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.