Variation of Phenolics,Tocols, Antioxidant Activities,and Soluble Sugar Compositions in Red and Black Rice (Oryza sativa L.) During Boiling

This study systematically examined hydrothermal effects of antioxidant substances, such as total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), and proanthocyanidin (TPAC) contents, cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside (C3G), peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside (P3G), α‐, γ‐, and δ‐tocopherols, and α‐, γ‐, and δ‐tocotrienols, as well as antioxidant activities, color parameters, and soluble sugar compositions in red and black rice. It showed that color differences (ΔE ) of black rice were higher than those of red rice caused by boiling. The processed red and black rice exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) lower TPC, TFC, TPAC, C3G, P3G, and antioxidant activities compared with the raw rice except bound TPC and bound antioxidant activity. Interestingly, soluble free p‐coumaric and ferulic acids had higher contents in cooked red rice, and soluble free protocatechuic, vanillic, and sinapic acids had higher contents in cooked black rice. Boiling caused significant decreases of soluble conjugated phenolic acids and significant increases of insoluble bound phenolic acids in both red and black rice. Increases of total free tocol, glucose, and fructose contents were observed in most red and black rice. To increase the contents of some soluble free and insoluble bound phenolic acids, free vitamin E, and monosaccharides in red and black rice, boiled rice might be a good choice.     

Effects of Germination Duration on Milling,Physicochemical, and Textural Properties of Medium‐ and Long‐Grain Rice

Germinated brown rice is popular in Asia for its increased γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) content and sweeter and softer texture compared with conventional brown rice. However, most studies investigated germinated rice properties on medium‐grain or aromatic rice. The objective of this study was to compare differences between a medium‐grain (Jupiter) and a long‐grain (Wells) rice under similar germination conditions on their milling, physicochemical, and textural properties over the course of germination. Rough rice was soaked in water at 25°C for 12 h and then incubated at 30–34°C for four germination durations. Wells had a higher breakage percentage and a greater weight decrease than Jupiter during germination. Wells had a significantly lower GABA content before germination and at the first two germination durations than Jupiter, but the GABA content in Wells significantly increased at the third germination duration to become significantly higher than that of Jupiter. There were no significant changes in gelatinization temperatures and pasting properties of germinated rice from both cultivars at different germination durations. The cooked rice hardness from Wells decreased at the longest germination duration, whereas Jupiter showed a more significant decrease in cooked rice stickiness from germination. The results demonstrate that the impacts of germination on physical, chemical, and textural properties of rice were affected by grain type and germination duration.     

Comparison of Composition,Protein, Pasting,and Phenolic Compounds of Brown Rice and Germinated Brown Rice from Different Cultivars

Physical characteristics, amino acids composition, protein profiling, pasting characteristics, and phenolic compounds of brown rice (BR) and germinated brown rice (GBR) from different paddy cultivars (PB1, PS44, PB1509, PB1121, and PS5) were investigated. L* (lightness) decreased, but a* (redness and greenness) and b* (yellowness and blueness) increased with germination. Protein and ash content increased, whereas fat and amylose contents decreased with germination. GBR showed lower hardness and gumminess than BR. Foam stability and water absorption capacity from GBR flour were higher compared with BR flour. Accumulation of γ‐aminobutyric acid, histidine, arginine, proline, methionine, and acidic amino acids increased significantly with germination, and increase was related to change in accumulation of glutelin and prolamins. The accumulation of prolamins and glutelin acidic and basic subunits decreased with germination. GBR flour showed lower pasting viscosities compared with BR flour. Ferulic acid, p‐coumaric acid, and quercetin were present in both fractions of the bound form. GBR showed improved nutritional quality that varied in different cultivars. PB1121 was observed to be the best for producing GBR owing to greater changes brought in protein content, essential amino acids, catechin, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, and foam stability.     

Salt Stress Induces Accumulation of γ–Aminobutyric Acid in Germinated Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.)

Effects of NaCl treatments on sprout length, the contents of soluble protein, free amino acids, and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and on glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity in germinated foxtail millet were investigated, and the regulating effects of exogenous Ca²⁺, along with lanthanum chloride (LaCl₃, a specific inhibitor of the Ca²⁺ pathway) and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA, a chelator of Ca²⁺) under salt stress, on GABA accumulation in germinated millet were examined in this paper. The results showed that NaCl treatments caused a decrease in sprout length of millet. Low concentration of NaCl treatments increased soluble protein content, but high concentration decreased soluble protein content. The level of free amino acids, GAD activity, and GABA content increased significantly under NaCl stress. Exogenous Ca²⁺ application under NaCl stress further increased GAD activity and GABA content; the optimal concentration of Ca²⁺ for GAD activity and GABA accumulation was 5.0mM under 100mM NaCl for 48 hr, at which GABA content was 31.92 mg/100 g, a 1.41‐fold increase as compared with that in seeds under NaCl stress (22.64 mg/100 g). GAD activity and GABA accumulation in germinated millet decreased when treated with LaCl₃ or EGTA under NaCl stress. Our results suggest that salt stress combined with Ca²⁺ treatment may be used for preparation of millet with higher GABA content, which can be used as a natural resource for functional foods.     

