Fat composition | |
---|---|
Saturated fats | |
Total saturated | 25% Myristic: 0.6% Palmitic: 21.5% Stearic: 2.9% |
Unsaturated fats | |
Total unsaturated | 75% |
Monounsaturated | 38% |
Oleic acid | 38% |
Polyunsaturated | 37% |
Omega-3 fatty acids | α-Linolenic: 2.2% |
Omega-6 fatty acids | Linoleic: 34.4% |
Properties | |
Food energy per 100 g (3.5 oz) | 3,700 kJ (880 kcal) |
Smoke point | 232 °C (450 °F) |
Iodine value | 99-108 |
Acid value | 1.2 |
Saponification value | 180-190 |
Unsaponifiable | 3-5 |
Rice bran oil is the oil extracted from the hard outer brown layer of rice after chaff (rice husk). It is notable for its high smoke point of 232 °C (450 °F) and its mild flavor, making it suitable for high-temperature cooking methods such as stir frying and deep frying. It is popular as a cooking oil in several Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Japan, India and China.
Rice bran oil is an edible oil which is used in the preparation of vegetable ghee. Rice bran wax, obtained from rice bran oil and palpanese extract, is used as a substitute for carnauba wax in cosmetics, confectionery, shoe creams and polishing compounds.
Rice bran oil has a composition similar to that of peanut oil, with 38% monounsaturated, 37% polyunsaturated, and 25% saturated fatty acids. The fatty acid composition is:
Physical Properties of Crude & refined Rice bran oil
A component of rice bran oil is the antioxidant γ-oryzanol, at around 2% of crude oil content. Thought to be a single compound when initially isolated, it is now known to be a mixture of steryl and other triterpenyl esters of ferulic acids. Also significant is the relatively high fractions of and , together as vitamin E. Rice bran oil is also rich in other phytosterols.
Literature review shows rice bran oil and its active constituents improve blood cholesterol by reducing total plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, and increasing the proportion of HDL cholesterol. Results of an animal study indicated a 42% decrease in total cholesterol with a 62% drop in LDL cholesterol, when researchers supplemented test subjects' diets with fractionated vitamin E obtained from rice bran oil.