Highland barley: Chemical composition, bioactive compounds, health effects, and applications

Highland barley (Hordeum vulgare, Poaceae) contains wide-ranging nutrients, such as bioactive carbohydrates and polyphenols, minerals, vitamins, phenolic, flavonoids, and β-glucan. The unique composition of highland barley contributes to its various health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, antibacteria, antiobesity, antifatigue antiaging hyperglycaemia, and hyperlipidemia. Compared with various barley cultivars, highland barley contains higher amounts of bioactive components including β-glucan, thereby displaying greater efficiency in inhibiting/treating different disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and cancers. This review describes the present knowledge on the chemical composition of highland barley and their biofunctions as researched by both in vitro and in vivo models. The food-industry uses of highland barley are gaining research interest because of its large β-glucan content. Indeed, the health-food applications of highland barley are increasing. Highland barley can further be developed as a sustainable crop to enhance human health.