Recovery of Red Pigments from Monascus purpureus FTC 5357 by Extraction of Fermented Solids: Operational Conditions and Kinetics

Abstract Solvent extraction of red pigments from fermented solids is reported. The pigments were produced by solid-state fermentation of oil palm frond (OPF) biomass with the food-safe fungus Monascus purpureus FTC 5357. The effects of extraction solvent and other operational conditions (pH, temperature, agitation rate, contact time) on the recovery of pigments are discussed. The recovery was maximized using aqueous ethanol (60% ethanol by vol) as solvent at pH 6, 30 °C, with an extraction time of 16 h and an agitation rate of 180 rpm. A fermented solids dry mass of 1 g was used for each 160 mL of solvent during extraction. The kinetics of extraction were assessed by fitting the experimental data to different models. Peleg's model proved to be the best for describing solid-liquid extraction of the pigments under the above specified conditions. The highest extraction yield of red pigments under the above specified optimal conditions was 207(6.08 AU g(1 dry fermented solids.

Six new monacolin analogs from red yeast rice / 中国天然药物

Six novel monacolin analogs, monacolins V-V (1-6), together with seven known ones (7-13), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of red yeast rice. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR (H-HCOSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY/ROESY) and CD spectroscopic analyses as well as chemical derivation. Monacolins V (2) and V (3) represent the first examples of monacolins with 3-hydroxybutyrate substitute. The anti-inflammatory inhibitory activities against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced NO production in BV-2 cells as well as antioxidant activities against rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation were evaluated.

Study on transformation of ginsenoside Rg3 fermented by Monascus purpureus / 中草药

Objective: To explore the solid fermentation process of Panax ginseng by Monascus purpureus, which can transfer some major ginsenoside into rare ginsenoside Rg3 with stronger biological activity. Methods: The static dark culture method was used to perform microbial fermentation; Vanilline-glacial acetic acid method was used to detect the total saponins before and after fermentation, and the ginsenoside Rg3 was detected by HPLC. Results: The optimum process parameters of Monascus purpureus fermentation was fermentation 6 d, fermentation temperature 32 ℃, pH 7.0, and water content of substrate 50%. After 6 d of fermentation, the content of total saponins in fermentation products increased by 40%, and the content of ginsenoside Rg3 was 6.047 mg/g, which was 2.3 times as much as that of non-fermented P. ginseng. According to the change of monomer saponin content along with the fermentation time, it was deduced that the transformation path was Rb1 (Rb2)→Rd→Rh2→Rg3. Conclusion: The solid fermentation process of Monascus purpureus established in this study is reasonable, which not only lays a foundation for the directional production of rare saponins Rg3 but provides a theoretical support for preparing rare ginsenoside in vitro.

Lipid regulating effect of mixture fermentation products of Crataegi Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma, and Cassiae Semen with Monascus purpureus on hyperlipidemic rats / 中草药

Objective: To explore the lipid regulating effect of fermentation product of Crataegi Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma, and Cassiae Semen on hyperlipidemic rats. Methods: SD rats were fed with high fat diet and established as hyperlipidemia animal model, the subjects were divided into six groups: control group, model group, positive control group, fermentation product prevention group, red yeast rice group, and fermentation product treatment group. After four weeks continuous oral administration, the effect of different medicine samples on serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of hyperlipidemic rats were observed to assess the regulation effect. Results: Four weeks' continuous oral administration could regulate the TC, TG, LDL-C levels significantly lower (P < 0.001) and HDL-C level significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the prevention group compared with the model group. After modeling, continuous administration for four weeks, compared with the levels before giving medicines, TC, TG, LDL-C levels of positive control group and fermentation product treatment group were significantly regulated lower (P < 0.05, 0.01) and HDL-C level significantly increased (P < 0.05, 0.01). while the only TC and LDL-C levels in red yeast rice group showed significant effect. Conclusion: Product of lipid-lowering traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) treated by solid-state fermentation with Monascus purpureus could effectively inhibit the formation of foodborne hyperlipidemia, as well as control and regulate hyperlipidemia, and synergistic effect also appeared between ingredients from TCMs and lovastatin.

