THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF ORGANIC TRITICUM AESTIVUM LINN. (WHEAT GRASS) IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES: AN OVERVIEW
Abstract
Shoot of Triticum aestivum Linn. (Hindi Name- gehun, kanak, Sanskrit name- godhuma) is called as a wheat grass, belonging to family: Gramineae, which posses high chlorophyll content and essential vitamins, minerals, vital enzymes, amino acids, dietary fibers. Wheat grass has been shown to posses anti-cancer activity, anti-ulcer activity, antioxidant activity, anti-arthritic activity, and blood building activity in Thalassemia Major. It has been argued that wheat grass helps blood flow, digestion and general detoxification of the body. The major clinical utility of wheat grass in diseased conditions might be due to the presence of biologically active compounds and minerals in it and due to its antioxidant potential which is derived from its high content of bioflavonoids such as apigenin, quercitin, luteoline. Furthermore, indole compounds namely choline and laetrile present in it might be also responsible for its therapeutic potential. The presence of 70% chlorophyll, which is almost chemically identical to hemoglobin, in wheat grass makes it more useful in various clinical conditions involving hemoglobin deficiency and other chronic disorders. The present review article focuses onto various studies conducted on the use of wheatgrass in various disease conditions. Since very little clinical studies have been made on this very promising herbal drug, efforts are needed to conduct extensive studies on the wheat grass both in experimental models and human subjects to develop wheat grass therapy with no side effects in prevention, cure and management of chronic diseases for which our modern systems have lost their hopes.
Keywords:
Triticum aestivum Linn, Anti-cancer, Anti-ulcer, Antioxidant, Anti-arthritic, ThalassemiaDOI
https://doi.org/10.25004/IJPSDR.2012.040102References
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4. Wigmore A. The wheat grass Book, New York. Avery Publishing group 1986.
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7. Nenonen MT, Helve TA, Rauma AL, Hanninen OO. Uncooked, Lactobacilli-rich, Vegan Food and Rheumatoid Arthritis. British Journal of Rheumatology 1998; 37:274–281.
8. Ben-Arye E, Goldin E, Wengrower D, Stamper A, Kohn R, Berry E. Wheat Grass Juice in the Treatment of Active Distal Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial. 2002; 37(4):444-449.
9. Historic Overview: The American Butter Company Building, Architectural and Historical Research, LLC(Online).Availablefrom: URL: http://www.ahr-kc.com/reports/american_butter_company.
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11. Healthy Benefits of Wheat Grass (Online). Available from: URL: http://www.ph-ion.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=32.
12. Kulkarni SD, Acharya R, Nair AG, Reddy AVR. Determination of elemental concentration profiles in tender wheat grass (triticum aestivum L. using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Food Chemistry 2006; 4: 699-707.
13. Swati P, Sushma D, Indira R, Alka G, Mamta D. Multitude potential of Wheat grass Juice (Green Blood): An overview. Chronicles of Young Scientist 2010; 1(2):23-28.
14. Bar-sella P. Rejunvention- Health According to Dr. Ann Wig more’s Teachings. Kiryat Ono. Israel: Shachar Ltd, (in Hebrew) 1998:142-152.
15. Bar-Sela G, Tsailic M, Fried G, Goldberg H. Wheat Grass Juice may improve Hematological Toxicity Related to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study. Nutrition and Cancer 2007; 58 (1):43-48.
16. Lai CN, Dabney B, Shaw C. Inhibition of In vitro metabolic activation of carcinogens by wheat sprout extracts. Nutrition and Cancer 1978; 1(1):27-30.
17. Lai CN. Chlorophyll: The active factor in wheat sprout extract inhibiting the metabolic activation of carcinogens In Vitro. Nutrition and Cancer.1979; 1(3):19-21.
18. Chiu LC, Kong CK, Ooi VE. The Chlorophyllin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF7 cells isassociated with ERK deactivation and Cyclin D1 depletion. Int J Mol Med. 2005; 16(4):735-740.
19. Egner PA, Wang JB, Zhu YR, Zhang BC, Wu Y, Zhang QN, Qian GS, Kuang SY, Gange SJ, Jacobson LP, Helzlsouer KJ, Bailey GS, Groopman JD, Kensler TW. Chlorophyllin intervention reduces aflatoxin-DNA adducts in individuals at high risk for liver cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98(25):14601-14606.
20. Guo D, Schut HA, Davis CD, Snyderwine EG, Bailey GS, Dashwood RH. Protection by chlorophyllin and indole-3-carbinol against 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo 4,5-b, pyridine (PhIP)-induced DNA adducts and colonic aberrant crypts in the F344 rat. Carcinogenesis 1995; 16(12):2931-2937.
