o our knowledge, the present study is the first one dealing with the effects of parboiling on proximate composition, structure, physicochemical and functional properties of black and red rice genotypes. This study presented the significant positive impact of the parboiling process on the nutritional (protein, ash and phenolic compounds) retention and cooking time and hardness modification of black and red rice genotypes, as well as the deleterious effect of polishing the grains on the same quality parameters. Moreover, the free phenolics were higher in both parboiled polished grains compared to their polished counterparts, strengthening the positive impact of parboiling process to nutritional properties of pigmented rice.
Studies related to protein characteristics, amylose and amylopectin molecular structures, shelf-life stability and sensory properties of black and red rice grains are necessary. Additional studies focused on the optimization of parboiling parameters for maximizing phenolics retention in polished pigmented rice and for improving the technological properties of parboiled pigmented rice are needed.