Effect of Parboiling on Milling,Physicochemical, and Textural Properties of Medium‐ and Long‐Grain Germinated Brown Rice

Germinated brown rice is considered a more nutritious and palatable cooked product than conventional brown rice. However, germination usually decreases rice milling yield and alters some physicochemical properties. Parboiling is commonly used to increase milling yield and retain nutrients, but it also changes rice color and texture. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of parboiling on milling, physicochemical, and textural properties of a medium‐grain and a long‐grain rice after germination at varying durations. Germinated rice samples of three germination durations were prepared with one germination time before the optimum time at which 70% of rice revealed hull protrusion, the optimum time, and one time after. Germinated rice was then immediately parboiled at 120°C for 20 min and was then immediately dried. The milling, physicochemical, and textural properties of parboiled germinated rice from both cultivars were determined. Parboiling significantly decreased the percentage of brokens, whiteness, and the apparent amylose content and increased γ‐aminobutyric acid content (GABA) in the nongerminated rice and rice at the first germination duration for both cultivars. Parboiling reduced pasting viscosities for both cultivars, but Jupiter still exhibited higher pasting viscosities than Wells. Cooked parboiled germinated rice was overall softer than nonparboiled rice because of kernel splitting, but Wells remained harder and less sticky than Jupiter. In conclusion, it is beneficial to combine parboiling with germination to enhance nutritional values and improve milling properties without affecting textural properties for both rice cultivars.     

Germinated Brown Rice Enhances Antioxidant Activities and Immune Functions in Aged Mice

The present work was designed to obtain information on the effect of germinated brown rice (GBR) that has undergone different germination times (zero, one, two, three, and four days) on antioxidant activities and immune functions in aged mice. White rice (WR) was also investigated as a comparison. Chemical analysis of rice samples showed that the amounts of most nutritional and bioactive components increased significantly after two days of germination and were much higher in GBR and brown rice (BR) than in WR. Animal feeding experiments showed that dietary GBR and BR performed much better than WR in enhancing antioxidant activities and improving immune function in aged mice, and dietary GBR from three to four days of germination overall exhibited a better effect than GBR from zero to two days of germination.     

Antioxidants and antioxidant activity of several pigmented rice brans

This study investigated the antioxidant content and activity of phenolic acids, anthocyanins, α-tocopherol and γ-oryzanol in pigmented rice (black and red rice) brans. After methanolic extraction, the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and antioxidant activity were measured. The pigmented rice bran extract had a greater reducing power than a normal rice bran extract from a long grain white rice. All bran extracts were highly effective in inhibiting linoleic acid peroxidation (60-85%). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of antioxidants in rice bran found that γ-oryzanol (39-63%) and phenolic acids (33-43%) were the major antioxidants in all bran samples, and black rice bran also contained anthocyanins 18-26%. HPLC analysis of anthocyanins showed that pigmented bran was rich in cyanidin-3-glucoside (58-95%). Ferulic acid was the dominant phenolic acid in the rice bran samples. Black rice bran contained gallic, hydroxybenzoic, and protocatechuic acids in higher contents than red rice bran and normal rice bran. Furthermore, the addition of 5% black rice bran to wheat flour used for making bread produced a marked increase in the free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity compared to a control bread.     

Analysis of phenolic compounds in white rice, brown rice, and germinated brown rice