21. Pratt MM, Reddy AP, Hendricks JD, Pereira C, Kensler TW, Bailey GS. The importance of carcinogen dose in chemoprevention studies: quantitative interrelationships between, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene dose, chlorophyllin dose, target organ DNA adduct biomarkers and final tumor outcome. Carcinogenesis 2007; 28(3):611-624.
22. Sarkar D, Sharma A, Talukder G. Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin as modifiers of genotoxic effects. Mutat Res. 1994; 318(3):239-247.
23. Tachino N, Guo D, Dashwood WM, Yamane S, Larsen R, Dashwood R. Mechanisms of the in vitro antimutagenic action of chlorophyllin against benzo[a]pyrene: studies of enzyme inhibition, molecular complex formation and degradation of the ultimate carcinogen. Mutat Res. 1994; 308(2):191-203.
24. Guengerich FP, Kim DH, Iwasaki M. Role of human cytochrome P-450 IIE1 in the oxidation of many low molecular weight cancer suspects. Chem Res Toxicol. 1991; 4: 168–207.
25. Finch CE, Tanzi RE. Genetics of aging. Science 1997; 278(5337):407-411.
26. Wheat J, Currie G. Herbal medicine for cancer patients: An evidence based review. Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine 2008; 5(2).
27. Mates MJ, Jimenez S, Fransisca M. Role of reactive oxygen species in apoptosis: implication for cancer therapy. The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell biology 2000; 32(2):157:170.
28. Mukopadhyay S, Basak J, Kar M, Mandal S, Mukopadhyay A. The role of Iron Chelation Activity of Wheat grass Juice in Patients with Myelodysplastic syndrome. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2009; 27:15s (Suppl; abstr 7012).
29. Peryty B, Szmczyk T, Lesca P. Mechanism of antimutagenicity of wheat sprout extract. Mut. Res. 1992; 269: 201-215.
30. Bowers W. Chlorophyll in wound healing and suppurative disease. Am. J. Surg. 1947; 73:37-50.
31. Shah S. Dietary Factors in the Modulation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity. Medscape General Medicine 2007; 9(1): 60.
32. Singha V, Prince J, Selvendirana K, Mumtaz BS, Padmavathia R, Sakthisekarana D, Protective role of Apigenin on the status of lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant defence against hepatocarcinogenesis in Wis-tar albino rats. Phytomedicine 2004; 11(4): 309-314.
33. Ben-Arye E, Goldin E, Wengrower D, Stamper A, Kohn R, Berry E. Wheat Grass Juice in the Treatment of Active Distal Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 2002; 37(4): 444-449.
34. Lam C, Brush B. Chlorophyll and wound healing. Experimental and clinical study. Am. J. Surg. 1950; 8:204-210.
35. Gahan E, Kline P, Finkle T. Arch.Chlorophyll in the treatment of ulcers. Derm. & Syph. 1943; 47:849-851.
36. Chernomorsky S, Segelman A. Review Article: Biological activities of chlorophyll derivatives. 1988; 85(8):669-673.
37. Kulkarni SD, Tilak JC, Acharya R, Rajurkar NS, Devasagayam TP, Reddy AV. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) as a function of growth under different conditions. Phytother Res. 2006; 20(3):218-227.
38. Siener R, Honow R, Voss S, Seidler A, Hesse A. Oxalate content of cereals and cereal products. J Agric Food Chem. 2006; 54(8): 3008-3011.
39. Mates MJ, Jimenez S, Fransisca M. Role of reactive oxygen species in apoptosis: implication for cancer therapy. The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology 2000; 32(2):157-170.
40. Marwaha RK, Bansal D, Kaur S, Trehan A. Wheat Grass Juice Reduces Transfusion Requirement in Patients with Thalassemia Major: A Pilot Study. Indian Pediatrics 2004; 41:716-720.
41. Padalia S, Drabu S, Raheja I, Gupta A, Dhamija M. Multitude potential of wheatgrass juice (Green Blood): An overview. Chronicles of Young Scientists 2010; 1(2): 23-28.
42. Christne B, Eggleston IM, Hayes JD. Dietry Indoles and Isothiocynates that are generated from Cruciferous Vegetables can both stimulate apoptosis and confer protection against DNA Damage in Human Colon Cell Lines. Cancer Research. 2001; 61:6120-6130.
43. Fahey JW, Stephenson KK, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Egner PA, Kensler TW, Talalay P. Chlorophyll, chlorophyllin and related tetrapyrroles are significant inducers of mammalian phase 2 cytoprotective genes. Carcinogenesis 2005; 26 (7): 1247–1255.
44. Bhalla M, Singh N. A clinical study of anticancer properties of Organic Ashwagandha, Tulsi and Wheat Grass. In the proceeding of the National Seminar- Brain Storming Session on Integrated Therapeutic Approach in the Management of Cancer, Lucknow, 2011, 26-27 march, pp. 35.
