Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa L) is one of the most indispensable cereals and Chhattisgarh recognized as “Rice Bowl of India” has worlds’ second largest rice germplasm collection of 23250 rice accessions maintained at gene bank by Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur. Dr. R.H. Richharia, a renowned rice scientist, have documented indigenous technical knowledges (ITKs) regarding the medicinal uses of selected traditional rice varieties of the collection. Validation of these ITKs is essential for the implementation of rice based therapeutic applications “Rice Therapy”, a concept proposed by Dr. R.H. Richharia.
Under joint collaboration of IGKV and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai (BARC), efforts were made to validate medicinal properties of some of these traditional varieties through scientific research. Sanjeevani Rice, a pureline selection of germplasm accession of IGKV, Raipur, upon consumption of its brown rice exhibited immune boosting activity through enhancing the clearance of bacteria and dead cells by a type of immune cells called macrophages. The LCMS studies on Sanjeevani brown rice showed seven known Nrf2 activator -Trysol, DL-Carnitine, Coumarin, Arachidonic acid, 4- Coumaric acid, Adenosine, Vanillin, which activate the Nrf2 pathway exhibiting the immune boosting property. Methanolic Gathuwan Brown Rice Extract, an indigenous rice variety of Chhattisgarh, exhibited T-cell activation, proliferation and cytokine secretion (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IFN-γ). Gathuwan suppressed T-cell-mediated immune responses by altering the cellular redox balance and activating the Nrf2 signalling pathway. Maharaji rice, an aromatic variety studied using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LCTMS) analysis exhibited various bioactive compounds including terpenes, flavonoids, and amino acids exhibiting exhibited potent radical scavenging activity. Methanolic brown rice extract of Gudma Dhan exhibited potent antioxidant properties and showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the secretion of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-γ cytokines in lymphocytes and the secretion of nitric oxide, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 cytokines in macrophages. The mutant variety of the same exhibited similar bioactive efficacy as the parent variety, indicating non-significant metabolomic diversification due to mutation breeding. Gudma Dhan and its mutant possessed abundant bioactive metabolites and exhibited potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties compared to non-pigmented brown rice extract.
Keywords: Medicinal Rice, LCMS, Nrf2 Activators, Chhattisgarh germplasm, Indigenous technical knowledge (ITK).
Biography
Dr. Deepak Sharma is working as Head of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, IGKV, Raipur. He got his under graduate degree in Biology form Jabalpur University in 1982. He obtained his post-graduate and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur during 1985 and 1998. Dr. Sharma had joined the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding of IGKV as Assistant Professor in 1996 and became Head of the Department in 2021. He has more than 35 years of experience in research/academia in the field of agricultural sciences/plant breeding/crop improvement. Dr. Sharma had handled 14 national and international funded projects on crop improvement. During this time, as the main breeder, he has developed two rice hybrids viz, “Indira Sona” and “Chhattisgarh Hybrid Rice-2”; one aromatic, nutritive and red rice variety suitable for poha “Chhattisgarh Dhan Barhasal Sel-1”; six high yielding rice mutant varieties viz, TCDM-1, Vikram-TCR, CGJT, TCVM, TCSM, Bauna Luchai CTLM; and India’s first rice variety with medicinal properties “Sanjeevani Rice”. Additionally, he has also contributed to the development of 15 rice varieties as supporting breeder and team member.
He has worked as nodal officer of PPV&FRA for conservation and utilization of crop biodiversity, during which he has facilitated the submission of 1868 farmers’ varieties applications for registration under PPV&FRA. Among them, registration certificates of 561 landraces / varieties of various crops have been received. Additionally, he has facilitated in securing geographical indicators for two popular traditional rice varieties i.e., Jeeraphool and Nagri Dubraj. He has also facilitated farmers’/farmers’ communities of Chhattisgarh in receiving 19 Plant Genome Saviour Awards of PPV&FRA.