Two hydroxycinnamate sucrose esters, 6'-O-(E)-feruloylsucrose and 6'-O-(E)-sinapoylsucrose, were isolated from methanol extracts of rice bran. Soluble and insoluble phenolic compounds as well as 6'-O-(E)-feruloylsucrose and 6'-O-(E)-sinapoylsucrose from white rice, brown rice, and germinated brown rice were analyzed using HPLC. The results demonstrated that the content of insoluble phenolic compounds was significantly higher than that of soluble phenolics in rice, whereas almost all compounds identified in germinated brown rice and brown rice were more abundant than those in white rice. 6'-O-(E)-Feruloylsucrose (1.09 mg/100 g of flour) and 6'-O-(E)-sinapoylsucrose (0.41 mg/100 g of flour) were found to be the major soluble phenolic compounds in brown rice. During germination, an approximately 70% decrease was observed in the content of the two hydroxycinnamate sucrose esters, whereas free phenolic acid content increased significantly; the ferulic acid content of brown rice (0.32 mg/100 g of flour) increased to 0.48 mg/100 g of flour and became the most abundant phenolic compound in germinated brown rice. The content of sinapinic acid increased to 0.21 mg/100 g of flour, which is nearly 10 times as much as that in brown rice (0.02 mg/100 g of flour). In addition, the total content of insoluble phenolic compounds increased from 18.47 mg/100 g of flour in brown rice to 24.78 mg/100 g of flour in germinated brown rice. These data suggest that appropriate germination of brown rice may be a method to improve health-related benefits.     

Tocopherols,Tocotrienols, and γ‐Oryzanol Contents in Japonica and Indica Subspecies of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivated in Brazil

Whole rice contains several fat‐soluble phytochemicals such as tocopherols, tocotrienols, and γ‐oryzanol which have been reported to possess beneficial health properties. This study was conducted to determine whether brown rice belonging to indica and japonica subspecies were distinguishable from each other regarding the concentration of these compounds by analyzing 32 genotypes. The fat‐soluble compounds were analyzed by normal‐phase HPLC in a single run. The variability of the compounds analyzed was high, but the mean content of γ‐oryzanol across all samples was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in japonica (246.3 mg/kg) than in indica rice (190.1 mg/kg). Similar differences were found for total vitamin E contents which were 24.2 mg/kg in japonica and 17.1 mg/kg in indica rice, respectively. In japonica rice, α‐tocopherol, α‐tocotrienol, and γ‐tocotrienol were the most abundant homologs, while in indica rice the most abundant were γ‐tocotrienol, α‐tocopherol, and α‐tocotrienol. A significant Pearson coefficient (0.80, P < 0.001) between α‐tocopherol and α‐tocotrienol levels was found, independent of the subspecies. Both compounds were positively correlated to total tocols and γ‐oryzanol contents. Although more studies are needed to evaluate the interference of growing rice in different environments and multiple years, the present study provided information on natural variations of the vitamin E isomers and the γ‐oryzanol contents in different rice genotypes.     

Effect of light conditions on the contents of glucosinolates in germinating seeds of white mustard, red radish, white radish, and rapeseed

The study was aimed at determining the effect of light conditions on contents of glucosinolates (GLS) in germinating seeds of white mustard, red radish, white radish, and rapeseed. The seeds were germinated in light and dark, at 25 degrees C, for up to 7 days. As compared to the nongerminated seeds, in seeds exposed to light and germinated for 4, 5, 6, and 7 days the content of total GLS was observed to decrease by 30 to 70% depending on the species. Germination in conducted the dark for the respective periods of time resulted in decreases of total GLS not exceeding 25%. The changes in the concentration of total GLS were attributed to aliphatic GLS predominating in seeds, yet in the case of white mustard to sinalbin belonging to aralkyl glucosinolates. Although seeds germinated in the dark, as compared to those exposed to light, were characterized by a higher total content of indole GLS, the percentage contribution of that group of compounds in white mustard, red radish, and white radish remained at a similar level, irrespective of germination time. Only in the case of rapeseed was the percentage of the sum of indole GLS observed to increase from 17 to up to 45% once the seeds were exposed to light and to 50% once they were germinated in the dark.     

Germination‐Improved Ethanol Fermentation Performance of High‐Tannin Sorghum in a Laboratory Dry‐Grind Process

A high‐tannin sorghum cultivar with 3.96% tannin content was used to study the effects of germination on its ethanol fermentation performance in a laboratory dry‐grind process. High‐tannin sorghum sample was germinated for 3 and 4 days. Original and germinated samples were analyzed for tannin, starch, protein, free amino nitrogen (FAN), and glucose content. Endosperm structures and flour pasting properties of germinated and nongerminated sorghum samples were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and rapid visco analyzer (RVA). Germination reduced tannin content from 3.96% to negligible levels. The free fermentable sugars (glucose, maltose, and maltotriose) in the germinated samples were significantly higher than those in the nongerminated control. Judged by the starch (starch plus dextrin) and free amino nitrogen contents in the mashed samples, germination improved degree of hydrolysis for starch by 13–20% and for protein by 5‐ to 10‐fold during mashing. Germination significantly shortened the required fermentation time for ethanol production by 24–36 hr, increased ethanol fermentation efficiency by 2.6–4.0%, and reduced the residual starch content in the distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) compared to the nongerminated control. Ethanol yield for the 3‐day germinated samples was 2.75 gallons/bushel, which was 3.1% higher than the 2.67 gallons for the nongerminated control. Ethanol yield for the 4‐day germinated sorghum was 2.63 gallons/bushel due to excessive loss of starch during germination.     

