Policosanol profiles and adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation potential of Korean wheat seedling extracts according to cultivar and growth time

•Policosanols of wheat seedlings showed remarkable differences in cultivars and growth times.•The highest average policosanol contents showed 738.7 mg/100 g on 6 days after sowing.•Octacosanol was the predominant component in various cultivars of wheat seedlings.•AMPK activation exhibited considerable differences in growth times of wheat seedlings.•Octacosanol in wheat seedlings possessed potent AMPK activator.