Bioactives in Commonly Consumed Cereal Grains: Implications for Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Oxidative stress and inflammation are closely linked to various chronic diseases. Thus, targeting this axis of oxidative stress and inflammation is a particularly interesting area of study for reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including, but not limited to, metabolic disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. It is well known that antioxidants play a pivotal role in tuning this axis. In this review, we introduce five different cereal grains, which are the most commonly consumed throughout the world and are functionally reported to have antioxidant activity: oat (Avena spp.), barley (Hordeum spp.), rice (Oryza spp.), wheat (Triticum spp.), and rye (Secale spp.). Bioactive components of these grains, partial grains or whole grains, have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in cells and animals. Although further study is required to establish their efficacy for treating patients with chronic diseases, we suggest that grains, which are a great source of antioxidants, have potential in the prevention of oxidative stress and inflammation-related chronic diseases.