Proanthocyanidin-containing rice varieties have been rarely reported. Antioxidant capacity, major antioxidant
components, and nutritional parameters of eight traditional red-grained rice varieties containing
proanthocyanidins grown in Sri Lanka were investigated. The tested traditional red varieties, on the average,
had over sevenfold higher both total antioxidant capacity and phenolic content than three light
brown-grained new-improved rice varieties. Major antioxidant phenolic compounds identified in this
study included proanthocyanidins, phenolic acids and c-oryzanols (ferulic acid derivatives). Proanthocyanidins
were detected only in the traditional red varieties, but not found in new-improved ones. Most
traditional red varieties also contained significantly higher levels of protein with well balanced amino
acids and higher contents of fat, fibre and vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) than the newimproved
ones. Great variations in antioxidant capacity, major phenolics, and nutritional parameters
were observed among different rice varieties. These Sri Lankan traditional red-grained rice varieties containing
proanthocyanidins may be used as important genetic sources for rice breeding