Abstract

Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) and lotus seed embryos (Plumula Nelumbinis, PN) are widely consumed functional foods, yet their gastroprotective constituents remain insufficiently defined. We conducted chemical profiling (HPLC–UV/LC–MS) and a mechanism-informed screening to identify candidate gastric health markers from PN and wheatgrass. Using a Ca²⁺ imaging assay in AGS cells, schaftoside, a C-glycosyl flavonoid was shown to activate TRPM5/Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger–dependent calcium signaling linked to mucin secretion. In vivo, PN extract (300 mg/kg), wheatgrass extract (300 mg/kg), the wheatgrass butanol fraction (40 mg/kg), and isolated schaftoside (60 mg/kg) significantly attenuated HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis and increased gastric mucus thickness in mice. These findings establish a chemical–biological framework for the gastric benefits of PN and wheatgrass, and support schaftoside (± isoorientin) as analytical markers for quality control and standardization in functional food development targeting gastric mucosal protection.