Nutritional composition, bioactive compounds and free radical scavenging activity of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) as influenced by harvesting stages and cultivation method

Abstract

Wheatgrass is a rich source of protein (24.08 to 30.40 g/100 g DM) when cultivated under indoor and outdoor conditions and harvested at different stages. The ash ranged being 7.68 to 8.46 g/100 g DM. The crude fibre content was high especially under indoor cultivation, the values were in the range of 19.06 to 27.68 g/100 g. Indoor cultivation was far better than outdoor cultivation in terms of higher protein and ash. Late harvesting stage was better for crude fibre but for proteins, the early stage i.e 7^th day was superior. The early harvesting (7^th day and indoor cultivation) was superior for obtaining maximum ascorbic acid from the wheatgrass. For maximum β-carotene in wheatgrass, the optimum stage of harvesting was the 10^th day from the day of sowing during indoor conditions while 7^th day was the right stage for harvesting wheatgrass during the outdoor cultivation. It has an abundant amount of chlorophyll and flavonoids, the content was varying between 4.14 to 17.72 g/100 g and 115.67 to 460.18 QE/g, respectively under different harvesting stages and cultivation conditions. The free radical scavenging activity of indoor-grown wheatgrass was significantly (P ≤0.05) higher in comparison to outdoor cultivated wheatgrass on 7^th and 10^th day of harvesting.