키토산용액으로 발아시킨 키토산발아현미는 증류수만으로 발아시킨 일반발아현미보다 식이섬유, 총 페놀성 화합물, GABA, 그리고 phytic acid의 함량이 높게 나타났다. 또한, 체내 지방 흡수에 관여하는 lipase 저해 검정에서는 키토산 발아현미가 가장 높은 활성을 나타냈으며 일반발아현미도 현미에 비해 높은 활성을 나타냈다. 고지방 식이에 의한 흰쥐의 비만 억제 실험에서는 키토산발아현미군이 대조구와 일반발아현미에 비해 체중 및 복부지방량이 낮고 분변 중의 조지방 함량은 높은 경향을 보였다. 또한 혈중 총콜레중성지질, 및 LDL-C의 농도는 낮은 반면 HDL-C 농도는 높은 경향을 나타냈다. 발아현미 제조에 있어 키토산 처리는 발아하는 동안 비만 억제 및 콜레스테롤 감소에 효과가 있는 기능성 성분을 증대시키는 유용한 방법으로 사료된다.
This study was to investigated the changes of physiologically active components in germinated brown rice treated with chitosan (CGBR) and its anti-obesity effect in rat fed a high fat diet. Contents of physiologically active compounds such as total phenolic compounds, total dietary fiber, $gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and total phytic acid in CGBR were significantly higher than those of traditional germinated brown rice (GBR). Lipase inhibitory activity of CGBR was higher than those of GBR and brown rice (BR). High fat diets containing CGBR, GBR, and BR were administered to three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats for four weeks. All groups showed no significant difference in body weight, total abdominal fat, and plasma lipid levels. However, CGBR group appeared to have lower body weight gain and total abdominal fat level than other groups fed high fat diets containing GBR and BR. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents in plasma of CGBR group were also lower than those of other groups. Thus, new germination method of brown rice using chitosan is a useful process, which utilizes plant defense responses to elevate the production of secondary metabolites and anti-obesity effect.
