Summary Starch, protein and lipids are the main rice grain components that affect cooking and eating quality. An analysis of the literature indicates that rice of good eating quality shows the following characteristics: low amylose and low protein contents and large breakdown as measured by an amylograph. However, there are significant cultural differences in quality preferences and the most important acceptance factors for Asian consumers living in the United States are cooked rice appearance and aroma. This review examines the major constituents of rice (starch, lipid and protein) and their impact on eating quality as reflected by the functional properties of rice.

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Beneficial effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) extracts against obesity have been reported; however, the anti-obesity ability of the major components of green tea, polysaccharides, polyphenols and caffeine is not clear. Therefore, experiments with total green tea extracts, polyphenols, polysaccharides, caffeine, and a complex of polysaccharide and polyphenol at a dose of 400 or 800 mg kg⁻¹ were conducted on high-fat diet fed rats for 6 weeks to investigate their anti-obesity effects. The results indicated that polyphenols and polysaccharides were responsible for the suppressive effect of green tea extracts on body weight increase and fat accumulation. Moreover, polyphenols, polysaccharides, or caffeine can improve blood lipid and antioxidant levels, and effectively reduce rat serum leptin levels, inhibit the absorption of fatty acids, and markedly reduce the expression levels of the IL-6 and TNF-α gene. Furthermore, it was shown that polysaccharides and polyphenols were synergistic in reduction of serum leptin levels and in anti-inflammatory activity. These results suggest that the polysaccharide combination with polyphenols might be a potential therapy against obesity.

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