Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic evaluation of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) is valued for its rich bioactive composition and potential therapeutic benefits. This study investigates the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic properties of wheatgrass extract. Methanolic (ME) and n-hexane (HE) extracts of wheatgrass (WG) were evaluated for phytochemical composition, with ME demonstrating higher total phenolic content (32.41 ± 1.71 mg/g GAE) and flavonoid content (48.04 ± 1.50 mg/g RE). ME exhibited strong antioxidant activity with IC50 of 20.21 ± 1.24 µg/mL and 55.25 ± 0.75 µM Fe (II) equivalents with DPPH and FRAP assay, respectively. ME also displayed promising antidiabetic potential with IC50 of 6.57 ± 0.38 µg/mL, 134.54 ± 20.70 µg/mL, and 414.53 ± 54.15 µg/mL with α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and DPP (IV) inhibitory assays, respectively. LC-MS/MS analysis of ME revealed the presence of 40 secondary metabolites, including apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, and ascorbic acid, correlating with observed bioactivities. The cytotoxicity assay (IC50:519.1 ± 0.08 µg/mL), confirmed the safety of WG at therapeutic concentrations. A positive correlation between phenolic contents and bioactivities underscores WG as a natural antioxidant and antidiabetic agent. This study highlights the potential of WG as a functional food or phytopharmaceutical candidate, warranting further in vivo and clinical studies to confirm its efficacy and safety.