Characterization and bioactivities of young rice protein hydrolysates

Immature rice was reported to contain higher quantities of bioactive compounds than mature rice. Young rice protein is easy to digest and has hypoallergenic potential, with protein content of 7.2–11.5% compared to rice bran at 9.8%. Few studies have reported on bioactivities and characterization of young rice proteins and their hydrolysates. Bioactivities of native protein and protein hydrolysates of two rice varieties (white rice and colored rice) were characterized and investigated for four development stages (flowery, milky, dough, and mature). Degree of hydrolysis of young rice protein was considerably higher than at the mature stage. Highest DPPH and iron chelating activity were found in alcalase® protein hydrolysate during the flowery-to-milky stage. Iron chelating activity was constant in all development stages because of the low polar amino acid content in rice. The ACE activity of alcalase® protein hydrolysate was higher than native protein at the same development stage, as observed in the milky and dough stages. Inhibitory activity of young rice hydrolysate HepG2 cells was concentration-dependent and not correlated with protein molecular size.