2. Fahey JW, Stephenson KK, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Egner PA, Kensler TW, Talalay P. Chlorophyll, chlorophyllin and related tetrapyrroles are significant inducers of mammalian phase 2 cytoprotective genes. Carcinogenesis 2005; 26(7):1247-1255.
3. Sean M. Wheatgrass, healthy for the body and the bank account. Australia’s National Rural Affairs Weekly- Landline. 13-10-2002, Retrieved 2006-1006.
4. Wigmore A. The wheat grass Book, New York. Avery Publishing group 1986.
5. Walters R. The Alternative Cancer Therapy Book. New York Avery Publishing Group, 299-308, 1992.
6. Dey S, Sarkar R, Ghosh P, Khatun R, Ghorai K, Choudhari R, Ahmad R, Gupta P, Mukopadhya S, Mucopadhya A. Effect of Wheat grass Juice in supportive care of terminally ill cancer patients- A tertiary cancer centre Experience from India. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2006 ASCO Meeting Proceedings Part I. 2006; 18(1), pp. 8634.
7. Nenonen MT, Helve TA, Rauma AL, Hanninen OO. Uncooked, Lactobacilli-rich, Vegan Food and Rheumatoid Arthritis. British Journal of Rheumatology 1998; 37:274–281.
8. Ben-Arye E, Goldin E, Wengrower D, Stamper A, Kohn R, Berry E. Wheat Grass Juice in the Treatment of Active Distal Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial. 2002; 37(4):444-449.
9. Historic Overview: The American Butter Company Building, Architectural and Historical Research, LLC(Online).Availablefrom: URL: http://www.ahr-kc.com/reports/american_butter_company.
10. I hate wheatgrass....and now I know why!(Online). Availablefrom:URL:http:// http://www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/2006/01/i_hate_wheatgra.html.
11. Healthy Benefits of Wheat Grass (Online). Available from: URL: http://www.ph-ion.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=32.
12. Kulkarni SD, Acharya R, Nair AG, Reddy AVR. Determination of elemental concentration profiles in tender wheat grass (triticum aestivum L. using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Food Chemistry 2006; 4: 699-707.
13. Swati P, Sushma D, Indira R, Alka G, Mamta D. Multitude potential of Wheat grass Juice (Green Blood): An overview. Chronicles of Young Scientist 2010; 1(2):23-28.
14. Bar-sella P. Rejunvention- Health According to Dr. Ann Wig more’s Teachings. Kiryat Ono. Israel: Shachar Ltd, (in Hebrew) 1998:142-152.
15. Bar-Sela G, Tsailic M, Fried G, Goldberg H. Wheat Grass Juice may improve Hematological Toxicity Related to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study. Nutrition and Cancer 2007; 58 (1):43-48.
16. Lai CN, Dabney B, Shaw C. Inhibition of In vitro metabolic activation of carcinogens by wheat sprout extracts. Nutrition and Cancer 1978; 1(1):27-30.
17. Lai CN. Chlorophyll: The active factor in wheat sprout extract inhibiting the metabolic activation of carcinogens In Vitro. Nutrition and Cancer.1979; 1(3):19-21.
18. Chiu LC, Kong CK, Ooi VE. The Chlorophyllin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF7 cells isassociated with ERK deactivation and Cyclin D1 depletion. Int J Mol Med. 2005; 16(4):735-740.
19. Egner PA, Wang JB, Zhu YR, Zhang BC, Wu Y, Zhang QN, Qian GS, Kuang SY, Gange SJ, Jacobson LP, Helzlsouer KJ, Bailey GS, Groopman JD, Kensler TW. Chlorophyllin intervention reduces aflatoxin-DNA adducts in individuals at high risk for liver cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98(25):14601-14606.
20. Guo D, Schut HA, Davis CD, Snyderwine EG, Bailey GS, Dashwood RH. Protection by chlorophyllin and indole-3-carbinol against 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo 4,5-b, pyridine (PhIP)-induced DNA adducts and colonic aberrant crypts in the F344 rat. Carcinogenesis 1995; 16(12):2931-2937.
21. Pratt MM, Reddy AP, Hendricks JD, Pereira C, Kensler TW, Bailey GS. The importance of carcinogen dose in chemoprevention studies: quantitative interrelationships between, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene dose, chlorophyllin dose, target organ DNA adduct biomarkers and final tumor outcome. Carcinogenesis 2007; 28(3):611-624.
22. Sarkar D, Sharma A, Talukder G. Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin as modifiers of genotoxic effects. Mutat Res. 1994; 318(3):239-247.
