Tocopherol content in the germ, pericarp and endosperm of rice grains, four leaf rice plants and mature rice plants were determined by HPLC.
The contents in the germ of rice grains, the young leaves of four leaf plants and mature rice plants were 264μg/g, 257μg/g and 134μg/g, respectively in dry samples.
α-Tocopherol was the main tocopherol in young leaves and mature plants. The tocopherol content was 76μg/g in the pericarp and a very little in the endosperm.
Tocopherol content in stored commercial rice bran was reduced from 275μg/g to 227μg/g at room temperature over a period of two months. The tocopherol content in stored mature rice plants was reduced from 134μg/g to 12μg/g at room temperature in three months.