Application of Oxygen-argon Plasma as a Potential Approach of Improving the Nutrition Value of Pre-germinated Brown Rice

Phumon Sookwong^1, , Sittidet Yodpitak¹, Jenjira Doungkaew¹, Jaruwan Jurithayo¹, Dheerawan Boonyawan² and Sugunya Mahatheeranont^{1, 3}

¹Rice Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

²Plasma and Beam Physics Research Facility, Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

³Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Cite this paper:
Phumon Sookwong, Sittidet Yodpitak, Jenjira Doungkaew, Jaruwan Jurithayo, Dheerawan Boonyawan and Sugunya Mahatheeranont. Application of Oxygen-argon Plasma as a Potential Approach of Improving the Nutrition Value of Pre-germinated Brown Rice. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2014; 2(12):946-951. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-2-12-14

Abstract

This is the first study to apply plasma technology for improving nutrition value of cereal products. Cold plasma, a mixture of oxygen and argon plasma, was applied to rice seeds before pre-germination process. Plasma condition of 10 watts, 5 seconds, and 5 millimeters distance and 10 watts, 5 seconds, and 8 millimeters distance created high germination rates of pre-germinated brown rice. The latter conditions gave the grains with longer roots and bodies. Plasma treatment could result in increasing contents of total phenolics and γ-aminobutyric acid. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed 13 identifiable compounds: simple phenolic compounds; pyrans; furan; quinone; and fatty acids, in which biosyntheses of these 13 compounds were likely to be promoted by the plasma processing. These findings suggest that plasma technology could provide better quality pre-germinated brown rice.

Keywords:
plasma pre-germination brown rice gas chromatography-mass spectrometry phenolics γ-aminobutyric acid

