• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2023

Red yeast rice, also known as Hong Qu and red Koji, has been used for a long time in Asian functional food and traditional medicine. It consists of multiple bioactive substances, which can potentially be used as nutraceuticals. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) can range from simple steatosis or inflammation to fibrosis and cirrhosis, possibly through leaky gut and systemic endotoxemia. This study examined the liver and gut effects of red yeast rice (RYR) (Monascus purpureus) ethanol extract against binge ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. RYR extract was orally administered to C57BL/6N mice at a concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight per day for 10 days. Then, mice were administered binge alcohol (5 g/kg/dose) three times at 12 hr intervals. Binge alcohol exposure significantly elevated the endotoxin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity of plasma, as well as hepatic triglyceride levels; however, RYR treatments reduced these levels. In addition, RYR pretreatment significantly reduced the alcohol-induced oxidative maker protein and apoptosis maker in binge alcohol-induced gut and liver injuries. These results suggest that RYR may prevent alcohol-induced acute leaky gut and liver damage.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.550-558
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• 2017

The effect of Artemisia argyi H. under liquid-state fermentation by Monascus purpureus (AAFM) on cognitive impairments has been studied in a mice model of diabetes-associated cognitive decline induced by streptozotocin (STZ). C57BL/6 mice (9 weeks of age, male) were separated into four groups: a normal control, STZ-induced diabetic mouse group (STZ group), Artemisia argyi H. (AA) 10 group (diabetic mouse+AA 10 mg/kg/day), AAFM 10 group (diabetic mouse+AAFM 10 mg/kg/day). Administration of AA and AAFM significantly improved glucose tolerance, as shown by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), and ameliorated cognitive deficit, as shown by the behavioral tests including passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and Y-maze tests. After behavioral tests, the cholinergic system was examined by assessment of the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and the antioxidant system was also assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and liver.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.1 s.81
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• pp.137-142
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• 2007

For the production of natural pigments with microbe, the strains which produced monascus pigment were isolated, and then culture condition and extraction condition were investigated. These results are summarized as follows; The strain which ran produce monascus natural pigment was isolated from natural microbial sources and we made mutant of this strain with UV($235_{nm}$, 30 second) irradiation. The mutant was identified as Monascus sp. MK2-2. The optimal culture conditions were investigated optimal medium containing 0.3% rice powder, 0.2% yeast extract, 0.3% $NH_4H_2PO_4$ and $30^{\circ}C$ in a rotary shaker (120 rpm) for 5 days (initial pH 5.0), while the pigment production was determined at 24 hr intervals. The effective carbon sources were wheat flour > rice powder > fructose, and effective nitrogen sources were sodium nitrate > $KNO_3$ for production of the monascus natural pigment. The pigment capacity is good from 17 to 22 in C/N ratio. The production amount of monascus natural pigment was 0.38 g per 1 kg of rice. Also, extract of red yeast rice had anti-thrombosis activity like a degree of aspirin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.487-496
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• 2013

Green coffee beans (CB, Indonesian Mandheling) were fermented with three kinds of mushrooms (Phellinus linteus, PL; Hericium erinaceum, HE; Ganoderma lucidum, GL) or two kinds of mycelia from molds (Monascus purpureus, MP; Monascus ruber, MR) using solid-state culture to enhance physiological activity. After the roasting of fermented green coffee beans, roasted coffees were extracted with a hot-water decoction or 95% ethanol reflux. Yields from hot water extracts (HW, 17.7~25.3%) were higher than those from ethanolic extracts (EE, 9.5~12.2%). Hot-water extracts of roasted coffees from green coffee beans fermented with two molds (MP-CB-HW and MR-CB-HW) showed higher total polyphenols, flavonoids, and DPPH free radical scavenging activity than roasted coffees from non-fermented (CB-HW) or fermented green coffee beans with the three mycelia from mushrooms. MR-CB-HW also had the most potent macrophage stimulating and mitogenic activity (1.32 and 1.40-fold of CB-HW, respectively). In addition, MP-CB-EE and MR-CB-EE did not show any cytotoxicity to the RAW 264.7 cell at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$, and these extracts significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production from the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell line (38.6 and 37.0% of the LPS-treated group). Meanwhile, the chlorogenic acid concentrations of MP-CB-HW or MR-CB-HW highly increased (to 76.21 or $76.73{\mu}g/mL$, respectively), but caffeine concentrations were not affected by solid-state fermentation. In conclusion, the physiological activities of roasted coffees were enhanced by the solid-state culture of green coffee beans with M. purpureus or M. ruber, suggesting that these roasted coffees could possibly serve industrial applications as functional coffee beverages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1153-1160
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• 2009

Monascus-fermented Korean red ginseng (MFRG), fermented by Monascus purpureus KCCM 12002, may be an ideal candidate for the hepatoprotectic, hypolipidemic and antioxidative activities. Effect of MFRG powder on these parameters in rats was investigated. Body weight gain, food intake, and water consumption were not significantly different among the groups. Total and relative weights of liver were significantly higher in MFRG group than that in other groups. The activities of AST and $\gamma$-GTP were highly lowered in MFRG group compared to control group. Contents of serum total lipid and triglyceride were significantly lowered in silymarin group and were significantly increased in MFRG group compared to control group, but tended to be lowered in RG group. Serum content of total cholesterol tended to be lowered in silymarin, RG, and MFRG groups compared to control group. HDL-cholesterol contents was only significantly increased in MFRG group compared to control group. At the same time, atherogenic index (AI) was also significantly lowered in silymarin, RG and MFRG groups compared to control group, and this effect was more pronounced in MFRG group. Content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver was significantly lowered in MFRG group and tended to lowered in silymarin and RG groups compared to control group. The hepatic glutathione concentration was significantly higher in silymarin and MFRG groups. Hepatic morphology in all experimental groups revealed clear-cut hepatic lobules with the uniform pattern of the polyhedral hepatocytes radiating towards the periphery from the central vein. These results suggested that MFRG may have anti-atherogenic index (AI) and antioxidative activity in normal dietary feeding rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1704-1711
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• 2012

