Bioactive compounds from wheat seedlings: Enrichment strategies, health benefits, and product development

Wheat seedlings are rich in γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA), phenolic compounds, flavonoids, folate, and chlorophyll. This review covers their targeted enrichment via strategies such as hypoxia stress, red light treatment, and elicitor application, which activate key metabolic pathways. The associated health benefits include sleep improvement, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular protection, and detoxification. To address the industrial bottleneck of component degradation during processing, non-thermal technologies such as high hydrostatic pressure, ultrasound, and microencapsulation are discussed as stabilization solutions. Applications of wheat seedlings in functional foods, including sleep-aid supplements, fortified baked goods, and beverages, are also presented. Future research directions, such as precision breeding, multi-component synergy, and targeted product development, are outlined. This review focuses on two core issues: the efficient enrichment of bioactive compounds and the preservation of their stability during processing.