Researchers at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff say a compound found in rice bran may hold promise in slowing the aging process and reducing risk factors tied to chronic disease.
Dr. Sankar Devarajan, a professor at UAPB, said the latest research builds on earlier international studies he conducted in India and Japan examining a blend of rice bran oil and sesame oil. Those studies found the mixture significantly lowered high blood pressure and earned recognition from the American Heart Association, with results published in the American Journal of Medicine.
During that research, some participants reported feeling more energetic and youthful – observations that stayed with Devarajan after he moved to the United States.
Recently, Devarajan and fellow UAPB scientists partnered with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to study gamma oryzanol, a compound found in rice bran, the outer layer removed during the milling process that turns brown rice into white rice.
Using nanotechnology to deliver the compound into cells, the team found that gamma oryzanol reduced oxidative stress, a major contributor to aging and diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions.
“That’s one of the major factors that drive the aging process and other chronic diseases,” Devarajan said. “The oxidative stress was significantly reduced.”
Researchers also found preliminary evidence that the compound may aid in healing skin cells.
The study has been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The team’s next step is to secure funding for animal trials before moving to potential clinical trials, which Devarajan said could begin by 2030 if research progresses as planned.
“It may take time,” he said. “But we strongly believe that it will certainly bring a valuable product for people who are having problems with chronic diseases.”
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