23. Tachino N, Guo D, Dashwood WM, Yamane S, Larsen R, Dashwood R. Mechanisms of the in vitro antimutagenic action of chlorophyllin against benzo[a]pyrene: studies of enzyme inhibition, molecular complex formation and degradation of the ultimate carcinogen. Mutat Res. 1994; 308(2):191-203.
24. Guengerich FP, Kim DH, Iwasaki M. Role of human cytochrome P-450 IIE1 in the oxidation of many low molecular weight cancer suspects. Chem Res Toxicol. 1991; 4: 168–207.
25. Finch CE, Tanzi RE. Genetics of aging. Science 1997; 278(5337):407-411.
26. Wheat J, Currie G. Herbal medicine for cancer patients: An evidence based review. Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine 2008; 5(2).
27. Mates MJ, Jimenez S, Fransisca M. Role of reactive oxygen species in apoptosis: implication for cancer therapy. The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell biology 2000; 32(2):157:170.
28. Mukopadhyay S, Basak J, Kar M, Mandal S, Mukopadhyay A. The role of Iron Chelation Activity of Wheat grass Juice in Patients with Myelodysplastic syndrome. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2009; 27:15s (Suppl; abstr 7012).
29. Peryty B, Szmczyk T, Lesca P. Mechanism of antimutagenicity of wheat sprout extract. Mut. Res. 1992; 269: 201-215.
30. Bowers W. Chlorophyll in wound healing and suppurative disease. Am. J. Surg. 1947; 73:37-50.
31. Shah S. Dietary Factors in the Modulation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity. Medscape General Medicine 2007; 9(1): 60.
32. Singha V, Prince J, Selvendirana K, Mumtaz BS, Padmavathia R, Sakthisekarana D, Protective role of Apigenin on the status of lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant defence against hepatocarcinogenesis in Wis-tar albino rats. Phytomedicine 2004; 11(4): 309-314.
33. Ben-Arye E, Goldin E, Wengrower D, Stamper A, Kohn R, Berry E. Wheat Grass Juice in the Treatment of Active Distal Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 2002; 37(4): 444-449.
34. Lam C, Brush B. Chlorophyll and wound healing. Experimental and clinical study. Am. J. Surg. 1950; 8:204-210.
35. Gahan E, Kline P, Finkle T. Arch.Chlorophyll in the treatment of ulcers. Derm. & Syph. 1943; 47:849-851.
36. Chernomorsky S, Segelman A. Review Article: Biological activities of chlorophyll derivatives. 1988; 85(8):669-673.
37. Kulkarni SD, Tilak JC, Acharya R, Rajurkar NS, Devasagayam TP, Reddy AV. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) as a function of growth under different conditions. Phytother Res. 2006; 20(3):218-227.
38. Siener R, Honow R, Voss S, Seidler A, Hesse A. Oxalate content of cereals and cereal products. J Agric Food Chem. 2006; 54(8): 3008-3011.
39. Mates MJ, Jimenez S, Fransisca M. Role of reactive oxygen species in apoptosis: implication for cancer therapy. The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology 2000; 32(2):157-170.
40. Marwaha RK, Bansal D, Kaur S, Trehan A. Wheat Grass Juice Reduces Transfusion Requirement in Patients with Thalassemia Major: A Pilot Study. Indian Pediatrics 2004; 41:716-720.
41. Padalia S, Drabu S, Raheja I, Gupta A, Dhamija M. Multitude potential of wheatgrass juice (Green Blood): An overview. Chronicles of Young Scientists 2010; 1(2): 23-28.
42. Christne B, Eggleston IM, Hayes JD. Dietry Indoles and Isothiocynates that are generated from Cruciferous Vegetables can both stimulate apoptosis and confer protection against DNA Damage in Human Colon Cell Lines. Cancer Research. 2001; 61:6120-6130.
43. Fahey JW, Stephenson KK, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Egner PA, Kensler TW, Talalay P. Chlorophyll, chlorophyllin and related tetrapyrroles are significant inducers of mammalian phase 2 cytoprotective genes. Carcinogenesis 2005; 26 (7): 1247–1255.
44. Bhalla M, Singh N. A clinical study of anticancer properties of Organic Ashwagandha, Tulsi and Wheat Grass. In the proceeding of the National Seminar- Brain Storming Session on Integrated Therapeutic Approach in the Management of Cancer, Lucknow, 2011, 26-27 march, pp. 35.
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01-01-2012
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“THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF ORGANIC TRITICUM AESTIVUM LINN. (WHEAT GRASS) IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES: AN OVERVIEW”. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, vol. 4, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 10-14, https://doi.org/10.25004/IJPSDR.2012.040102.
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How to Cite
“THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF ORGANIC TRITICUM AESTIVUM LINN. (WHEAT GRASS) IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES: AN OVERVIEW”. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, vol. 4, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 10-14, https://doi.org/10.25004/IJPSDR.2012.040102.
