title: Phytochemical screening and analysis of antioxidant properties of aqueous extract of wheatgrass.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To screen the phytochemical constituents and study antioxidant properties of the aqueous extract of the wheatgrass.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study was focused on broad parameters namely, phytochemical analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and antioxidant properties in order to characterize the aqueous extract of wheatgrass as a potential free radical quencher.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of wheatgrass showed the presence of various secondary metabolites but the absence of sterols and quinone in general. Wheatgrass was proved to be an effective radical scavenger in all antioxidant assays. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of diverse category of bioactive compounds such as squalene, caryophyllene and amyrins in varying percentage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the results obtained, we conclude that wheatgrass aqueous extract contains various effective compounds. It is a potential source of natural antioxidants. Further analysis of this herb will help in finding new effective compounds which can be of potent use in pharmacological field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Varalakshmi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Durairaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Muddasarul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shakya
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Sankar Pajaniradje Preedia
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India. Electronic address: ruks2k2@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Rukkumani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan
keywords: Antioxidant; Flavanoid; GC-MS; Total polyphenol; Wheatgrass