Wheat Grass: the Green Blood That can Help to Fight Cancer?

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and is one of the leading causes of death, especially in developing countries like India. Cancer is a hyperproliferative disorder that is usually managed with the help of chemotherapeutic agents that are toxic not only to tumour cells, but also to normal cell in many ways. In addition, these agents are very expensive and thus not affordable for most. Moreover, these agents cannot be used for the prevention of cancer. In contrast, the traditional herbal medicines used from ancient days in India are generally known to be free of the deleterious effects and are inexpensive but effective. Wheatgrass is the young grass of the wheat plant "Tritcum aestivum Linn." from the family Poeaecae (Graminae). It contains a plethora of vitamins, mineral, amino acids, and vital enzymes like dismutase superoxide and cytochrome oxydase. These enzymes play an important role in the anticancer approach of this herbal product. It is also called "green blood' because of its high chlorophyll content, which accounts for 70% of its chemical composition. Chlorophyll bears a structural similarity with hemoglobin and thus results in a high oxygen supply to all the body tissues. Aim of the study: To analyse the effect of wheat grass extract on an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line. Materials and methods: KB (Mouth Epidermal Carcinoma Cells) was used for the present study. Aqueous extract of wheat grass was prepared in the institution. The effect of aqueous extract was studied on an OSCC cell line (KB cell line). Conclusion: Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by aqueous extract of wheatgrass, which is abundantly grown in India. Parole chiave: Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum), Oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line, Oral squamous cell carcinoma