Nutritional Significance of Wheatgrass: Cultivation Practices and Opportunities for its Processing and Preservation.

Mahendra Gunjal, Sawinder Kaur, Prasad Rasane, Jyoti Singh, Sezai Ercisli, Ravish Choudhary, Romina Alina Marc, Jaspreet Kaur, Manish Bakshi

Journal: Recent advances in food, nutrition & agriculture 2024;15(3):163-177

PMID: 38305314

Abstract

BACKGROUND

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds found in wheatgrass, including chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, as well as their associated health benefits. The review focuses on various cultivation practices, preservation techniques, and the current utilization of wheatgrass as a whole. Additionally, the potential toxicity of wheatgrass has been discussed. Wheatgrass, a nutrient-rich grass, possesses significant pharmacological and therapeutic qualities. In the present scenario, wheatgrass is available in the form of juice, powder, and tablets, and is incorporated into various food products through different processing treatments.

METHOD

Information and data regarding wheatgrass cultivation practices, processing, and preservation methods were collected from scientific sources, including Google Scholar, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, fig, Web of Science, and Scopus databases.

RESULT

Wheatgrass is a highly valuable source of diverse nutrient compounds. Various cultivation methods, such as indoor and outdoor techniques using different growing mediums, have been employed for wheatgrass production. Recent methods for wheatgrass preservation have been suggested to enhance the bioactive compounds present in wheatgrass.

CONCLUSION

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the consumption of wheatgrass and wheatgrass- based products can help control diabetes, atherosclerosis, kidney and colon diseases, anemia, and certain types of cancer. The smaller size of wheatgrass allows for easier assimilation of its beneficial compounds. Creating awareness among consumers about the nutritional profile and therapeutic properties of wheatgrass is crucial in order to maximize its market potential.

Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at [email protected].

Address: Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India.; Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India.; ICAR-Division of Seed Science and Technology, New Delhi-110 012, India.; Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.; Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey.

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