Many years ago scientists searched to identify the compound in barley, wheat, rye, and oat grasses that boosted growth of lab animals that couldn’t be replaced with any known vitamins or minerals. They called it “the grass juice factor.” Scientists have identified a flavone in barley grass juice powder that seems to be key for improving blood sugar control, decreasing inflammation, and protecting lab animals from the complications of diabetes. Clearly these effects aren’t from the vitamins and minerals in the powder. Our results with barley grass juice powder have shown that you don’t need a large dose of this potent superfood to see health improvements. Maybe this flavone plays an bigger-than-life role in making barley grass juice powder a potent superfood for overcoming health challenges in lab animals. Maybe this flavone is the elusive grass juice factor?
Meet 3′-benzyloxy-5,6,7,4′-tetramethoxyflavone, (we’ll call it Bz-TMF) a tongue-twister of a name for a compound found in barley grass powder and barley grass juice powder that made quite a splash in a recent set of animal studies. Let’s dive into the science while making this easy to understand, and explore why this little molecule might be worth your attention.
Found in the vigorous young shoots of barley (the source of barley grass juice powders like BarleyMax), Bz-TMF is a type of flavone, a plant compound packed with health-boosting potential. Think of it as a supercharged nutrient that fights off harmful molecules in your body, like a tiny superhero. In a 2021 study out of Cairo University, researchers found it makes up about 49% of the natural phytochemicals from barley grass powder (as analyzed by GC-MS/MS technique), suggesting it’s a major player in their health effects. While Bz-TMF not a household name (yet!), its early results in animal studies are getting noticed.
In the fascinating study from 2021, which we discussed in a recent blog article, scientists fed barley microgreens, rich in this flavone, to rats with experimentally-induced diabetes. Some rats were also exposed to aflatoxin, a toxic mold compound that compounds the effects of diabetes. Here’s what they found:
- Blood Sugar Control: The extract, driven by this flavone, lowered blood sugar levels.
- Antioxidant Power: It reduced oxidative stress (think of this as cellular rust) by boosting natural antioxidants like glutathione and enzymes that protect cells.
- Heart and Kidney Health: The flavone helped normalize cholesterol and triglycerides, protecting the heart, and reduced damage to kidneys and the liver, as observed under the microscope.
- Reproductive Protection: In diabetic male rats, it improved sperm health and reduced testicular damage, a lesser-known diabetes complication.
- Toxin Defense: Aflatoxin is a potent liver toxin, and the flavone-rich extract preserved organ function and reduced inflammation in exposed animals.
While barley grass juice powder does have a broad array of nutrients, these impressive results are not because of the vitamin C, vitamin E, or carotenoids in the powder. It isn’t the chlorophyll. We already know that the “grass juice factor” is responsible for these results. Could this flavone be the elusive grass juice factor?
So, what makes this flavone so special? Its structure—a flavonoid with methoxy and benzyloxy groups—gives it unique abilities.
While we don’t have studies isolating this exact flavone, similar compounds to Bz-TMF, other tri-, tetra- and penta- methoxyflavones, also helps reduce inflammation and protect cartilage, reduced multidrug resistance and enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Here are 5 studies that you can explore to see more of what these flavones can do:
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5,7,3′,4′-Tetramethoxyflavone Exhibits Chondroprotective Activity by Targeting β-Catenin Signaling In Vivo and In Vitro
This study shows TMF protects cartilage in rat models of osteoarthritis. -
5,7,3′,4′-Tetramethoxyflavone Protects Chondrocytes from ER Stress-Induced Apoptosis Through Regulation of the IRE1α Pathway
TMF prevents cartilage cell death in osteoarthritis models. -
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 serious lung condition. -
Reversal of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance by 5,6,7,3′,4′-pentamethoxyflavone (Sinensetin)
Multidrug resistance (MDR) cells were sensitized to anticancer drugs by treatment with this pentamethoxyflavone. -
5,7,4′-Trimethoxyflavone triggers cancer cell PD-L1 ubiquitin-proteasome degradation and facilitates antitumor immunity by targeting HRD1
TMF reduces PD-L1 expression in cancer cells, enhancing immune responses against tumors.
Here’s the catch: these exciting results come from lab animal studies, not people. Animal studies are a great starting point, but humans are different—our bodies might not respond the same way. And Bz-TMF was not isolated by itself. It is just a major component of barley grass juice powder, so it makes you think that it might be an important compound. Studies with people are needed to confirm if it can lower blood sugar, protect organs, or fight inflammation in people with diabetes. For now, it’s a promising lead, not a proven cure.
My guess is that it is helpful, based on what we know about people using BarleyMax, but that the results won’t be as dramatic as they are in lab rats. (For example, scientists have cured cancer in lab rats with many things that don’t work in people.) But Bz-TMF is likely to be helpful, and especially so when you combine it with a health-promoting diet and lifestyle.
You can’t go and buy capsules of this flavone. It is only found in foods, not isolated by itself at this point. You can find Bz-TMF in barley grass juice powder like BarleyMax, available right here at Hallelujah Diet. Here’s a few ways to add them to your routine:
- Smoothie Boost: Blend a teaspoon of barley grass juice powder into a smoothie with berries, spinach, and almond milk.
- Mix with Water: Just stir a teaspoon of BarleyMax into a glass of water for an energy boost before any meal.
- Start Small: Begin with a small amount to see how your body reacts, and check with your trusted naturally-minded health care practitioner, especially if you’re on diabetes meds.
Pair this with a diabetes-friendly lifestyle (plant-based, whole foods diet, regular exercise, excellent restorative sleep, and stress management) —for the best shot at better health. See our other blog about simple tips to combat type 2 diabetes, like drinking water before meals and taking walks after meals.
The science on Bz-TMF is just getting started. While the 2021 study is a strong first step, there is plenty to find out about this flavone. Here is an idea of what should come next:
- An intervention in people to see if barley grass juice powder does lessen the burden of diabetes.
- A lab analysis to isolate the flavone and then test it by itself to see if it works as well on its own as it does in barley grass juice powder.
- Explore the flavone’s potential for other conditions, like inflammation or heart disease.
For now, it’s a hidden gem in the world of natural health, with early evidence suggesting it could be a powerful ally for managing diabetes. Maybe some day they will isolate it and show that it indeed is the grass juice factor. But it is likely to work best right in the context of the rest of the barley grass juice powder ingredients. So, don’t wait for the scientific proof. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. There is no health risk in trying it. So, go ahead and get some BarleyMax today.