Development of a Germination Process for Producing High β‐Glucan,Whole Grain Food Ingredients from Oat

Germination can be used to improve the texture and flavor of cereals. However, germination generally causes breakdown of β‐glucans, which is undesirable with respect to the functional properties of β‐glucan. Our aim was to assess possibilities of germinating oat without substantial loss of high molecular weight β‐glucan. Two cultivars, hulled Veli and hull‐less (naked) Lisbeth were germinated at 5, 15, and 25°C and dried by lyophilization or oven drying. Elevated germination temperatures led to an increase in Fusarium, aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., lactic acid bacteria, enterobacteria, and aerobic spore‐forming bacteria. Therefore, the germination temperature should be kept low to avoid excessive growth of microbes. Of the samples germinated at 15°C, only one contained low amounts of the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (52 μg/kg). Germination led to the breakdown of β‐glucans, but the decrease in the molecular weight of β‐glucan was initially very slow. A short germination schedule (72 hr, 15°C) terminated with oven drying was developed to produce germinated oat with retained β‐glucan content. Compared with the native oat, 55–60% of the β‐glucan could be retained.     

Determination of theanine, GABA, and other amino acids in green, oolong, black, and Pu-erh teas with dabsylation and high-performance liquid chromatography

Dabsyl chloride (dimethylaminoazobenzene sulfonyl chloride), a useful chromophoric labeling reagent for amino acids and amines, was developed in this laboratory in 1975. Although several methods have been developed to determine various types of amino acids, a quick and easy method of determining theanine, GABA, and other amino acids has not been developed in one HPLC system. In this paper are analyzed the free amino acid contents of theanine and GABA in different teas (green tea, black tea, oolong tea, Pu-erh tea, and GABA tea) with a dabsylation and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system coupled with a detector at 425 nm absorbance. Two reverse phase columns, Hypersil GOLD and Zorbax ODS, were used and gave different resolutions of dabsyl amino acids in the gradient elution program. The data suggest that the tea source or the steps of tea-making may contribute to the theanine contents variations. High theanine contents of high-mountain tea were observed in both green tea and oolong tea. Furthermore, the raw (natural fermented) Pu-erh tea contained more theanine than ripe (wet fermented) Pu-erh tea, and the GABA contents in normal teas were generally lower than that in GABA tea.     

Anthocyanin composition in black, blue, pink, purple, and red cereal grains

Anthocyanin pigments from a wide variety of edible and ornamental black, blue, pink, purple, red, and white wheat, barley, corn, rice, and wild rice were identified and quantified to evaluate their potential as natural colorants or functional food ingredients. The total anthocyanin contents varied significantly and exhibited a range of 7-3276 microg/g. Some grains, such as red rice and black rice, contained a limited number of pigments, whereas others, such as blue, pink, purple, and red corns, had complex anthocyanin profiles. Of the 42 anthocyanin compounds observed, 9 were characterized by comparison of the spectroscopic and chromatographic properties with those of authentic standards. The remaining compounds were tentatively identified on the basis of spectroscopic properties and electrospray ionization mass spectra. The most abundant anthocyanins were cyanidin 3-glucoside in black and red rices and in blue, purple, and red corns, pelargonidin 3-glucoside in pink corn, and delphinidin 3-glucoside in blue wheat.     

Improving the lipid profile in hypercholesterolemia-induced rabbit by supplementation of germinated brown rice

It is imperative that there be a diet designed specifically to improve lipid profile in order to impede the progress of atherosclerosis. Because rice is a staple food in Asia, it will be chosen as the diet of interest. This study sets out to discover whether consumption of different processed rice diets may result in a change of the lipid profile. The experiment was done on male New Zealand white rabbits after 10 weeks of treatment with diet containing 0.5% cholesterol. The experimental diets include white rice (WR), brown rice (BR), and germinated brown rice (GBR). Among them, rabbits fed a GBR diet demonstrated significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), LDL/HDL, and atherogenic index (AI) and a higher level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Results from atherosclerotic plaque assessment further support the findings. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), which acts as an indicator for oxidative stress, was also reduced by GBR diet. The positive change in lipid profile in the rabbits fed GBR appeared to correspond with the higher amounts of γ-oryzanol, tocopherol, and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content.     

