A few years in the past scientists searched to establish the compound in barley, wheat, rye, and oat grasses that boosted development of lab animals that couldn’t get replaced with any identified nutritional vitamins or minerals. They known as it “the grass juice issue.” Scientists have recognized a flavone in barley grass juice powder that appears to be key for enhancing blood sugar management, lowering irritation, and defending lab animals from the problems of diabetes. Clearly these results aren’t from the nutritional vitamins and minerals within the powder. Our outcomes with barley grass juice powder have proven that you just don’t want a big dose of this potent superfood to see well being enhancements. Possibly this flavone performs an bigger-than-life position in making barley grass juice powder a potent superfood for overcoming well being challenges in lab animals. Possibly this flavone is the elusive grass juice issue?
Meet 3′-benzyloxy-5,6,7,4′-tetramethoxyflavone, (we’ll name it Bz-TMF) a tongue-twister of a reputation for a compound present in barley grass powder and barley grass juice powder that made fairly a splash in a current set of animal research. Let’s dive into the science whereas making this simple to know, and discover why this little molecule is likely to be value your consideration.
Discovered within the vigorous younger shoots of barley (the supply of barley grass juice powders like BarleyMax), Bz-TMF is a sort of flavone, a plant compound full of health-boosting potential. Consider it as a supercharged nutrient that fights off dangerous molecules in your physique, like a tiny superhero. In a 2021 examine out of Cairo College, researchers discovered it makes up about 49% of the pure phytochemicals from barley grass powder (as analyzed by GC-MS/MS method), suggesting it’s a serious participant of their well being results. Whereas Bz-TMF not a family title (but!), its early ends in animal research are getting seen.
Within the fascinating examine from 2021, which we mentioned in a current weblog article, scientists fed barley microgreens, wealthy on this flavone, to rats with experimentally-induced diabetes. Some rats had been additionally uncovered to aflatoxin, a poisonous mould compound that compounds the results of diabetes. Right here’s what they discovered:
- Blood Sugar Management: The extract, pushed by this flavone, lowered blood sugar ranges.
- Antioxidant Energy: It lowered oxidative stress (consider this as mobile rust) by boosting pure antioxidants like glutathione and enzymes that shield cells.
- Coronary heart and Kidney Well being: The flavone helped normalize ldl cholesterol and triglycerides, defending the center, and lowered injury to kidneys and the liver, as noticed below the microscope.
- Reproductive Safety: In diabetic male rats, it improved sperm well being and lowered testicular injury, a lesser-known diabetes complication.
- Toxin Protection: Aflatoxin is a potent liver toxin, and the flavone-rich extract preserved organ perform and lowered irritation in uncovered animals.
Whereas barley grass juice powder does have a broad array of vitamins, these spectacular outcomes usually are not due to the vitamin C, vitamin E, or carotenoids within the powder. It isn’t the chlorophyll. We already know that the “grass juice issue” is chargeable for these outcomes. Might this flavone be the elusive grass juice issue?
So, what makes this flavone so particular? Its construction—a flavonoid with methoxy and benzyloxy teams—provides it distinctive talents.
Whereas we don’t have research isolating this actual flavone, related compounds to Bz-TMF, different tri-, tetra- and penta- methoxyflavones, additionally helps cut back irritation and shield cartilage, lowered multidrug resistance and enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Listed below are 5 research you can discover to see extra of what these flavones can do:
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5,7,3′,4′-Tetramethoxyflavone Displays Chondroprotective Exercise by Concentrating on β-Catenin Signaling In Vivo and In Vitro
This examine exhibits TMF protects cartilage in rat fashions of osteoarthritis. -
5,7,3′,4′-Tetramethoxyflavone Protects Chondrocytes from ER Stress-Induced Apoptosis By means of Regulation of the IRE1α Pathway
TMF prevents cartilage cell loss of life in osteoarthritis fashions. -
5,7,3′,4′-Tetramethoxyflavone suppresses TGF-β1-induced activation of murine fibroblasts in vitro and ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice
TMF inhibits fibroblast activation and reduces lung scarring in mice with pulmonary fibrosis, a critical lung situation. -
Reversal of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance by 5,6,7,3′,4′-pentamethoxyflavone (Sinensetin)
Multidrug resistance (MDR) cells had been sensitized to anticancer medication by therapy with this pentamethoxyflavone. -
5,7,4′-Trimethoxyflavone triggers most cancers cell PD-L1 ubiquitin-proteasome degradation and facilitates antitumor immunity by focusing on HRD1
TMF reduces PD-L1 expression in most cancers cells, enhancing immune responses towards tumors.
Right here’s the catch: these thrilling outcomes come from lab animal research, not individuals. Animal research are an ideal place to begin, however people are totally different—our our bodies may not reply the identical approach. And Bz-TMF was not remoted by itself. It’s only a main part of barley grass juice powder, so it makes you suppose that it is likely to be an vital compound. Research with individuals are wanted to verify if it might probably decrease blood sugar, shield organs, or struggle irritation in individuals with diabetes. For now, it’s a promising lead, not a confirmed treatment.
My guess is that it’s useful, based mostly on what we learn about individuals utilizing BarleyMax, however that the outcomes received’t be as dramatic as they’re in lab rats. (For instance, scientists have cured most cancers in lab rats with many issues that don’t work in individuals.) However Bz-TMF is prone to be useful, and particularly so whenever you mix it with a health-promoting eating regimen and way of life.
You may’t go and purchase capsules of this flavone. It is just present in meals, not remoted by itself at this level. You will discover Bz-TMF in barley grass juice powder like BarleyMax, out there proper right here at Hallelujah Food plan. Right here’s a couple of methods so as to add them to your routine:
- Smoothie Enhance: Mix a teaspoon of barley grass juice powder right into a smoothie with berries, spinach, and almond milk.
- Combine with Water: Simply stir a teaspoon of BarleyMax right into a glass of water for an power increase earlier than any meal.
- Begin Small: Start with a small quantity to see how your physique reacts, and test together with your trusted naturally-minded well being care practitioner, particularly when you’re on diabetes meds.
Pair this with a diabetes-friendly way of life (plant-based, complete meals eating regimen, common train, wonderful restorative sleep, and stress administration) —for one of the best shot at higher well being. See our different weblog about easy tricks to fight kind 2 diabetes, like ingesting water earlier than meals and taking walks after meals.
The science on Bz-TMF is simply getting began. Whereas the 2021 examine is a robust first step, there may be a lot to search out out about this flavone. Right here is an thought of what ought to come subsequent:
- An intervention in individuals to see if barley grass juice powder does reduce the burden of diabetes.
- A lab evaluation to isolate the flavone after which check it by itself to see if it really works as nicely by itself because it does in barley grass juice powder.
- Discover the flavone’s potential for different situations, like irritation or coronary heart illness.
For now, it’s a hidden gem on the planet of pure well being, with early proof suggesting it may very well be a strong ally for managing diabetes. Possibly some day they are going to isolate it and present that it certainly is the grass juice issue. However it’s prone to work finest proper within the context of the remainder of the barley grass juice powder elements. So, don’t anticipate the scientific proof. You don’t have anything to lose, and every little thing to achieve. There isn’t a well being threat in attempting it. So, go forward and get some BarleyMax as we speak.