Rice Bran Oil
A major rice bran fraction contains about 13% oil and 44.3% of highly unsaponifiable components. This fraction also contains gamma-oryzanol, beta-sitosterol and tocotrienol that help in lowering the levels of plasma contained in the lipid profile. It also contains a major amount of dietary fibers like beta glucan, gum and pectin. The oil present in the rice bran is a rich source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B, minerals and other essential acids.
India is one of the largest producer and exporter of rice in the world. The main staple diet of South India is Rice as lot of rice is grown in that region and very limited quantity of wheat. Rice comes in the field in the form of paddy. When it is milled, rice bran, a by-product of rice consisiting of the outer layer of the kernels is obtained. Rice bran is further processed for its oil and meal. Rice bran oil is known for its nutritional superiority and better protection of heart.
DE OIL RICE BRAN (D.O.R.B), RICE BRAN MEAL
Rice bran meal though has only 14-16% proteins which is very less compared to other oilmeals like soybean meal, peanut meal, rapeseed meal etc, it has low fibre content which makes it free from rancidity problems and hence is in great demand for use in poultry as well as in cattle feed. Rice bran meal is also heard getting used as organic fertiliser and for medicinal purpose.
Normal Specification of Rice Bran:
Protein: 16% min
Sand/silica: 3% max
Fibre: 12% max
Moisture: 12% max
One can say Vietnam is the only buyer of Rice bran meal from India. Other countries if purchases then in very limited quantity.
After crude oil has been extracted from rice bran, De-Oiled Rice Bran (DORB) is obtained. DORB is widely used in the manufacture of
- Cattle feed,
- Poultry feed,
- Fish feed,
- As fuel for boilers, and
- Used for manufacturing sodium silicate, silica gel, insulation bricks etc (using fully burnt white ash of husk).
Facts Associated with Rice Bran
Following are some interesting facts that explain the popularity of rice bran and its long term usage by many people across the globe:
- The rice bran and rice germ consist of a mere 8% of the entire kernel, yet they collectively make 65% of the kernel's nutrients
- Rice bran contains a wide range of protein, vitamins, minerals and more than 120 known naturally occurring antioxidants
- Around 5 to 8 kg of rice bran can be produced from a 100 kg of rice paddy
- The powder obtained from rice bran serves as an excellent source of exfoliation of skin. It prevents wrinkles, absorbs the dirt and pores from the skin and many other similar uses
Uses of Rice Bran
Rice bran serves many important usages for both humans & animals as well for commercial purposes. The following are the various uses of rice bran:
- For Enriching Food: Rice bran is used to enrich breads, cereals, etc. which help in increasing the intake dietary fibers
- As a Source of Edible Oil: Rice bran is a rich source of edible oil. While raw rice bran contains 12-18% oil, parboiled rice bran contains 20-28% oil. Rice bran oil absorbs only 25% of oil as compared to other forms of oil
- For Making Soaps: The presence of High Free Fatty (FFA) makes it suitable for the manufacture of soaps
- For Making Protective Coatings: The rice bran oil is also used to prepare paints, varnishes, enamels, etc.
- As Animal Feed: Rice bran contains a high amount of protein and other nutritious components, thereby making it an excellent source for animal feed. It is particularly given to horses to increase their weight. It is also given the aging dogs as an energy supplements.