Latin Name: Triticum sativum
English Names: Common Wheat, Bread Wheat
Sanskrit / Indian Name: Godhuma

An annual grass. Wheat is a good source of mineral nutrients.
It contains significant amounts of iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc; iodine and cobalt are present in trace amounts. Whole wheat is a good source of thiamin and nicotinic acid. Wheat is a rich source of tocopherols with high vitamin-E potency that nourishes and prevents loss of moisture from the skin. The oil is used to tone and soften the lips and has a potent antioxidant activity. This protect the skin from scavenging free-radicals, prevents premature aging and reduces ultra violet rays induced damage. It helps in proper drainage of secretions from the sebaceous and other glands of the skin and thereby helps in preventing black heads.

Wheat germ is reported to contain small quantities of ergosterol and dihydroergosterol. Starch is the principal carbohydrate of wheat; glucose and fructose are present in small amounts. Wheat germ contains hemagglutinating and antitryptic factors. These are destroyed by toasting and autoclaving. The germ also contains three hemoproteins, all possessing peroxidase activity. Cytochrome C has been isolated in crystalline form in a yield of 2mg. per kilogram germ. A nontoxic and anti-esinophilic protein is reported to be present in wheat germ.