

Wheatgrass Flavonoids Can Help You Live Longer- All you need to Know
Summary: A study determines wheatgrass to be a powerful flavonoid-rich compound that demonstrates significant antioxidant activity and is capable of increasing the lifespan of fruit flies. By analysing 228 wheat cultivars, researchers discovered high-flavonoid varieties and demonstrated that jasmonic acid treatment enhances their health-promoting effects. This holds promise for developing functional foods that combat oxidative stress and ageing.
Can a shot of wheatgrass juice do more than energize you?
Scientists affirm this! A research study establishes that wheatgrass flavonoids not only combat oxidative stress but also enhance the lifespan of fruit flies. The finding points to wheatgrass as a tool to produce functional foods for healthy ageing.
Let’s break down how scientists found this and what it means for your well-being.
What Are Flavonoids and Why are They Important?
Flavonoids are natural compounds found in most plants. They possess
- Antioxidant activity
- Anti-inflammatory activity
- Anti-cancer activity
Wheatgrass, in particular, contains a wealth of flavonoids, chlorophyll, and vitamins to make it a unique health-promoting food.
Fruits and vegetables have flavonoids, and wheatgrass is unique in that it has more concentrated levels with strong biological activity.
The Research: 228 Wheat Varieties Studied
Researchers at China Agricultural University screened 228 new Chinese wheat varieties for flavonoid diversity. Objective: To identify high-flavonoid varieties and maximize their contribution to health.
With methods such as chemical assays, plant profiling, and fruit fly bioassays, researchers explored:
- Wheatgrass versus grain total flavonoid content
- Antioxidant activity versus Vitamin C
- Bioactivity of extracts of high-flavonoid content on living organisms
- Increases in gene expression after treatment with jasmonic acid

Wheatgrass Has Nearly 20x More Flavonoids Than Grains
Wheatgrass contained close to 20 times the amount of flavonoids in mature grains of wheat in a laboratory test. Some major flavonoids, isoorientin and luteolin, actually outperformed Vitamin C in antioxidant tests like ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP.
Ten major flavonoid glycosides were isolated, mostly of luteolin, apigenin, and chrysoeriol origin. These highly efficient compounds play a significant role in combating oxidative stress.
Top Wheat Cultivars: Xiaoyan 269, Suixuan 101, Zhoumai 30
Among the 228 cultivars, 62 were chosen to undergo further analysis. Principal component analysis separated them into high (LIF) and low (LRF) flavonoid groups.
Superior high-yielding varieties had a significantly higher flavonoid content and antioxidant activities:
- Zhoumai 30
- Suixuan 101
- Xiaoyan 269
These varieties have huge potential for the development of nutrient-rich food products.
Lifespan Boost in Fruit Flies - But Only in Males
To determine if wheatgrass flavonoids affect health, researchers dosed fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) with flavonoid extracts (FEW).
- Outcomes: Males survived for longer, particularly at a dose of 1 mM.
- Nevertheless, the effect was sex-differentiated; female flies did not gain the same benefits.
This suggests the requirement for sex-specific research with respect to flavonoid-supplemented products.
Jasmonic Acid Increases Flavonoid Production by 30%
The researchers didn’t stop at screening. They used jasmonic acid (JA), a natural plant hormone, to stimulate flavonoid production.
JA-treated seedlings showed:
- A 30% boost in flavonoid content
- Higher antioxidant activity
- Increased expression of key genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS) involved in flavonoid synthesis
This presents a practical strategy to enhance wheatgrass’s nutritional value through both cultivar selection and elicitor treatment.
The Future of Flavonoid-Dense Functional Foods
The research provides promising opportunities for inclusion of wheatgrass in functional food to fight ageing and disease induced by oxidative stress.
More to discover:
- Identification of flavonoids offering maximum health advantage
- Mammalian model testing
- Cultivar breeding for superior nutrition for planned nutrition
- Safe inclusion into normal diets
Wheatgrass Is Not A Fad - It's a Bioactive Superfood
Wheatgrass is more than a health trend. It’s a concentrated superfood rich in flavonoids that combat oxidative stress and potentially even extend lifespan. With advanced research, we now know how to optimize these effects through scientific cultivation and processing.
As science continues to penetrate to uncover all its potential, wheatgrass is guaranteed to play a leading role in age-reversing nutrition and preventive medicine.

Dane
I am an MBBS graduate and a dedicated medical writer with a strong passion for deep research and psychology. I enjoy breaking down complex medical topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content, aiming to educate and inspire readers by exploring the fascinating connection between health, science, and the human mind.