Bioactive Nutrient Characteristics of Traditional Rice Landraces from the Cauvery Delta Region: A Path to Nutritional Security and Global Recognition

Indigenous rice landraces hold great significance due to their nutritional potential and adaptability to different environments. In many developing nations, a substantial portion of the population faces nutritional deficiencies, leading to various health problems. Therefore, it is crucial to develop and cultivate nutrient-rich rice varieties, validate their functional components, and work towards reducing malnutrition and associated diseases. This study focuses on traditional rice landraces from Cauvery delta region in India, namely kattuyanam, karudan samba, pisini, and ratha sali. We have analyzed these landraces for their bioactive nutrient characteristics in milled grains, including bioactive metabolites, minerals, and antioxidant properties. Our findings indicate that the milled grains of these traditional rice landraces exhibit higher levels of primary and secondary metabolites, mineral content, and antioxidant potential. Specifically, milled grains of karudan samba stood out with the highest concentrations of total anthocyanin, surpassing other landraces. Additionally, milled grains of rathasali showcased the maximum flavonoid content and total phenol content surpassing other landraces in these categories. Furthermore, milled grains of karudan samba recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher total iron concentrations and total copper content. In contrast, milled grains of rathasali and kattuyanam exhibited higher total manganese content and total zinc content. These results highlight that karudan samba and rathasali landraces possess superior metabolite, mineral, and antioxidant properties. The rich nutrient content in these traditional rice landraces underscores their potential to enhance dietary diversity and contribute to nutritional security, particularly in the context of a growing global population. We recommend further clinical validation of the bioactive nutrients and antioxidant potential of these unique rice landraces to excel in the international market.