Pharmacological studies of the genus rice (Oryza L.): a literature review

Rice (Oryza L.) is an essential food for more than 50 percent of the world’s population and is the world’s second-largest grain crop. Pigmented rice comes in various colors, such as black, red, brown, and green. Anthocyanins, like cyanidin3-O-glucoside and peonidin-3-O-glucoside, are the primary color pigments in colored rice, whereas proanthocyanidins and flavan-3-ol oligosaccharides, with catechins as the central synthesis unit, are found in brown rice. This review article’s aim is to give information and a summary of rice activities, research methods, also mechanisms of action (Oryza L.). Intake of pigmented rice was already associated with a number of health benefits, including antioxidant activity, anticancer, antitumor, antidiabetic activity, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Rice contains several bioactive compounds, such as γ-oryzanol, phenolic acid, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, carotenoids, and phytosterols, which have been widely studied and shown to have several pharmacological activities. The use of current herbal compounds is rapidly increasing, including the practice of pharmacological disease prevention and treatment. Herbal remedies have entered the international market as a result of research into plant biopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Through a variety of pharmacological activities, it is clear that Oryza L. is a popular herb. As a result, additional research on Oryza L. can be conducted to investigate more recent and comprehensive pharmacological effectiveness, to provide information and an overview of Rice (Oryza L.) activities, research methods, and mechanisms of action. Several natural substances are characterized by low water solubility, low stability, and sensitivity to light and oxygen, and the potential for poor absorption of the active substances requires modification of the formulation. To improve the effectiveness of pharmacologically active substances originating from natural ingredients, drug delivery systems that use lipid-based formulations can be considered innovations.

Keywords: rice, Oryza L., pigmented rice, non-pigmented rice, pharmacological activity, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside