DPPH radical-scavenging activity of the Brkulja wheatgrass juice and its bioactive compound correlation

Abstract

The antioxidant potential of wheatgrass juice derived from the ancient Brkulja wheat variety was investigated to assess its functional and nutraceutical value. As a heritage landrace, the Brkulja wheat showed genetic resilience and great antioxidant and nutritional values making it a promising source of bioactive compounds. Wheatgrass was harvested at the early jointing stage, and the extracted juice was analysed for total phenolic content, flavonoid concentration, and antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results demonstrated that the Brkulja wheatgrass juice possesses strong antioxidant capacity with an IC50 value of 0.75 μg/mL. The DPPH inhibition percentages ranged from 88.83% at the highest concentration to 23.75% at the lowest concentration, showing direct relationship between juice concentration and inhibition percentage. The total phenolic content ranged from 25.8 to 42.5 mg GAE/g, while flavonoid concentration ranged from 9.7 to 18.3 mg QE/g, both showing strong positive correlations with DPPH inhibition (r > 0.9). These findings support the use of the Brkulja wheatgrass juice as a natural antioxidant source and emphasize the importance of preserving ancient wheat varieties for health-promoting applications.