From Chlorophyll to Micro Biome: Wheatgrass’s Role in Gut Health—A Comprehensive Review
Abstract
Background: Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) is a nutrient-dense microgreen increasingly recognized as a functional food due to its high content of bioactive compounds, including chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides. While wheatgrass has been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects, its specific role in gut health and gut microbiome modulation remains insufficiently explored. Objective: This review aims to critically evaluate the existing scientific evidence on the effects of wheatgrass consumption on gut health, with particular emphasis on its potential influence on gut microbiota composition, function, and gut-related health outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and other scientific databases up to June 2025. Studies assessing wheatgrass intake in relation to gastrointestinal health, inflammatory biomarkers, or microbiota-related outcomes were included. Results: No human or animal intervention studies directly examining the effects of wheatgrass on gut microbiome composition were identified. However, mechanistic, and phytochemical studies suggest that wheatgrass-derived polysaccharides and phenolic compounds may support gut health through prebiotic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory mechanisms. Available clinical and preclinical evidence indicates that wheatgrass supplementation may reduce gastrointestinal inflammation, enhance mucosal integrity, and promote the growth of beneficial gut microorganisms. Conclusion: Wheatgrass is a nutritionally rich functional food with potential gut health benefits; however, direct evidence linking wheatgrass consumption to changes in gut microbiome composition and function is limited. Well-designed animal and clinical studies are needed to clarify its effects on gut microbiota diversity, short-chain fatty acid production, and overall gastrointestinal health.
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BibTeX
@article{alva2026from,
title = {{From Chlorophyll to Micro Biome: Wheatgrass’s Role in Gut Health—A Comprehensive Review}},
author = {Rashmitha Alva and Deeksha Shenoy and Vanitha Shetty},
journal = {International Journal of Preventive Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_320_25},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_320_25},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From Chlorophyll to Micro Biome: Wheatgrass’s Role in Gut Health—A Comprehensive Review
AU - Rashmitha Alva
AU - Deeksha Shenoy
AU - Vanitha Shetty
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - International Journal of Preventive Medicine
DO - 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_320_25
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_320_25
AB - Background: Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) is a nutrient-dense microgreen increasingly recognized as a functional food due to its high content of bioactive compounds, including chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides. While wheatgrass has been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects, its specific role in gut health and gut microbiome modulation remains insufficiently explored. Objective: This review aims to critically evaluate the existing scientific evidence on the effects of wheatgrass consumption on gut health, with particular emphasis on its potential influence on gut microbiota composition, function, and gut-related health outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and other scientific databases up to June 2025. Studies assessing wheatgrass intake in relation to gastrointestinal health, inflammatory biomarkers, or microbiota-related outcomes were included. Results: No human or animal intervention studies directly examining the effects of wheatgrass on gut microbiome composition were identified. However, mechanistic, and phytochemical studies suggest that wheatgrass-derived polysaccharides and phenolic compounds may support gut health through prebiotic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory mechanisms. Available clinical and preclinical evidence indicates that wheatgrass supplementation may reduce gastrointestinal inflammation, enhance mucosal integrity, and promote the growth of beneficial gut microorganisms. Conclusion: Wheatgrass is a nutritionally rich functional food with potential gut health benefits; however, direct evidence linking wheatgrass consumption to changes in gut microbiome composition and function is limited. Well-designed animal and clinical studies are needed to clarify its effects on gut microbiota diversity, short-chain fatty acid production, and overall gastrointestinal health.
SN - 2008-7802
SN - 2008-8213
ER -