Three mold strains, Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae), Aspergillus kawachii (A. kawachii), and Monascus purpureus (M. purpureus), were tested for fermentation of Acanthopanax senticosus (A. senticosus) leaf, root, stem, and fruit powders. The fermented A. senticosus materials were then tested for bioactive materials (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, mineral and fatty acid) and biological activities (DPPH free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and tyrosinase inhibition activity). The highest concentrations of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were NFASL at 4.11% and MPASL at 2.30%, respectively. Major minerals were Ca, K, Mg and Mn. Major fatty acids in fermented A. senticosus powders were palmitic, linolenic, and stearic acids. DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in non-fermented than in fermented A. senticosus. Tyrosinase inhibition activity was stronger in fermented A. senticosus than in NFAG. The Fe/Cu reducing powers were stronger in non-fermented A. senticosus than in any of the fermented A. senticosus materials. Overall, the study provides basic data for understanding the biological activities and chemical characteristics of A. senticosus fermented by molds for the development of functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1385-1393
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• 2010

Three mold strains, Aspergillus oryzae (AOFAG), Aspergillus kawachii (AKFAG), and Monascus purpureus (MPFAG) were used for fermentation of Angelica gigas Nakai powder. The contents of polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals, decursin and decursinol angelate and the activities of DPPH (${\alpha},{\alpha}'$-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging, reducing power, and tyrosinase were measured. The highest contents of phenolic compound and flavonoid were NFAG at 2.78% and MPFAG at 1.18%, respectively. Major minerals were K, Mg, Fe, Na and Ca. Decursin and decursinol angelate were the major ingredients of Angelica gigas according to HPLC analysis. Decursin area was higher in all fermented Angelica gigas than in NFAG. The activities of free radical scavenging and tyrosinase were stronger in all fermented Angelica gigas than NFAG. However, the Fe/Cu reducing powers were stronger in NFAG than all fermented Angelica gigas. Overall, these results may provide the basic data needed to understand the biological activities and chemical characteristics of Angelica gigas fermented by mold for the development of functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

Five mold strains - Mucor racemousus, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus kawachii, and Monascus purpureus - were used for the fermentation of both freeze-dried and air-dried silkworm powders. The concentrations of proteins and minerals, electrophoretical protein patterns, fatty acid composition and the activities of fibrinolytic and antioxidation with freeze-dried silkworm (FDSW) or air-dried silkworm powders (ADSW) fermented by the five molds were investigated. The concentrations of major minerals in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were K by 72.0-76.3 and 77.1-78.9 ppm, Mg by 29.6-49.7 and 44.3-58.7 ppm, Ca by 1.9-14.9 and 9.8-21.6 ppm and Zn by 0.64-0.70 and 4.17-4.52 ppm, respectively. Major fatty acids in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were linolenic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. There were slightly varietal differences in electrophoretical protein patterns when total protein patterns of fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were analyzed by native-and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in fermented ADSW powders than that in fermented FDSW. Fibriolytic activity was only detected in the FDSW fermented by Aspergillus kawachi and Monascus purpureus. These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities and chemical characteristics of silkworm fermented by mold, which can be used for the development of functional foods.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.805-809
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the effects and characteristics of sausages with red yeast rice added, particularly the Monascus purpureus KFRI 1134 strains, and to decide the optimal quantity of red yeast rice used. The additional rate of red yeast rice which has been used as a material for reducing nitrite, a coupler in meat products were 0, 1, 3, and 5% (w/w). In terms of the effects of the red yeast rice on the color, texture properties, and sensory characteristics of the sausages, the optimal temperature at which color stability was shown was below $100^{\circ}C$, and the addition of 1% red yeast rice resulted in a distinctly attractive color and increasingly improved the red color in the UV-visual Spectrophotometer analysis. However, the addition of over 1% (w/w) resulted in an unattractive color. The red colors also had strong heat stability. The texture properties and taste of the sausages were not affected by the red yeast rice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1371-1380
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• 2013

The effect of Monascus-fermented Angelica gigas Nakai (AFAG) on the contents of serum lipids and tissue lipid peroxidation was investigated in alcohol feeding rats (Alc group). The serum contents of total lipid and free fatty acid in the alcohol feeding rats were significantly increased, but these increases tended to decrease in the AFAG group. The content of serum triglyceride was also significantly decreased in the AFAG group compared to the other groups. The serum content of total-cholesterol was not significantly different between the normal group and the AFAG group. The content of HDL-cholesterol in serum was slightly increased in the AFAG group compared to the Alc group. The content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver, heart, spleen, and testis were significantly increased in the Alc group compared to the normal group, but these increases were significantly decreased in the AFAG group. The content of liver zinc was decreased in the Alc group and it was significantly increased in the AFAG group, which suggested that the lipid peroxidation contents are inversely correlated with the liver zinc content. The hepatic glutathione concentration was significantly decreased in the Alc group, but this content was significantly increased in the AFAG group, and it showed the antioxidant ability of glutathione. These activities were also compared to the standard silymarin drug treatment. Thus, the findings of the present study indicated the significant antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity of Monascus-fermented Angelica gigas Nakai against ethanol-induced toxicity.