Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3839

Full Length Research Paper

Phenolic content and antioxidant activities in red unpolished Thai rice prevents oxidative stress in rats

Sirichet Rattanachitthawat1, Prasit Suwannalert2*, Suda Riengrojpitak2, Chaiyavat Chaiyasut3 and Somsak Pantuwatana1
1Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131 Thailand. 2Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. 3Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 21 April 2010
  •  Published: 04 May 2010

Abstract

Radicals causd cellular damage and eventually progresse to chronic diseases. Phenolic compounds play a crucial role in radicals scavenging. In this study, we investigated total antioxidant activities, total phenolic content and profiles in color strains of unpolished Thai rice. The level of malondialdehyde was also assayed in rats that consumed unpolished Thai rice. Red color strain had the highest antioxidant activities in all tests. It was also showed the highest phenolic content. Interestingly, total phenolic content was strongly correlated with all anti-oxidant in the methods used: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (r = 0.958, p < 0.01), 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (r = 0.966, p < 0.01) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (r = 0.992, p < 0.01). Malondialdehyde level in high and low dose treated groups were significantly lower than that in the control group of rats that consumed unpolished Thai rice. Red color of unpolished Thai rice, source of phenolic compounds, may play a crucial role in oxidative stress prevention.

 

Key words: Unpolished Thai rice, phenolic compounds, antioxidant, oxidative stress.