Barley grass, the young, green grass of the barley plant, has gained notoriety among populations around the world. It has gotten popular enough that researchers globally have taken note and decided to examine barley grass juice and other cereal grass juices scientifically. (Scientists are usually the last ones to figure out what works.) Here, in two recent studies, one from Nepal and one from Poland, we see that not only does green barley grass juice function as an antioxidant and have anti-inflammatory properties, but it also helps with wound healing. Let’s dive into the science a bit and see what this could mean for health conditions like diabetes.
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential
A 2020 study by Panthi and coworkers in Kathmandu, Nepal, explored the bioactive properties of barley grass (BG) extracts. The researchers found that barley grass is rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which contribute to its strong antioxidant activity. These phenolic compounds neutralize some of the harmful free radicals in the body, which lowers oxidative stress levels. The study also showed that barley grass could stabilize red blood cell membranes, which is an indication of anti-inflammatory properties.
Additionally, the study noted that barley grass extracts showed significant bioactivity in a brine shrimp assay, which correlates with potential anti-tumor effects. This opens the door for further research into barley grass as a source of plant-derived anti-cancer compounds, making it a promising candidate for functional health applications. (We will dig more into the anti-cancer results in a future blog.)
Wound Healing: A Dual Effect on Normal and Cancer Cells
A second study, published by Karbarz and coworkers in 2019 from the University of Rzeszow in Poland, focused on the effects of freshly squeezed cereal grass juices, including barley grass, on wound healing. Using an in vitro “scratch” assay, the researchers demonstrated that barley grass juice promotes wound healing in normal fibroblasts (healthy connective tissue cells) through a hormetic mechanism. This mechanism involves low-dose stimulation of adaptive responses via pathways like NF-κB/HO-1 and insulin/IGF-1, which enhance antioxidant defenses and accelerate tissue repair.
Interestingly, the same juice had the opposite effect on cancerous fibroblasts (ES-2 cells). In cancer cells, barley grass juice increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), leading to DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and impaired wound healing. This dual action—supporting healthy cells while inhibiting cancerous ones—suggests that barley grass juice could play a role in targeted therapeutic strategies.
Just a side note here: It may seem remarkable to you that barley grass juice can have opposite effects on normal and cancerous cells, unlike many pharmaceutical therapeutics out in the marketplace. However, this is the normal outcome when working with natural, plant-based foods and phytonutrients, and beneficial compounds from plants. It seems as if God designed the plants to help us heal and achieve excellent health, rather than to harm us. This is in alignment with Genesis 1:29, where God gave us the original diet of plants for mankind and the animal kingdom as well.
Connecting to Bz-TMF Flavone and Diabetes Management
The findings from these studies are in alignment with what I recently published in the blog article on Bz-TMF, the unique flavone compound found in barley grass juice. Bz-TMF has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and help regulate blood sugar levels, which is very helpful for people struggling to manage their diabetes symptoms. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of barley grass, as highlighted in the study by Panthi and coworkers, probably enhance, or perhaps overlap the activities of Bz-TMF.
And the wound-healing properties seen in the study by Karbarz and coworkers is especially pertinent for people with diabetes, as slow wound healing is a big issue. High blood sugar levels make wounds heal more slowly due to impaired fibroblast function. The ability of barley grass juice to promote healing in healthy fibroblasts could translate into improved wound healing for people. This results hasn’t been rigorously tested in people though.
Why Barley Grass Matters
Together, these studies imply that barley grass has great potential as a functional food with a wide range of health benefits. As a whole food, there are several compounds that are beneficial, not just one. And these compounds, such as the flavonoids, have an array of interactions with living cells. This is why we see anti-inflammatory effects, wound healing effects, and even different (good) responses in healthy and cancerous cells, just as if it is designed as a beneficial food. The presence of Bz-TMF flavone further enhances green barley grass juice’s relevance for helping people struggling with chronic conditions like diabetes, where inflammation, oxidative stress and poor wound healing are all major concerns.
As research continues, barley grass is maturing as a cornerstone of natural health strategies. People around the globe are figuring out the benefits of green cereal grass juice as they tune into natural healing methods while rejecting drugs and pharmaceuticals that only treat symptoms, cause side effects, and ignore the underlying root causes. Natural products often address underlying inflammatory pathways via multiple mechanisms and bring side benefits. Maybe, just maybe getting some BarleyMax for yourself would be a great step toward better wound healing.
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