Comparison of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Potential of Different Cereal Grasses for Potential Therapeutic Use

Wheat grass is presumed to contain bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity and has gained popularity as a health drink. The present study was undertaken to explore the possibility of using other cereal grasses in place of wheat as affected by variety and growth length. The bioactive compounds total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) increased significantly with the increase in length of the grass in wheat varieties but decreased in rice and barley grasses. Maximum TPC and TFC was observed in the barley grass and rice grass at 6-and 4-inches length, respectively. Wheat grass showed maximum content at 15 and 20 cm inches. Wheatgrass of variety PBW 550 at length of 20 cm showed the highest antioxidant power as evidenced by FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonicacid)assay. RicevarietyPR126at10cmandbarleyvarietyPL807at15cmexhibitedmaximumscavenging activity comparable to wheat grass. Wheat grass is the best cereal grass in terms of bioactive and antioxidant potential. There is a significant variation in these components of cereal grasses that change with increase in length of the grass. These should be harvested at the growth length when the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities are optimum. Rice and barley grass also exhibit notable antioxidant potentials, which could be considered as a substitute for wheatgrass. The different varieties of these cereal grasses contain non-significantly different bioactive compounds. Hence, any variety which is available at a particular location can be cultivated.