Comparative analysis of physicochemicals and antioxidative properties in new red rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Gunganghongmi)

Comparative study of conventional steam cooking and microwave cooking on cooked pigmented rice texture and their phenolic antioxidant

The impact of two different cooking processes (microwave and steaming) on cooked rice quality (i.e., texture), and changes in the bioactive compounds (total phenolic content [TPC] and total anthocyanin content [TAC]) and antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP assays) of black and red (nonwaxy) and purple (waxy) pigmented rice were investigated. No significant difference in the firmness between microwave-cooked rice and steam-cooked rice was found, except for cooked purple rice. However, microwave cooking promoted an increase in the cooked rice adhesiveness, which approximately higher 2- ~ 3-fold than that of steam cooking with varying among rice cultivars. Microwave cooking also exhibited significantly higher TPC (1.2- ~ 2.0-fold), TAC (2.0- ~ 3.2-fold), DPPH (1.3- ~ 2.5-fold), and FRAP (1.5- ~ 2.4-fold) than steam cooking for black and purple rice cultivars. There was a strong positive correlation among these bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activities (p < .01). Our study indicated that the TPC, TAC, DPPH, and FRAP of all rice examined were remarkably decreased after cooking, and the extent of the decrease depended on the rice cultivar and cooking method.

Chemopreventive Potential of Cereal Polyphenols

It has been identified that diet is one of the major contributing factors associated with the development of cancer and other chronic pathologies. In the recent years, supplementing regular diet with food and/or its components that contain chemopreventive properties has been considered an effective approach in reducing the incidence of cancer and other lifestyle associated diseases. This systematic review provides an exhaustive summary of the chemopreventive properties exhibited by everyday dietary ingredients such as rice, barley, oats, and sorghum. The studies both in vitro and in vivo reviewed have highlighted the potential role of their polyphenolic content as chemopreventive agents. Polyphenolic compounds including anthocyanins, tricin, protocatechualdehyde, avenanthramide, and 3-deoxyanthocyanins found in rice, barley, oats, and sorghum, respectively, were identified as compounds with potent bioactivity. Studies demonstrated that cereal polyphenols are likely to have chemopreventive activities, particularly those found in pigmented varieties. In conclusion, findings suggest that the consumption of pigmented cereals could potentially have an important role as a natural complementary cancer preventive therapeutic. However, further studies to develop a complete understanding of the mechanisms by which phenolic compounds inhibit cancerous cell proliferation are warranted.

Rice antioxidants: phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, tocopherols, tocotrienols, γ-oryzanol, and phytic acid

Epidemiological studies suggested that the low incidence of certain chronic diseases in rice-consuming regions of the world might be associated with the antioxidant compound contents of rice. The molecules with antioxidant activity contained in rice include phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, tocopherols, tocotrienols, γ-oryzanol, and phytic acid. This review provides information on the contents of these compounds in rice using a food composition database built from compiling data from 316 papers. The database provides access to information that would have otherwise remained hidden in the literature. For example, among the four types of rice ranked by color, black rice varieties emerged as those exhibiting the highest antioxidant activities, followed by purple, red, and brown rice varieties. Furthermore, insoluble compounds appear to constitute the major fraction of phenolic acids and proanthocyanidins in rice, but not of flavonoids and anthocyanins. It is clear that to maximize the intake of antioxidant compounds, rice should be preferentially consumed in the form of bran or as whole grain. With respect to breeding, japonica rice varieties were found to be richer in antioxidant compounds compared with indica rice varieties. Overall, rice grain fractions appear to be rich sources of antioxidant compounds. However, on a whole grain basis and with the exception of γ-oryzanol and anthocyanins, the contents of antioxidants in other cereals appear to be higher than those in rice.