Food grade fungal stress on germinating peanut seeds induced phytoalexins and enhanced polyphenolic antioxidants

The effects of food grade fungus Rhizopus oligosporus stress on phytochemicals and phytoalexins of germinating peanut seeds were investigated by comparing the metabolic profiles of ungerminated (UG), germinated (G), and germinated seeds under fungal stress (GS). Three types of peanut seeds with different skin color (red, reddish brown, and black) were compared in the process. The polyphenolic contents were analyzed and correlated with antioxidant capacity for specific free radicals including peroxyl radical ROO(?) (ORAC), hydroxyl radical HO(?) (HORAC), superoxide radical O(2)(?-) (SORAC), and DPPH radical. The polyphenolic fingerprints analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS(n) showed that phenolic acids (coumaric, sinapinic, and ferulic acids derivatives) were the major group of phenolic compounds in ungerminated seeds. G or GS increased the level of phenolic acids, phytoalexins, and antioxidant capacity values in reddish and red peanuts but not in black peanuts. From the LC-MS(n) spectral data, 45 compounds were identified tentatively in the germinated peanuts, including 14 coumaric acids, 3 ferulic acids, 4 sinapinic acids, 2 hydroxybenzoic acids, 1 caffeic acid, 2 flavonoids, and 19 stilbenoids derivatives. Reddish brown germinated peanuts produced the highest amount of phytoalexins after GS with 55 compounds detected. Forty-five of these compounds were suggested as stilbenoid phytoalexins derivatives. The high content of phytoalexins may enhance the bioactivity of peanut seeds as functional food ingredients.     

Factors influencing diamine oxidase activity and γ-aminobutyric acid content of fava bean (Vicia faba L.) during germination

Factors (germination time, spectra, temperature, pH, and chemical inhibitors) influencing diamine oxidase (DAO, EC 1.4.3.6) activity and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of fava bean (Vicia faba L.) during germination were investigated in this study. DAO activity significantly increased in germinating seeds but varied with different organs. The enzyme activity was higher in shoot than that in cotyledon, hypocotyl, and radicle. When seeds were germinated in the dark, DAO activity was 2.35-, 2.00-, 2.36-, 4.40-, and 1.67-fold of that under white, red, blue, green, and yellow spectra, respectively. The optimum germination temperature and pH value for increasing DAO activity were 30 °C and 3.0, respectively. The DAO activity was inhibited significantly by aminoguanidine and sodium ethylenediamine tetracetate, while it was activated by CuCl(2) and CaCl(2). Germinating at an appropriate temperature and pH, 30% of GABA formation was supplied by DAO. Calcium was related to the regulation of DAO activity and GABA accumulation.     

Effect of Germination and UV‐C Radiation on the Accumulation of Flavonoids and Saponins in Black Bean Seed Coats

In the present study, we evaluated UV‐C radiation and germination treatments as an approach to increase the concentration of bioactive molecules in black bean seed coats. Black beans were germinated for 20 h under UV‐C radiation. Germination rate was higher in seeds radiated with UV‐C light compared with the control (nonirradiated seeds). Flavonoid content was increased twofold in seed coats of beans germinated for 10 h under UV‐C compared with the control. Quercetin‐3O‐glucoside was the major flavonoid identified in stressed seed coats. Furthermore, the application of UV‐C radiation during germination increased the content of soyasaponin Af, Ba, and αg, and it induced the de novo biosynthesis of soyasaponins (phaseoside I, soyasaponin deacetyl Af, and soyasaponin deactyl Ah) not present in the control. Germination of black beans under UV‐C radiation was an effective and simple approach to increase the concentration of bioactive molecules in black bean seed coats.     

Antioxidant Capacity of Newly Developed Pigmented Rice Cultivars in Korea

The antioxidant capacity of newly developed and highly popular pigmented rice cultivars (black rice, Galsaekchalmi, Jeoktomi, Hongchalmi, and Nogwonmi) in South Korea was analyzed. The rice grains were ground into powder, extracted with 70% ethanol, filtered, and concentrated with a rotary evaporator. The samples were analyzed for phenolic, flavonoid, and phytic acid contents, free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, ferrous ion chelating ability, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and superoxide dismutase‐like activity. The ethanolic extracts from pigmented rice cultivars showed greater antioxidant activity than that of the normal white rice. The black rice exhibited the highest free radical scavenging activity, ferrous chelating ability, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The reducing power and phytic acid content were found to be highest in Hongchalmi cultivar. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation was markedly higher in Jeoktomi compared with the other rice samples. The Nogwonmi rice showed the lowest antioxidant activity among the pigmented varieties analyzed. These findings provide valuable information on the antioxidant potential of newly developed pigmented rice varieties and may assist plant breeders in the selection of cultivars for the development of new lines of rice with enhanced functional quality.