• 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.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1114-1121
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• 2000

Monascus koji have been used as a natural food colorant and preservative in Asia countries for centuries. This study was investigated to the chemical properties of Doenjang prepared with Monascus koji. Four kinds of Doenjang were fermented with Aspergillus koji only and Aspergillus koji plus 10%, 20% and 30% Monascus koji of its amount, respectively, and the changes of characteristics were investigated during fermentation. All the Monascus koji substituted Doenjang showed lower protease activities than Aspergillus koji Doenjang over all periods of fermentation. No differences of amino nitrogen and free amino acids were found after 30 days of fermentation and reducing sugars and peptides were found during over all periods of fermentation in each other. The Monascus koji gave higher a-, L- and C-values and lower h-values than Aspergillus koji. Sensory profiles of color, flavor, taste and overall quality on the final products which fermented during 60 days, indicated that there were no differences each other. From these results Monascus koji suggested as 30% substitutes for Aspergillus koji in Doenjang preparation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify the effects of extracts of fermented Angelica gigas Nakai (A. gigas) with a Monascus purpureus strain on anti-obesity in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven dietary groups (n=8 per group), as follows: a normal diet group (N) and six HFD groups (C: control, HFD and no treatment; AG: HFD +10% A. gigas extracts; FAG2.5: HFD +2.5% fermented A. gigas extracts; FAG5: HFD +5% fermented A. gigas extracts; FAG10: HFD +10% fermented A. gigas extracts; GC: HFD + Garcinia cambogia extracts). FAG-fed rats exhibited effectively lowered rates of increasing body weight and visceral fat accumulation in the HFD-induced obesity model. The activities of several hepatic marker enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were increased with HFD-induced obesity, but levels of these marker enzymes were significantly decreased in FAG-fed rats. The consumption of FAG reduced triglyceride concentrations in serum to normal levels. FAG-fed rats showed effectively increased leptin concentrations in the HFD-induced obesity model. HFD ingestion induced a significant increase in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, which was decreased in FAG-fed rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Oil Red O staining of the liver showed that the lipid deposits were decreased via FAG feeding. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin staining of epididymal adipose adipose tissue showed that the adipocyte were decreased by feeding FAG.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1142-1148
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate antioxidative and physiological activities of ethanol extracts concentration from Monascus-Fermented Chinese Yam (MFCY). The ethanol extracts from MFCY were measured to examine pigment, monacolin K content, total polyphenol content, DPPH radical scavenging activity and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory effects. In this study, the results show that Monascus sp. MK2, with Dioscorea batatas Dence. as the substrate, can produce pigments (red, orange, and yellow), monacolin K content, total polyphenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity at 13.48 (red), 11.66 (orange), 12.77 (yellow), 462.78 (mg/kg), 658.8 (mg/kg) and 92.8% in EtOH extract, respectively. In addition, ACE inhibitory activity was shown to be 74.55% in EtOH extract. Therefore, it can be concluded that Dioscorea batatas Dence is the best fermentative substrate for Monascus species to produce secondary metabolites as biomedicinal substances.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.1208-1213
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• 2008

The changes in the contents of GABA ($\gamma$-aminobutyric acid) and free amino acids (FAA) were analysed by HPLC in soybean fermented with Monascus pilosus IFO 480, which showed the highest GABA-producing ability among the five different strains. The significant increase (p<0.05) of GABA was observed in Monascusfermented soybean (MFS) with an average 4.5-fold increase of FAA. The contents of GABA (78.5 mg /100 g dry weight, dw) and FAA (5458.5 mg /100 g dw) were enhanced in MFS compared with unfermented soybean (31.5 mg /100 g dw, 1634.0 mg/100 g dw, respectively) during 30 days fermentation at $30^{\circ}C$. Acidic amino acids (i.e., glutamic acid and aspartic acid) in FAA files were found in large quantities (837.0 mg /100 g dw, 580.5 mg /100 g dw, respectively). Moreover, the sum of essential amino acids of MFS (1681.5 mg /100 g dw) at 20 days fermentation increased by 3.6 times compared with that of the control (469.0 mg /100 g dw). The results indicate that Monascus-fermentation have great potential for the enrichment of GABA and free amino acids in soybean.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.253-257
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• 2002

The time-dependent changes of red pigments production in solid-state plant scale fermentor using barley cultured with Monascus sp., instead of rice which was traditionally used, were investigated in this study. A steady increase in the yield of red pigments in barley occurred between the 3rd and 6th days. The optimized conditions (inoculation volume = 6∼8%, initial pH = 6, air supply = 0.6∼0.8 m) promoted the production of red pigments. Short-time steaming of barley (< 20 min) decreased fungal growth and pigments production due to the insufficient gelatiniza-tion. The optical density of the red pigments under the optimized conditions was 120 at 500 ]nm per gram of barley. In addition, the metabolites from the fermented barley with Monucus sp. showed antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Barley was shown to be one of the best grain sources for solid-state fermentation with Monascu sp., fur obtaining natural pigments and also functional food materials.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.943-950
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• 2003

To identify the functional properties of Hongkuk ju and to improve its brewing process, Hongkuk ju was brewed using different hongkuks (Monascus red koji) made by Monascus purpureus, Monascus anka, Monascus aruneosus, and nuruk. Hongkuk using M. purpureus showed the highest enzyme activity. Hongkuk ju prepared with the M. purpureus hongkuk was fermented most efficiently, and showed the highest Hunter value. Hongkuk ju showed significant levels of phenolic compounds, electron donating ability, nitrate-scavenging activity, and ACE inhibition activity. In particular, Hongkuk ju made with M. purpureus showed the highest value among the wines of this study.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2012

The anti-obese, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of post-fermented green tea by Monascus pilosus was tested with mice fed with high-fat diet for 7 weeks. The body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio (FER) in normal control group (NC), CHA (2% non-fermented green tea powder supplemented high-fat diet group) and mCHA (2% green tea powder post-fermented by M. pilosus supplemented high fat diet group) groups were significantly lower than those of high fat diet control group (HC). Epididymal fat weight in mCHA and NC were significantly lower than HC. The hepatic lipid peroxide was dramatically higher in HC than that of NC and was significantly lower in CHA and mCHA. In addition, dehydrogenase type activity of xanthine oxidoreductase in HC was lower than that of NC, but significantly higher than CHA and mCHA. In histopathological findings, hepatic fat accumulation in HC was higher than that of NC, CHA and mCHA. Antiobese, hypolipidemic and antifatty liver effect of green tea powder post-fermented by M. pilosus was slightly higher than that of non-fermented green tea. In conclusion, the constituents of green tea fermented by M. pilosus has been proven to not only inhibit obesity and hyperlipidemia but also decrease the hepatic fat accumulation in high fat diet-induced obese mice.

• 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 Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.5646-5657
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• 2013

In this study, to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of mulberry leaf tea and its fermented product by Monascus pilosus, we investigated body and organ weight, blood and liver biomarkers in mice fed 1% tea infusions instead of water for 8 weeks. Mice were divided into three groups such as a normal control (NC), unfermented mulberry leaf tea infusion (UMI) and fermented mulberry leaf tea infusion (FMI). Although it is not significant, tea infusion groups showed reduction of body weight gains compared with NC group. Moreover, contents of LDL-cholesterol and lipid peroxide (LPO), altherogenic index, and xanthin oxidase (XO) activity were significantly decreased, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was significantly elevated. The results from this study suggested that UMI and FMI may have an anti-obesity activity, upregulate antioxidant enzymes and reduce levels of oxidants related to liver damage.