Oryzanol content of Indian rice bran oil and its extraction from soap stock.

Oryzanol content of commercial rice bran oil was 1.34-1.95%, hexane extracted oil 1.12-1.38%, and chloroform:methanol (2:1) extracted oil 2.55-2.61%. The soap stock obtained by alkali refining of the oil contained 1.3-3.1% oryzanol. Optimum pH (levels tested 8.0-10.5) for extraction from soap stock was approx. 9.5. Diethyl ether was a better solvent than acetone. The oryzanol concn. could be upgraded by alumina column chromatography and recrystallization using methanol and methanol-acetone (2:1). The recrystallized material had an m.p. of 133-139 degree C and absorption maxima at 314, 290 and 230 nm in petroleum ether.