Comparative analyses of the nutraceutical potentialities of selected Indian traditional black rice (Oryza sativa L.) landraces

The present investigation aims to explore the importance of some traditional black rice varieties with their nutraceutical properties. The beneficial properties of these varieties remain unknown to the majority of the population due to the inadequate data. Decorticated rice grains of four black rice varieties were evaluated and compared with two commonly consumed white rice varieties - Gobindabhog (traditional aromatic) and BPT 5204 (modern high yielding variety). The sugars and total lipid levels were similar in Gobindabhog and BPT 5204. The black rice varieties, however, had considerably greater protein, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, and antimicrobial activities compared to the two selected white rice varieties. The ICPMS analysis of black rice grains showed that the former also had higher levels of Mn, Fe, and Zn than the white rice varieties. However, BPT 5204 contained a greater amount of Cu than the black rice varieties. Total flavonoid and phenolic content, as well as antioxidant potentiality of black rice varieties were also considerably higher than those of the white rice varieties.