Wheatgrass Reduces Cholesterol in Laboratory Animals

Wheatgrass reduces high levels of blood lipids by increasing fecal cholesterol excretion.

Hypolipidemic effect of fresh Triticum aestivum (wheat) grass juice in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Kothari, S., Jain, A. K., Mehta, S. C., Tonpay, S. D. (2011). Acta Pol
Pharm 68(2): 291-294.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death worldwide. Abnormal amounts of lipids in the blood (dyslipidemia) are the best understood risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. Prevention of atherosclerosis is largely based on the use of pharmaceuticals which are not without side effects i.e. statins.

Laboratory Studies: Researchers studied the effect of wheatgrass (WG) juice in an experimentally induced condition of high cholesterol in rats and also investigated the role of WG in cholesterol excretion. WG administration at 5 mL/kg and 10 mL/kg per day for 2 weeks resulted in a dose dependent significant decline in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. WG also had comparable results to administration of the statin, Atorvastatin (0.02% w/v in 2% gum acacia suspension at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day).

Conclusions: The results of this study revealed the lipid reducing effect of wheatgrass in hypercholesterolemic rats was produced by increasing fecal cholesterol excretion.

Wheatgrass Extract Induces Cancer Cell Death

Wheat sprout extract-induced apoptosis in human cancer cells by proteasome modulation.

Bonfili, L., Amici, M., Cecarini, V., Cuccioloni, M., Tacconi, R.,
Angeletti, M., Fioretti, E., Keller. JN., Eleuteri, AM.
Biochimie, 2009 Sep;91(9):1131-44.

Background:  Proteasomes are clusters of proteins found in all human cells—the function of the proteasome is to break down unnecessary or damaged proteins in the cell. Proteasomes are important in the regulation of cell growth because they can break down and destroy the proteins that cause unregulated cell growth—cancer.  Also, proteasomes can regulate the proteins that can cause cell death by the process known as apoptosis.  In cancer cells, proteasomes can be used to force cells into apoptosis.

Laboratory Study:  The researchers looked at the ability of wheat sprout extract to influence proteasomes in cancer cell lines.

Conclusions:  Wheat extract and components of wheat extract were able to have an effect on proteasomes that resulted in the increased death of cancer cells.