packed, Beneficial Forms of Wheatgrass

Antioxidant Effect Under Different Growing Conditions

First thing to consider is how the grass is grown. This study was conducted to analyze the antioxidant activity of dietary wheatgrass. The methods employed include FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), ABTS (2,2′-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and DPPH (1,1′-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assays. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of wheatgrass grown under different conditions over a period of 6, 7, 8, 10 and 15 days were used. Lipid peroxidation and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were determined and utilized to check the potency of a few selected extracts. Different conditions used for growth were (1) tap water, (2) tap water with nutrients, (3) soil and tap water, and (4) soil with nutrients. For comparison, a commercially available wheatgrass tablet was analysed. To explain the reasons behind the observed differences, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were measured. These contents increased with growth under all the conditions. The ethanol extracts were found to have a higher phenolic and flavonoid content than the aqueous extracts. The highest FRAP values occurred on day 15 of growth under condition 4, the values being 0.463 and 0.573 mmol of ascorbic acid and Trolox equivalents/100 g fresh wheatgrass for aqueous and ethanol extracts, respectively. In the aqueous extracts no specific trend was observed with the DPPH assay for the different conditions nor for the growth period. In the case of ethanol extracts, however, it increased with the growth period and the wheatgrass grown in condition 4 was found to be the most effective. These extracts were also found to inhibit significantly ascorbate-Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation. The ORAC values of aqueous and ethanol extracts of day 10 with condition 4 were found to be 39.9 and 48.2, respectively, being higher than many natural extracts or vegetables.

Wheatgrass For All (Even Busy or Weak)

Freeze Drying Effect on Phenols, Flavonoids and Antioxidants Levels in Wheatgrass

Sprouting, planting, growing, harvesting, washing, juicing, and clean up is a lengthy and perhaps prohibitive process for some. However, wheatgrass can be taken in different more instant and convienent forms. Freeze drying is a surprisingly good alternative to fresh juiced wheatgrass. study In the analysis of anti-oxidative components, fresh wheatgrass samples had the highest amount of ascorbic acid and chlorophyll, but Freeze Drying wheatgrass can preserve maximum amounts of chlorophyll, flavonoids, saponins and antioxidant activity. study In fact, an analysis of freeze dried form of wheatgrass showed some of the highest values of ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging ability.

No Adverse SideEffects From Wheatgrass Have Been Reported.

Although some forms of wheatgrass are described as intolerable, I have seen many children enjoy the benefits of wheatgrass and even describe the flavor as sweet. My point, with practice ones taste of supergreens can be altered and the flavor of the magnificent green wheatgrass may be enjoyed. With so much to gain, please give it a try.