.::. BAR Chronicle .::. A monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

Rice bran and its oil may be among the most important sources of functional food components/nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals available in the world today. This was pointed out by Dr. Evelyn B. Rodriguez of the Institute of Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) at a seminar on "Food Plants as Source of Nutraceuticals and Cosmeceuticals Ingredients" organized by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) on 29 April 2008.

Rice bran or "darak" refers to the tan, hard outer layer covering a rice kernel and is often produced as a by-product of milling in the production of refined grains. The bran removed from the rice grains is an excellent source of nutrients, minerals, and fiber.

Since rice is arguably the world's most important food, a staple food to more than half the world's population, the worldwide production of rice bran is vast. But given its amazing number of nutrients and potential for product development, rice bran, according to Dr. Rodriquez, "is largely underutilized and is poorly used for human food consumption."

Unfortunately in the Philippines, instead of using rice bran to nourish people, it is mostly thrown away or used as feed supplement for swine production. Swine raisers mainly use it for fiber and protein quality which is practical in the provinces where rice bran is cheap. In other parts, rice bran is burned as fuel or dug back into the soil as fertilizer.

Rice bran as a functional food
As a functional food, rice bran provides health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Already, it is dubbed as the "new super food" owing to its amazing number of nutrients.

In hope that people would look at rice bran in a different view, Dr. Rodriguez mentioned some of the functional components of this often squandered food source.

Rice bran contains several important antioxidants and astounding quantity of other health-giving nutrients. Antioxidants, according to her, are the nutrients that fight off free radicals in the bodies. Free radicals cause premature aging and many of the degenerative diseases of old age. This is also the reason why rice bran is an important ingredient for cosmeceutical purposes.

Specifically, rice bran contains phytosterols, polysaccharides, beta-sitosterol, fiber, Vitamin E complex, and a large complement of B vitamins, including B15, which is a vital antioxidant.

These antioxidants are known for their hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic effects, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory properties; enhance insulin production; and protect skin against ultra violet rays-induced oxidative stress, among other things.

Rice bran is also rich in co-enzyme q10, omega 3, and omega 6 fatty acids and even oleic acid which are also found in olive oil.

With its packed of nutrients and health benefits, Dr. Rodriguez cited products that may be developed from rice bran. They may not be considered new anymore since other developed countries have already adopted them. The Filipino entrepreneur however, could exploit its potential use since rice bran is practically underutilized in the country. Among the products she mentioned were rice bran as breakfast cereal and rice bran oil (RBO).

As breakfast cereal
Rice bran could be a solution to the current rice crisis, an alternative for rice, Dr. Rodriguez said when asked of its potential as a functional food. The only problem she sees is how to entice Filipinos to eat rice bran.

"Eating functional food is a lifestyle change. It's a whole new set of ideology," she reiterated. In encouraging Filipinos to eat rice bran, there is a need to first change their perspective on eating habit, meaning eating right.

As a food source, rice bran has a huge potential to make it to the market scene. "It's ironic that it's the developed countries that are making full potential of this by-product from rice when we in the developing countries just squander them and feed them to the pigs."

The idea of rice bran for breakfast is not new at all. Since it is rich in dietary fiber and contains significant quantitities of starch, protein, vitamins, and minerals, it is often used to enrich breads and breakfast cereals. In fact, big companies in the United States such as Nutracea and Kellogg Company have been using rice bran to make their consumers' products for years (i.e., bran breakfast cereal).

Oil from rice bran
Oil products from rice bran can either or both be used for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical purposes.

As it is, rice bran oil (RBO) already contains several constituents with potential significance in human diet and health. Dr. Rodriguez particularly focused on the gamma-oryzanol or g-Oryzanol, a naturally occurring mixture of plant chemicals called sterols and ferulic acid esters.

In the study conducted by Dr. Rodriguez and her group, they found that the g-oryzanol in rice bran produces potent antioxidant activity, anti-cancer properties, prevents bone loss, promotes skin capillary circulation, and increases sebaceous secretion of the skin (repairs damaged or dry skin), contains UV B screening activity and neuro-regulatory action (improves memory and diabetic neuropathy), and acts as anabolic steroid that increases body and muscle mass.

Another health component is Myo-Inositol Hexaphosphate (InsP₆) which aids the body in its use (metabolism) of calcium and other minerals. Studies showed its significant activities for anti-cancer, involved in liver cell regeneration and management of kidney and gall bladder stones; helps improve blood circulation and stimulate cell turnover when used topically; reduces hair loss and stimulate hair growth; reduces plaque; and promotes skin lightening.

When Dr. Rodriguez and his group tested the percentage of the unsaponifiable matter in rice bran, they found it higher than that found in sesame seeds and corn kernel. Unsaponifiables are components of oil or fat that do not saponify. Unsaponifiables are important when creating a soap recipe in the process of soapmaking as they can be beneficial to a soap formula owing to their desirable properties such as moisturization, conditioning, vitamins, and texture.