Extraction Of y-Oryzanol And Tocopherols From Rice (Oryza Sativa) Bran

The objective of this study was to extract y-oryzanol and tocopherols from rice bran. Different extraction times and sequential extractions utilizing different solvents on y- oryzanol and tocopherols levels from crude rice bran oil (CRBO) were studied. Rice bran was extracted using hexane with five different extraction times, while sequential extractions was carried out utilizing hexane, hexane/dichloromethane, dichloromethane and dichloromethane/methanol. Extraction of y-oryzanol and tocopherols was further studied using precipitation and liquid-liquid separation from unsaponified fraction of CRBO. Precipitation was carried out by diluting the sample in hexane overnight at -20˚C. Liquid-liquid separations were carried out using hexanemethanol or hexane-acetonitrile. Solid and liquid portions formed from precipitation were further separated by liquid-liquid separations. The final stage of the extraction process was a combination of precipitation and single-stage chromatographic separation. Results showed that percentage of extracted oil was not significantly different with the different extraction times used. However, 20 min extraction resulted in the highest y-oryzanol level (p<0.05). On the other hand, 30 min extraction gave the highest tocopherols level (p<0.05). Sequential extractions resulted in higher y- oryzanol and tocopherols levels than that of hexane extraction alone (p