- Oat seed extract comes from a common oat grown worldwide, Avena sativa. Oat seeds are a rich source of vitamins A, B, E, iron, zinc, manganese and calcium. Oil is extracted from oat seeds and made into a tincture, which is used in homeopathic medicine, cosmetic products and for its various health benefits.
Fights Fungus
- Oat seed extract inhibits the growth of Penicillium roqueforti, a blue-green fungus that contaminates industrial food processes, according to a study published in the March 2010 issue of “Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology.” Oat seed extract was evaluated with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and found to possess antifungal activity that is 10 times more abundant than barley, wheat and rye.
Kills Bacteria
- Oat seed extract is an effective antimicrobial agent when tested against the gram positive bacteria S. aureus and gram negative bacteria such as Klebsiella, P. vulgaris, Pseudomonas aerugiuosa, E. coli, A. niger and candida, according to a study published in the January 2010 issue of the “African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry.” The study concluded that oat seed extract might be an effective component in drugs as an alternative to commercial antimicrobial drugs used in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Improved Brain Function
- Using oat seed extract may help improve your responses and focus, according to a study published in the July 2011 issue of the “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.” The double-blind study used elderly volunteers who showed low cognitive performance and gave them single doses of oat seed extract at weekly intervals. The study concluded that oat seed extract in doses of 1600 milligrams may help improve your attention span, concentration and your ability to maintain focus while doing various tasks.
Diabetes
- Another possible medical use of oat seed extract is in diabetes management. Using oat seed extract may cause a release of insulin and help normalize your blood glucose levels. A study by the Biotechnology Division, Department of Applied Science at the University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq used 25 Wistar rats divided into five groups of five. All groups were given injections that rendered them diabetic. Four of the five groups were administered oat seed extract in varying quantities, but the control group was given only water. Blood glucose levels were measured after one week, and the rats given the oat seed extract had a 20 percent decrease in blood sugar levels, a 35 percent decrease after two weeks and 50 percent after three weeks. The study concluded that oat seed extract was effective at significantly lowering blood glucose levels in diabetic rats.
Source: Thompson, Caroline; “What Are the Benefits of Oat Seed Extract?”, 23