• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2002

To produce yellow pigment selectively, mutants were induced from Monascus anka Nakazawa et Sato IFO 4478 (KCCM 11832 strain), and their characteristics were evaluated. Five kinds of auxotrophic mutants which required amino acids for growth and pigmentation, were isolated through a series of mutagenic treatments. Especially, asparagine auxotroph Y7 produced high ratio of yellow pigment. This mutant showed all the morphological characteristics of Monascuceae but the shape of colony and the diameter of conidia. Mutant Y7 was propagated by sexual reproduction more often than asexual reproduction, which could be effective in production of pigments. Yellow pigment produced extracellularly by the mutant Y7 was more soluble in polar solvents such as ethanol and water than in nonpolar solvents. Its productivity of yellow pigment was 2.2 times higher in the mutant Y7 than in parents. In addition, its yellow pigment showed characteristics of maximum absorption at 373 nm. Moreover, the hue of pigment produced by the mutant Y7 was bright yellow, and it was stable through the subculture over 10 generations.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 2006

The optimum cultural conditions for production of yellow pigment by Monascus purpureus MMK2 were investigated in liquid culture. Monascus purpureus MMK2 was shown to give the maximum production of yellow pigment in the medium containing of 3.0% wheat flour, 0.15% $NaNO_3$, 0.25% $Na_2HPO_4\;12H_2O\;and\;0.15%\;MgSO_4\;7H_2O$. The optimal culture conditions for temperature and initial pH were $30^{\circ}C$ and 6.5, respectively. The yellow pigment production reached a maximum level at the 7th day of cultivation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.493-498
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• 2006

The optimal culture conditions of Monascus purpureus MMK2 for production of red pigment were investigated in submerged culture. Monascus purpureus MMK2 showed a maximal production of red pigment in the medium containing of 3.0% wheat flour, $0.15%\;NaNO_3,\;0.25%\;Na_2HPO_4\;12H_2O$ and $0.15%\;MgSO_4\;7H_2O$. The optimal culture conditions of temperature and initial pH were $30^{\circ}C$ and 6.5, respectively. The red pigment production reached to a maximal level at 7th day of cultivation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate antioxidative and physiological activities of two stage fermented Chinese Yam (TSFCY) by Monascus sp. MK2 and Lactobacillus brevis HLJ59. The extracts from TSFCY were measured to examine pigments, monacolin K contents, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, ACE inhibitory activity and GABA contents. In this study, the results show that Monascus sp. MK2 and Lactobacillus brevis HLJ59, with Dioscorea batatas Dence. As the substrate can produce pigments (yellow, orange and red), monacolin K contents, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, ACE inhibitory activity, and GABA contents at 14.03 (yellow), 13.88 (orange), 15.71 (red), 487.9 (MK, mg/kg), 723.8 (TP, mg/kg), 326.4 (TF, mg/kg), 81.7 (DPPH, %), and 1.5 (RP, O.D), respectively. In addition, the showed ACE inhibitory activity and GABA contents was 86.9% and 977.4 mg/kg in EtOH extract, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1047-1052
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• 2001

The pigment content in meju fermented by a Monascus species with different materials was studied. The relations between growth of M. pilosus and pigment production were positive and the correlation coefficient associated with this relationship was determined to be : r = 0.9879. Pigments produced by M. purpureus and M. pilosus were composed of 9 and 8 bands, respectively. One kind of them was yellowish, whereas the others were reddish. Total pigment levels in rice meju fermented by M. purpureus and M. pilosus were 335.25 and 1428.90$\mu\textrm{g}$/g, respectively. Pigment levels in the mejus fermented at 3$0^{\circ}C$ showed higher than those at 20 and 4$0^{\circ}C$. The order of pigment content in meju was polished rice > germinated brown rice > wheat > brown rice > waxy brown rice > germinated waxy brown rice. Pigment production by M. pilosus was higher than that of M. purpureus. Pigment content in rice meju prepared by adding 10% seed culture was highest, and pigment content of granulated rice was higher than that of powdered rice. Pigment production was not desirable in soybean meju fermented by seed culture, whereas the pigment levels in meju by adding 10% powdered rice and 10% powdered rice seed meju increased by 23.0 ~75.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 2012

