Summary

This research is an attempt at investigating the effects climate has on Australian cereal crops such as rice, sorghum, oats and barley. This will be addressed by looking at bioactive compounds in these cereals and how they may differ in cereals grown across the Northern and Southern cultivation regions of Australia. This study involves screening of multiple varieties of rice, barley, oats and sorghum to select the grain varieties with the most potent anticancer activity, extracts from these cereals will be tested on colorectal cancer cell lines to determine their ability to induce apoptosis. Once the varieties have been selected, samples will be sorted from the two regions and analysis will be carried out on their bioactive compounds including phenolic, antioxidant, starch and proteins. The study will assess colorectal cancer cells as compared to other types of cancers, colorectal cancer is in closest proximity for exposure due to its present in the gut system where digested compounds are absorbed. In this project, bioactive compounds in grains as well as chemical differences in the compounds in grains grown in various locations in Australia will be investigated, to better understand their relationship to cultivation climate. At the same time, this project will be building the value of these food crops as functional foods, particularly with potential chemopreventive properties.

Program

Rice

Research Organisation

Charles Sturt University