Abstract

Bamboo rice, an underutilised grain obtained as seeds of Bambusa arundinacea Willd., is consumed by many Indian population for its nutritional and other health benefits. Many of these health benefits are linked to the presence of bioactive phytonutrients. However, comprehensive quantification of different bioactive components has not been reported in bamboo rice. Thus, this study was intended to quantify its fatty acid profile, amino acid composition, phytosterols, polyphenols and measure the antioxidant potentials. Bamboo rice samples collected from six different regions of the Western ghats of India were analysed independently and compared with commonly consumed brown and polished rice. The total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in bamboo rice were 36.97 %±6.01 %, 28.59 %±2.01 % and 34.44 %±6.22 % fatty acid methyl esters, respectively. In bamboo rice, the total amino acid content was (96.76/100) g protein while the total essential amino acid content was (38.67/100) g with lysine being the limiting amino acid. The grain had higher concentrations of phytosterols, especially ergosterol and beta-sitosterol, when compared to brown and polished rice. The relative distribution of the polyphenols was in the order of catechinin>protocatechuic acid>sinapic acid>4-coumaric acid>myricetin>ferulic acid>2-coumaric acid>luteolin 7-O-glucoside>4-hydroxy benzoic acid>gallic acid>caffeic acid>ellagic acid. Ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay expressed more activity in the methanolic extract while the aqueous extract showed better activity for 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulphonic acid assay. This study has clearly shown that bamboo rice is rich in bioactive phytonutrients when compared to brown and polished rice. It also highlighted the need for comprehensive research on this grain to explore its pharmacological and therapeutic effects.