氧化壓力已被認為與多種疾病有關，故攝取高量抗氧化物質可預防自由基造成之氧化性傷害。小麥胚芽被認為具調節血壓與血糖之能力，故本研究探討不同濃度乙醇 (水、50%及75%乙醇) 之新鮮小麥胚芽萃取物之抗氧化活性。結果發現，小麥胚芽水萃物具有最佳清除DPPH與ABTS自由基之能力，且其還原力均優於50%與75%乙醇萃取物，此係因小麥胚芽水萃物含有較高量之酚類化合物與類黃酮。於細胞試驗中，小麥胚芽水萃物可有效提升鼠正常肝細胞株 (Clone 9) 抗氧化酵素活性 (catalase、glutathione reductase與glutathione peroxidase)，顯示小麥胚芽水萃物具化學預防之效應。

Oxidative stress is associated with several diseases, and thus the high antioxidant dietary can prevent injury caused by free radicals. The wheaten embryo is thought to possess anti-blood pressure and anti-hyperglycemia abilities. The antioxidative properties of different wheaten embryo extracts using water, 50% and 75% ethanol were evaluated. Results showed that the water extracts of the wheaten embryo had superior ability in scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-pichrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiasoline 6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals. And the water extracts was superior to the extracts of 50% and 75% ethanol on the reducing power, due to more phenolic compounds and favonoid present in the water extracts of wheaten embryo. Moreover, the water extracts of wheaten embryo effectively increased antioxidative enzyme activities (catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase) in normal rat liver cells (Clone 9), indicating that
the water extracts of wheaten embryo had chemopreventive effects.