Wheat (Triticum spp.)
Wheat (Triticum spp.)
1- Scientific Name
Triticum spp. – English Name: Wheat
2- Family
Grass family: Poaceae
3- Botanical Description
An annual herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system made up of numerous thin, shallow roots. The stem is erect, hollow inside, and divided into 5–7 internodes, covered at the base by the leaf sheath. The leaves are long, strap-shaped, emerging from the nodes on the stem, bluish-green in color. The flowers gather in a terminal spike inflorescence, composed of a number of spikelets arranged oppositely on a main axis; each spikelet bears a long awn. The number of grains and rows in the spike varies depending on the cultivated type.
4- Part Used
Mature grains.
5- Active Compounds
Wheat grains contain carbohydrate compounds making up 60–70% of the grain’s weight, in addition to dietary fiber (Cellulose, Hemicellulose, and B-glucan). Protein content in the grain ranges from 8–15%, its best-known compounds being Gluten, Albumins, and Globulins, in addition to a fat content ranging between 2–4%, the most important acids being linoleic and oleic acid, and phosphorus-containing fats. The grains are also rich in the B and E vitamin groups and numerous minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, in addition to natural antioxidants such as folic acid and flavonoids. Wheat germ oil contains a fatty oil ranging between 7–12% depending on the cultivated variety and the degree of grain maturity, noting that the germ makes up only 2–3% of the grain’s weight, which requires large quantities of grain to extract a small amount of pure germ oil.
6- Medicinal Importance
Wheat germ oil is used in pharmaceutical or food industries through formulation of products that work to:
- Moisturize the skin and reduce the effects of scars and wrinkles, and protect cells from oxidative damage.
- Promote hair health and stimulate its growth and nourishment.
- Support heart health with its antioxidants while lowering bad cholesterol.
- Improve intestinal movement and reduce oxidative stress on the liver.
7- Acceptance Card
| No. | Property | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Color | Golden yellow to yellowish-brown |
| 2 | Texture | Hard |
| 3 | Odor | None |
| 4 | Fungal & Insect Infestation | Indicator: No unpleasant odors, foreign colors, or flying insects of any kind Limits: Infestation by storage insects (larvae, adult insects) not to exceed 2% |
| 5 | % Impurities | Not to exceed 5% |
| 7 | % Moisture | Not to exceed 10% |
8- General Notes
—