Flavonoids and carotenoids of pigmented rice (Oryza sativa L.), including five black cultivars and
two red cultivars, from Korea were characterized to determine the diversity among the phytochemicals and to analyze the relationships among their contents. Black cultivars were higher in flavonoids
and carotenoids than the red and white cultivars. The profiles of eight phytochemicals identified from
the rice grains were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate the differences
among cultivars. PCA could fully distinguish between these cultivars. The Heugjinjubyeo (BR-1) and
Heugseolbyeo (BR-2) cultivars were separated from the others based on flavonoid and carotenoid
concentrations. Flavonoid contents had a positive correlation with carotenoid contents among all rice
grains. The BR-1 and BR-2 cultivars appear to be good candidates for future breeding programs
because they have simultaneously high flavonoid and carotenoid contents.