Investigation into mechanism of action and pharmacological evaluation of various extracts of Triticum Aestivum (wheat) grass with special reference to its beneficial effects on iron-overload and blood disorders

Abstract

Health is not merely absence of a disease. Rather, health is defined as positive state of well being in which, the harmonious development of physical and mental capacities of the individual lead to the enjoyment of a rich and full life. Health involves, primarily, the application of medical science for the benefit of individual and society. Health is thus, a vital part of a concurrent and integrated program of development of all aspects of community life. Considering the importance of health, WHO and UNICEF jointly organized an international conference on Primary Health Care at Alma Ata, USSR from 6th to 12th September, 1978 and took a momentous decision to achieve Health for all by the year 2000 AD. Now, we are entering in the year 2007, but the Health for All by the year 2000 still continues to be a vision. There are various diseases like tropical diseases, herpes, AIDS, cancer, diabetes, thalassemia, certain blood disorders etc. for which the cure is yet to be found. Iron is essential to life because of its unusual flexibility to serve as both an electron donor and acceptor. Iron can also be potentially toxic. Its ability to donate and accept electrons means that if iron is free within the cell, it can catalyze the conversion of hydrogen peroxide into free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage to cellular membranes, proteins, and DNA, a wide variety of cellular structures, and ultimately kill the cell. To prevent that kind of damage, all life forms that use iron, bind the iron atoms to proteins. This allows the cells to use the benefits of iron, but also limit its ability to do harm (Andrews NC 1995). Most well-nourished people have 4 to 5 grams of iron in their bodies. Of this, about 2.5 g is contained in the hemoglobin needed to carry oxygen through the blood, and most of the rest is contained in ferritin complexes that are present in all cells, but most commonly in bone marrow, liver, and spleen.