Wild rice (Zizania spp.), an important aquatic cereal grain in North America and East Asia, has attracted interest worldwide because of its antioxidant activities and health-promoting effects. Wild rice is high in protein, minerals, and vitamins but is low in fat. The phytochemical content (phytosterols, γ-oryzanol, γ-aminobutyric acid, phenolic acids, and flavonoids) of wild rice warrants its development as a functional food. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals from Zizania plants have pronounced antioxidant properties, which are associated with prevention of chronic diseases. The health-promoting effects of Zizania plants include alleviation of insulin resistance and lipotoxicity, atherosclerosis prevention, and anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-hypertensive, and immunomodulatory effects. Here, we provide an overview of Zizania research up to April 2020, focusing on the nutritional constituents, phytochemicals, antioxidant activities, and health-promoting effects of Zizania plants. This review has important implications for further investigations and applications of Zizania plants in medicine and as functional foods.

Keywords: Antioxidant activities; Health-promoting effects; Nutritional constituents; Phytochemicals; Zizania spp..