Schaftoside as a functional marker for gastroprotection in wheatgrass and lotus seed embryos

Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) and lotus seed embryos (Plumula Nelumbinis, PN) are widely consumed functional foods, yet efficacy-relevant quality control markers for gastroprotection remain unclear. We integrated HPLC-UV/LC-MS profiling with a function-guided cellular screen to identify marker candidates from PN and wheatgrass. In AGS cells, the C-glycosyl flavonoid schaftoside evoked Ca²⁺ signaling coupled to mucin-related responses, which were selectively attenuated by inhibition of the TRPM5/Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger-linked pathway. In mice, PN extract (300 mg/kg), wheatgrass extract (300 mg/kg), the wheatgrass butanol fraction (40 mg/kg), and isolated schaftoside (60 mg/kg) reduced HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis and increased gastric mucus thickness. Collectively, these data link schaftoside in PN and wheatgrass to a TRPM5/NCX-associated mucin-protective pathway, establishing it as a mechanism-linked functional QC marker; given its scalability and schaftoside-rich profile, wheatgrass appears more suitable for future product development, with isoorientin as a supplementary analytical marker.