A STUDY ON PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF TRADITIONAL RICE VARIETY OF TAMIL NADU - 'MAAPPILLAI SAMBA' BY GC-MS

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the grain of life, for most of the Asians. In the olden times lakhs of traditional varieties were in vogue.  But, after the intervention of high yielding varieties, the traditional varieties eroded and lost their identity. Now the new era has come, in which the traditional varieties are gaining more importance. Among the recently identified traditional varieties, Maappillai Samba is one of the varieties with red pericarp, grown widely among the farmers in Tamil Nadu.  The phytochemical analysis of this variety reveals the presence of phytosteroids, flavanoids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates and cardioglycosides.  The GC-MS study shows the existence of more than 50% of the steroidal active compounds, viz stigmasterol, β- sitosterol and cyclolanostanol that helps in improving the Male Fertility. Also, it contains several compounds which reduces the cholesterol levels and possesses anti-cancer and anti-diabetic activity.