In order to produce Hongkuk-ju, the production and characterization of Hongkuk (Monascus red koji) by Monascus anka KCTC 6121 were investigated. The optimum cultural conditions for the production of enzyme (${\alpha}$-amylase and glucoamylase) and pigment (yellow and red) from this strain on solid culture (steamed rice) were examined. The results showed that the production of ${\alpha}$-amylase and glucoamylase reached the highest for 9 days and 8 days, respectively. Since then, the productions decreased slightly. The production of yellow and red pigments reached the highest for 8 days, decreasing slightly soon after. The optimal content of the initial moisture equally presented 30% in the enzyme and pigment production. After that, the enzyme production decreased slowly, whereas pigment production decreased sharply. The optimal temperature of the culture also showed $30^{\circ}C$ in the production of enzyme and pigment. It was found that the initial inoculum size in enzyme and pigment production was 10% and 20%, respectively. Under these optimal conditions, the production of monacolin K and citrinin was 74.35 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg for 12 days, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.352-358
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• 2020

Red yeast rice has been extensively used as a food and traditional medicine for thousands of years in Korea. Monascus produces many secondary metabolites during its growth, including pigments, monacolins, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Some metabolites, specifically monacolin K, γ-aminobutyric acid, and dimerumic acid, have been reported to lower cholesterol and blood pressure because of certain antioxidant effects. This study investigated the total phenolic content of ethanol extract from red yeast rice fermented with Monascus sp. BHN-MK and its anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. To assess its anti-inflammatory effect, the inhibitory activity of the ethanol extract on LPS-induced NO production and expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in macrophage cells were measured. Its total polyphenol content was higher than that of ordinary non-fermented rice. Its NO production inhibition activity was comparable to that of the negative control group treated with LPS at a concentration of 400 ㎍/ml. Western blot revealed a significant decrease in the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 protein expression at concentrations of 400 and 800 ㎍/ml, respectively. Red yeast rice ethanol extracts exerted the strongest anti-inflammatory effects. The results indicate that red yeast rice could be used as a functional cosmetic and anti-inflammatory material.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.472-478
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• 1995

Mycelial growth, color difference and productivity of red pigment of beni-koji by Monascus anka KCCM 11832 were examined with respect to it's pigment in submerged culture with various medium and culture conditions. Shaking incubation was more promoted mycelial growth and the production of pigments than that for non-shaking incubation, and red color became ten times deeper. The production of red pigment was the highest when incubated at 25$\circ$C for 7 days in pH 6.0, but mycelial growth was showed the highest at 32.5$\circ$C. The levels of carbon and nitrogen source for maximum red pigment production were 2% rice powder and 0.05% peptone, respectively and the level of peptone for maximum pigment production was lower than that for maximum mycelial growth. Among pigmentation promoting agents tested, MgSO$_{4}$, was found to be suitable for the production of red pigment, and the optimum level was 0.1%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food and Cookery Science Conference
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• 1993.05a
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• pp.149-159
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• 1993

The concept of Solid-State Fermentation is briefly explained in comparison to other fermentation principles, and several types of fermenters are presented. A recently developed "Swing Reactor" for SSF is shown. When inoculated on rice, the mould Monascus purpureus forms red pigments, Which can be used as food colors (Ang-kak, Red Rice). By Response Surface Methodology, serveral factors have been optimized for maximal red colour formation. Showing that presoaking time of rice, pH of soaking water, age of preculture and inoculum size were not of importance within the observed limits. For a fermentation time of 7 days, start humidity is optimal at 34% and temperature is optimal at 28.8 C. These results of small scale fermentation could be transferred to the Swing Reactor.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of fermented chinese yam and rice (Dioscorea japonica, Dioscorea batatas, Dioscorea opposita, Rice, FCYR) using Monascus sp. MK805. The extracts from FCYR were measured to examine pigments, antioxidant activities were investigated through DPPH radical scavenging activity, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, reducing power. Also it was investigated monacolin K productivity by FCYR. Pigments productivity (yellow, orange and red) were 26.2, 13.9, 17.3 at Dioscorea japonica, 41.9, 22.6, 53.2 at Dioscorea batatas, 12.5, 7.5, 9.7 at Dioscorea opposita and 10.1, 7.7, 10.2 at rice, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity of FCYR was about 69.7, 79.6, 57.8, and 42.3%, total polyphenol contents of FCYR was about 480.6, 658.7, 379.3, and 212.9 mg/kg, total flavonoid contents of FCYR was about 342.5, 448.4, 235.2, and 168.7 mg/kg, reducing power of FCYR was about 1.57, 2.14, 1.14, and 0.35 (OD at 700 nm), respectively. And then monacolin K productivity of FCYR was about 453.8, 509.5, 332.2, and 263.2 mg/kg, respectively.