Riceberry


Riceberry is a registered rice variety from Thailand, a of Jao Hom Nin, a local non-glutinous purple rice and Khoa Dawk Mali 105. The variety was created by the Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University, Thailand after four years of research for nutritional properties, anthocyanin stability, and physical and cooking properties. The outcome is a deep purple whole grain rice with softness and a palatable aftertaste. Riceberry has been a popular brown rice substitute due to its health promoting properties. Inducing people to consume more whole grain rice varieties could help ameliorate food-related chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, high blood cholesterol, obesity, and cancers.
Riceberry is grown primarily in north and northeastern Thailand. The wet season months of August through December are suitable for Riceberry planting.
Riceberry is not the same as traditional black rice.

Characteristics

Nutritional properties

Riceberry is enriched with both water-soluble—mainly anthocyanin—and lipid soluble antioxidants, such as carotenoid, gamma oryzanol, and vitamin E. The nutritional properties of Riceberry are concentrated in its bran, with only a small fraction in its endosperm. This is true of all cereals, meaning that it is best to consume whole, rather than polished, grains.
The potential anti-cancer activity of compounds extracted from Riceberry bran was evaluated in human cancer cell lines.
In clinical studies at the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Riceberry whole grain rice was determined to have a "medium" glycemic index. Riceberry bran has the potential to improve hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia as well as alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation. The effect of Riceberry oil supplements also affected hyperglycemia and changes in lipid profile in Streptozotocin -induced diabetic rats fed a high fat diet. Riceberry bran oil, a nutraceutical food, may be useful as an alternative food supplement for the alleviation of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia conditions. Riceberry has potential as an effective agent for neurodegeneration and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease.

Antioxidant properties

Whole Grain Riceberry
Serving Size: 50 g
Leutein45 µg
Gamma-oryzanol32 mg
Tannin45 mg
Anthocyanin45 mg
ORAC3177 mMol
FRAP930 mMol
Glycemic index62

Governmental support

The Commerce Ministry aims to increase Riceberry cultivation from 5,000 rai to 20,000 rai by 2018 to address in the world market demand for organic brown rice. The yield from 5,000 rai amounts to only 1,500 tonnes. Demand for premium organic rice is still small, accounting for only one to two percent of total rice exports, but as Riceberry sells for two or three times the price of white rice, it has the potential to increase farming incomes. Riceberry sold in the domestic market for about 50 baht a kilogram, while the export price was 200 baht per kilogram.