Ohmic Heating-Aided Mechanical Extraction of Gamma-Oryzanol and Phytosterols in Rice Bran Oil

Phytosterols in rice bran and their health benefits

With the continuous technological innovation in the high-value utilization of rice bran byproducts, rice bran oil retains a higher concentration of beneficial components such as a well-balanced composition of fatty acids and abundant phytosterols. This makes it a highly nutritious and healthy vegetable oil. This review provides an overview of the advancements made in separating, purifying, and processing phytosterols in rice bran oil. The review also introduces techniques for assessing the stability of rice bran oil. Moreover, the review emphasizes the nutritional value of phytosterols found in rice bran oil, highlighting their various health benefits, including their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antibacterial, cholesterol-lowering, skin-protective, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, gastroprotective, and immune-enhancing effects. Attaining a comprehensive understanding of the research progress made in phytosterols derived from rice bran oil can offer valuable guidance for the efficient utilization of rice bran.

Effect of novel combination processing technologies on extraction and quality of rice bran oil

Rice bran, a primary by-product from the rice processing industries, containing 10-15% oil, attracts significant attention from consumers due to its many health-promoting effects. The extraction methodology used is one of the most critical factors affecting the quality and yield of oil from rice bran. Using solvents is the current commercial process for rice bran oil extraction, which has its setbacks. It is challenging and expensive, and there is a risk of traces of solvent residue in the oil. Emerging combination extraction technologies offer zero to minimal solvent residues or chemical deformation while considering increasing environmental and energy footprint. Emerging combination processing technologies include new-age methods like supercritical fluid extraction, sub-critical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction, ohmic heating, and microwave-assisted extraction. These techniques have been reported to extract oil from rice bran, improving extraction efficiency and quality. These techniques demonstrate solid prospects for future applications. The present review discusses and compares these emerging technologies for oil extraction from rice bran commercially.