NUTRACEUTICAL PROSPECTS OF BROWN RICE VARIETIES COLLECTED FROM PAKISTAN: A RESERVOIR OF NUTRIENTS AND PHYTOCHEMICALS

A B S T R A C T Rice (Oryza sativa) is regarded as one of the most essential food crops and is widely consumed around the world. Pakistan is a key rice-producing country that not only supplies enough to meet local needs but also exports significant quantities. The primary objective of this review was to investigate the nutraceutical potential of brown rice varieties and their associated health benefits, with a special focus on Pakistani varieties. In Pakistan, most people rely on rice to meet their basic dietary needs. Several studies have indicated that brown rice offers nutrigenomic benefits, including anti-diabetic, anti-cholesterol, cardio-protective, and antioxidant effects, due to the phytochemicals concentrated in the bran layer. Recent evidence supports that consuming brown rice varieties is advantageous for health. Brown rice contains an array of bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytic acid, dietary fibre, lipids, and essential amino acids, all of which play important roles in metabolic processes and help defend against various diseases. Therefore, future research should focus on analyzing the bioactive compounds in rice varieties cultivated in Balochistan and their potential health impacts.