Various rice (Oryza sativa L. var. indica), including white plain, purple plain, brown plain, white glutinous and
purple glutinous rice, were fermented with Look Pang (a mixed culture of yeasts and molds). The sap samples
were assayed for the bioactive compounds (unsaturated fatty acids, total phenolic compounds and total
anthocyanin) and the biological activities (antioxidative, tyrosinase inhibition, cell proliferation and MMP-2
inhibition activities). The fermented purple plain sap samples at day 6th of the fermentation period showed
high antioxidative, the highest tyrosinase inhibition and MMP-2 inhibition activities with low cytotoxicity to
normal human skin fibroblast by SRB assay in comparing to other rice sap samples. This study has indicated
the strong positive relationship between the bioactive compounds and the biological activities of the purple
rice sap which can be further developed as functional foods and cosmetics.