Fermented Brown Rice and Rice Bran with Aspergillus Oryzae as A New Promising Agent for Cancer Prevention

Abstract

Fermented brown rice and rice bran with Aspergillus (A) oryzae (FBRA) is a food manufactured by fermenting a mixture of brown rice and rice bran with A. oryzae. The fermentation is proved to increase antioxidant phytochemicals. FBRA prevented carcinogeninduced carcinogenesis in 7 animal models. FBRA also acted against spontaneous development of neoplasms in 3 animal models. FBRA is suggested to be a new promising agent for prevention of human cancers. It has been recognized that dietary factors play an important role in prevention of occurrence of human cancers. Epidemiological studies have shown that high intake of fruits, vegetables and cereal foods decrease the risk for the occurrence of cancers in different organs. Rice is one of the major cereals, and is the most consumed food worldwide, particularly in Asian countries. Rice seeds and rice bran contain fibers and various types of antioxidants including phenolic acids, phytic acid and tocopherols. Cellular and preclinical studies have supported that micronutrients in rice bran have effects against the occurrence of several types of cancers. Our group has done a large-scale study to determine possible agents to suppress occurring cancers using animal models and found a number of natural or synthetic substances including rice-germ [1,2].