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15.4.1 Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Wheat (Triticum spp.) is an ancient grain and also one of the leading cereal crops,
ranking third in the world (Poudel and Bhatta 2017). Wheat grass has been used as
traditional herbal medicine and is highly valued for its therapeutic and nutritional
properties. Wheatgrass is the young grass of common wheat plant, Triticum aestivum belongings to the family Poaceae. It is commonly known for its high chlorophyll content which accounts for 70% of its chemical constituents. Triticum aestivum
was found to reduce symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to reduce
severity of rectal bleeding in patients with ulcerative colitis, and to reduce the frequency of blood transfusions in patients with thallasemia major. Wheat is considered as a good source of protein, minerals, B-group vitamins and dietary fibres
(Kumar et al. 2011).
In Unani system of medicine wheat is considered the best in all the variety of
grains. Due to its temperament wheat amongst all the types of grains and seeds is
most suitable with the temperament of human body and the most acceptable diet.
Wheat has two varieties; one is turgid, bulky and reddish, the other being whitish,
flaccid and light in weight. The former one is of best quality, providing more nutrition. On the other hand, the latter is less nutritive. A number of food items are prepared by wheat such as chapati, wheat sattu, wheat nashashta (wheat starch), daliya
(porridge) etc. (Table 15.2). (Ibn Sina 2007; Al Razi 1991; Ibn al Baitar 1999;
Majoosi 2010).
15.4.2 Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Barley is an annual, erect, stout and tufted grass, reaching a height of about
0.5–1.2 m. leaves are few and linear- lanceolate; spike is terminal, 5–6 cm long and
densely flowered. Glumes are two, small, narrow; short awned and enclosing three
spikelets. Its fruit is caryopsis, elliptic, 9 cm long, short pointed, smooth and free or
adherent to palea or both to lemma. Flowering and fruiting is during February–April
(Rajesh and Mita 2015).
15.4.3 Rice (Oryza sativa)
Rice is a dietary staple food and one of the most important cereal crops, especially
for people in Asia. It provides the bulk of daily calories for many companion animals and humans (Rohman et al. 2014). Rice is supplying as much as half of the
daily calories of the world population (Abbas et al. 2011). The first attempt to cultivate rice occurred around 10,000 years ago. Rice accounts for 21% global energy,
14% protein and 2% fat supply. Rice is a good source of natural antioxidants
15 Cereals and Grains as Functional Food in Unani System of Medicine
15.4.1 Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Wheat (Triticum spp.) is an ancient grain and also one of the leading cereal crops,
ranking third in the world (Poudel and Bhatta 2017). Wheat grass has been used as
traditional herbal medicine and is highly valued for its therapeutic and nutritional
properties. Wheatgrass is the young grass of common wheat plant, Triticum aestivum belongings to the family Poaceae. It is commonly known for its high chlorophyll content which accounts for 70% of its chemical constituents. Triticum aestivum
was found to reduce symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to reduce
severity of rectal bleeding in patients with ulcerative colitis, and to reduce the frequency of blood transfusions in patients with thallasemia major. Wheat is considered as a good source of protein, minerals, B-group vitamins and dietary fibres
(Kumar et al. 2011).
In Unani system of medicine wheat is considered the best in all the variety of
grains. Due to its temperament wheat amongst all the types of grains and seeds is
most suitable with the temperament of human body and the most acceptable diet.
Wheat has two varieties; one is turgid, bulky and reddish, the other being whitish,
flaccid and light in weight. The former one is of best quality, providing more nutrition. On the other hand, the latter is less nutritive. A number of food items are prepared by wheat such as chapati, wheat sattu, wheat nashashta (wheat starch), daliya
(porridge) etc. (Table 15.2). (Ibn Sina 2007; Al Razi 1991; Ibn al Baitar 1999;
Majoosi 2010).
15.4.2 Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Barley is an annual, erect, stout and tufted grass, reaching a height of about
0.5–1.2 m. leaves are few and linear- lanceolate; spike is terminal, 5–6 cm long and
densely flowered. Glumes are two, small, narrow; short awned and enclosing three
spikelets. Its fruit is caryopsis, elliptic, 9 cm long, short pointed, smooth and free or
adherent to palea or both to lemma. Flowering and fruiting is during February–April
(Rajesh and Mita 2015).
15.4.3 Rice (Oryza sativa)
Rice is a dietary staple food and one of the most important cereal crops, especially
for people in Asia. It provides the bulk of daily calories for many companion animals and humans (Rohman et al. 2014). Rice is supplying as much as half of the
daily calories of the world population (Abbas et al. 2011). The first attempt to cultivate rice occurred around 10,000 years ago. Rice accounts for 21% global energy,
14% protein and 2% fat supply. Rice is a good source of natural antioxidants
15 Cereals and Grains as Functional Food in Unani System of Medicine