Determination of Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Some Rice Varieties and Hybrids Grown in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

A preliminary step to investigating the phytochemical and vitamin B contents of eleven rice lines designated as IWA (IRRI - WARDA - AGRA) lines, together with two popular and most preferred varieties (FARO 44 and R8) were carried-out. The phytochemical properties investigated included flavonoid, phenol and saponin whereas, the vitamin B included thiamine and riboflavin. The analysis revealed that the flavonoid contents of some of the IWA rice lines (IWA 3, 5 and 11) compared favourably with the control samples, FARO 44 and R8 (3.0 - 3.5 %). Phenol contents of the rice lines ranged from 0.6 - 0.74 % with IWA 1 having the least value (0.06%) and IWA 11 having the highest phenol content (0.74%). The rice samples had high contents of saponin with IWA 3 having the least (30.0 mg) and IWA 11 having the highest value (130.0 mg/100g). Results indicated that IWA 11 stands out with high values for all the phytochemical contents studied, except thiamine and will, therefore, exhibit significant antioxidant properties when consumed. Results equally indicated that five IWA rice lines (IWA 1, 2, 5, 7 and 11) had riboflavin values above the threshold required for children and adults ranges which was 0.5 %.

Keywords: Rice, Phytochemical, Vitamin, Antioxidant and Varieties