83THE NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC IMPORTANCE OF AVENA SATIVA - AN OVERVIEWAvena sativa is a rich source of protein, minerals, lipids, β-glucan, avenanthramides, indole alkaloid, flavonoids, triterpenoidsaponins, lipids and sterols. It exerted many pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, dermatological, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, gastrointestinal, hypolipidemic, neurol ogical, cardiovascular and many other biological activities. This paper will highlight its chemical constituents and potential therapeutic effect.aboahmad61@yahoo.comReview512015Avena sativa,Oat,Pharmacology,Chemical constituentsAli Esmail Al-SnafiDepartment of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Thiqar University, Iraq