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	Imsanguan, P., Roaysubtawee, A., Borirak, R., Pongamphai, S., Douglas, S. and Douglas, P. L. “Extraction of α-tocopherol and γ-oryzanol from rice bran,” LWT Food Science and Technology, 41(8). 1417-1424. Nov. 2008.
[2]	Yodpitak, S., Sookwong, P., Akkaravessapong, P. and Wongpornchai, S. “Changes in antioxidant activity and antioxidative compounds of brown rice after pre-germination,” Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 1(6). 132-137. Nov. 2013.
[3]	Wu, F., Chen, H., Yang, N., Duan, X., Jin, Z. and Xu, X. “Germinated brown rice enhances antioxidant activities and immune functions in aged mice,” Cereal Chemistry, 90(6). 601-607. Nov. 2013.
[4]	Torimitsu, M., Nagase, R., Yanagi, M., Homma, M., Sasai, Y., Ito, Y., Hayamizu, K., Nonaka, S., Hosono, T., Kise, M., Seki, T. and Ariga, T. “Replacing white rice with pre-germinated brown rice mildly ameliorates hyperglycemia and imbalance of adipocytokinelevels in type 2 diabetes model rats,” Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology (Tokyo), 56(5). 287-292. Jan. 2010.
[5]	Mamiya, T., Kise, M., Morikawa, K., Aoto, H., Ukai, M. and Noda, Y. “Effects of pre-germinated brown rice on depression-like behavior in mice,” Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 86(1). 62-67. Jan. 2007.
[6]	Chu, P.K., Chen, J.Y., Wang, L.P. and Huang, N. “Plasma-surface modification of biomaterials,” Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports, 36(5-6). 143-206. Mar. 2002.
[7]	Winter, T., Winter, J., Polak, M., Kusch, K., Mäder, U., Sietmann, R., Ehlbeck, J., van Hijum, S., Weltmann, K.D., Hecker, M. and Kusch, H. “Characterization of the global impact of low temperature gas plasma on vegetative microorganisms,” Proteomics, 11(17). 3518-3530. Sep. 2011.
[8]	Isbary, G., Shimizu, T., Li, Y.F., Stolz, W., Thomas, H.M., Morfill, G.E. and Zimmermann, J.L. “Cold atmospheric plasma devices for medical issues,” Expert Review of Medical Devices, 10(3). 367-377. May 2013.
[9]	Dhayal, M., Lee, S.Y. and Park, S.U. “Using low-pressure plasma for CarthamustinctoriumL. seed surface modification,” Vaccum, 80 (5). 499-506. Jan. 2006.
[10]	Šerá, B., Špatenka, P., Šerý, M., Vrchotová, N. and Hrušková, I. “Influence of plasma treatment on wheat and oat germination and early growth,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 38(10). 2963-2968. Oct. 2010.
[11]	Filatova, I., Azharonok, V., Kadyrov, M., Beljavsky, V., Gvozdov, A., Shik, A. and Antonuk, A. “The effect of plasma treatment of seeds of some grain and legumes on their sowing quality and productivity,” Romanian Journal of Physics, 56(Supplement). 139-143. Jan. 2011.
[12]	Shahidi, F. and Wanasundara, P.K.J.P.D. “Phenolic antioxidants,” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 32(1). 67-103. 1992.
[13]	Tian, S., Nakamura, K., Cui, T. and Kayahara, H. “High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of phenolic compounds in rice,” Journal of Chromatography A, 1063(1-2). 121-128. Jan. 2005.
[14]	Tian, S., Nakamura, K. and Kayahara, H. “Analysis of phenolic compounds in white rice, brown rice, and germinated brown rice,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(15). 4808-4813. Jul. 2004.
[15]	McCormick, D.A. “GABA as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in human cerebral cortex,” Journal of Neurophysiology, 62(5). 1018-1027. Nov. 1989.
[16]	Möhler, H. “The GABA system in anxiety and depression and its therapeutic potential,” Neuropharmacology, 62(1). 42-53.2012 Jan. 2012.
[17]	Eddent, R.A.E., Crocetti, D., Zhu, H., Gilbert, D.L. and Mostofsky, S.H. “Reduced GABA concentration in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,” Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(7) 750-753. Jul. 2012.
[18]	Jeong, J. B. and Jeong, H. J. “2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol can induce cell cycle arrest by blocking the hyper-phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein in benzo[a]pyrene-treated NIH3T3 cells,” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 400(4). 752-757. Sep. 2010.
[19]	Pyo M.K., Jin, J.L., Koo, Y.K. and Yun-Choi, H.S. “Phenolic furan type compounds isolated from Gastrodiaelata and their anti-platelet effects,” Archives of Pharmacal Research, 27(4). 381-385. Apr. 2004.
[20]	Krentsel, E., Yasuda, H., Miyama, M. and Yasuda, T. “Penetration of plasma surface modification into porous media. III. Multiple samples exposed to CF4 and C2F4 low temperature cascade arc torch,” Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 33(17). 2887-2892. Dec. 1995.
[21]	Volin, J.C., Denes, F.S., Young, R.A. and Park S.M.T. “Modification of seed germination performance through cold plasma chemistry technology,” Crop Science, 40(6). 1706-1718. Oct. 1999.
[22]	Henselová, M., Slováková, L., Martinka, M. and Zahoranová, A. “Growth, anatomy and enzyme activity changes in maize roots induced by treatment of seeds with low-temperature plasma,” Biologia, 67(3). 490-497. Jun. 2012.
[23]	Stoffels, E., Sakiyama, Y. and Graves, D.B. “Cold atmospheric plasma: charged species and their interactions with cells and tissues,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 36(4). 1441-1451. Aug. 2008.
[24]	Komatsuzaki, N., Tsukahara, K., Toyoshima, H., Suzuki, T., Shimizu, N. and Kimura, T. “Effect of soaking and gaseous treatment on GABA content in germinated brown rice,” Journal of Food Engineering. 78(2).556-560. Oct. 2007.
[25]	Zhang, Q., Xiang, J., Zhang, L., Zhu, X., Evers, J., van der Werf, W. and Duan, L., “Optimizing soaking and germination conditions to improve gamma-aminobutyric acid content in japonica and indica germinated brown rice,” Journal of Functional Foods, 10. 283-291. Sep. 2014.