Triticum aestivum (Wheatgrass) Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Insulin Resistance in Albino Mice Fed a Fat Rich Diet

Abstract

Glucose is a vital energy source regulated by insulin, and its imbalance can lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular, kidney, and eye diseases. High-fat diets contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders, while plant-based treatments like wheatgrass offer potential antidiabetic benefits due to their rich nutrient and antioxidant content. The present study demonstrates that administration of a fresh aqueous extract of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) reverses the hyperglycemic effects caused by a fat-rich diet (FRD). The FRD was prepared by mixing vanaspati ghee and coconut oil in a 2:3 ratio. The animals were divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 albino mice, and treatments were administered for 30 consecutive days: Group A: Control, Group B: Fat-rich diet (10 ml/kg body weight/day), Group C: FRD (10 ml/kg body weight/day) along with T. aestivum (20 ml/kg body weight/day) and Group D: FRD (10 ml/kg body weight/day) along with T. aestivum (50 ml/kg body weight/day). Compared to the control group, FRD increased blood glucose levels from 134.2 ± 1.93 to 154.2 ± 2.87 mg/dl and decreased insulin levels from 1.307 ± 0.094 to 0.406 ± 0.071 µU/ml. Administration of fresh wheatgrass juice produced significant effects on both blood glucose and insulin levels. The lower dose of wheatgrass reduced blood glucose from 154.2 ± 2.87 to 135.6 ± 2.1 mg/dl and increased insulin levels from 0.406 ± 0.071 to 0.85 ± 0.103 µU/ml. The higher dose of wheatgrass further reduced blood glucose from 154.2 ± 2.87 to 126.3 ± 1.10 mg/dl and increased insulin levels from 0.406 ± 0.071 to 2.306 ± 0.063 µU/ml. These results indicate that the aqueous extract of Triticum aestivum has significant hypoglycemic and hyperinsulinemic effects.