Nutrients interaction investigation to improve Monascus purpureus FTC5391 growth rate using Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network

Aims: Two vital factors, certain environmental conditions and nutrients as a source of energy are entailed for successful growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Manipulation of nutritional requirement is the simplest and most effectual strategy to stimulate and enhance the activity of microorganisms. Methodology and Results: In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) were employed to optimize the carbon and nitrogen sources in order to improve growth rate of Monascus purpureus FTC5391, a new local isolate. The best models for optimization of growth rate were a multilayer full feed-forward incremental back propagation network, and a modified response surface model using backward elimination. The optimum condition for cell mass production was: sucrose 2.5%, yeast extract 0.045%, casamino acid 0.275%, sodium nitrate 0.48%, potato starch 0.045%, dextrose 1%, potassium nitrate 0.57%. The experimental cell mass production using this optimal condition was 21 mg/plate/12days, which was 2.2-fold higher than the standard condition (sucrose 5%, yeast extract 0.15%, casamino acid 0.25%, sodium nitrate 0.3%, potato starch 0.2%, dextrose 1%, potassium nitrate 0.3%). Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The results of RSM and ANN showed that all carbon and nitrogen sources tested had significant effect on growth rate (P-value < 0.05). In addition the use of RSM and ANN alongside each other provided a proper growth prediction model.

Clinical study on cholesterol-lowering effect of RYR Cholestin among Americans with moderate hy-percholesterolemia / 上海预防医学

[Objective] To evaluate lipid -lowering efficacy and safety of RYR Cholestin , or Monascus purpureus (Red Yeast) Rice, in Americans with moderate hypercholesterolemia. [Methods] This study was an open-label, self-control, and multi-center clinical trial.A total of 187 subjects were entered into this trial (serum LDL-Cholesterol 3.50~4.92 mmol/L,total cholesterol 5.18~7.25 mmol/L, male:female=116∶71) , of whom 162 completed the study .Subjects were placed on the NCEP Step I Diet throughout the study and RYR Cholestin (2.4 g/day) was administered for 8 weeks following initial 4-week diet control . [ Results] Being on the diet alone for 4 weeks resulted in no significant changes in serum lipids .RYR Cholestin treatment for 8 weeks reduced serum total cholesterol , LDL-Cholesterol and triglycerides by 16 .6%, 24 .0%, and 25 .2%, respectively , and increased HDL-Cholesterol by 14 .3%( all P<0 .001 ) .There were 97 .5% of patients having ≥10% improvement in at least one of lipid risk factors, and 79.0%having ≥20% improvement.Discontinuation of RYR Cholestin intervention for 14 d led to a return of serum lipids to baseline of pre -study .And 29 possible product -related mild adverse re-actions were reported . [ Conclusion] RYR Cholestin is well tolerated and effective in reducing total and LDL-Cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as in increasing HDL-Cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients, but those indicators return to the beginning baseline when the treatment is discontinued .

Production of angkak through co-culture of Monascus purpureus and Monascus ruber

Angkak (red mold rice, red yeast rice, Chinese red rice) is a traditional Chinese medicine produced by solid-state fermentation of cooked non-glutinous rice with Monascus species. The secondary metabolite of Monascus species, monacolin K /lovastatin, has been proven to lower blood lipid levels. In this study, a co-culture of Monascus purpureus MTCC 369 and Monascus ruber MTCC 1880 was used for angkak production. Four medium parameters screened by Plackett-Burman design were optimized by response surface methodology for highest lovastatin production in angkak during solid-state fermentation by the co-culture. Maximum lovastatin production of 2.84 mg g-1 was predicted in solid medium containing 20 g rice and 40 ml liquid nutrients medium (malt extract 9.68 g l-1, dextrose 38.90 g l-1, MnSO4.H2O 1.96 g l-1, and MgSO4.7H2O 0.730 g l-1) by point prediction tool of Design Expert 7.1 software (Statease Inc. USA).

Production of angkak through co-culture of Monascus purpureus and Monascus ruber

Angkak (red mold rice, red yeast rice, Chinese red rice) is a traditional Chinese medicine produced by solid-state fermentation of cooked non-glutinous rice with Monascus species. The secondary metabolite of Monascus species, monacolin K /lovastatin, has been proven to lower blood lipid levels. In this study, a co-culture of Monascus purpureus MTCC 369 and Monascus ruber MTCC 1880 was used for angkak production. Four medium parameters screened by Plackett-Burman design were optimized by response surface methodology for highest lovastatin production in angkak during solid-state fermentation by the co-culture. Maximum lovastatin production of 2.84 mg g-1 was predicted in solid medium containing 20 g rice and 40 ml liquid nutrients medium (malt extract 9.68 g l-1, dextrose 38.90 g l-1, MnSO4.H2O 1.96 g l-1, and MgSO4.7H2O 0.730 g l-1) by point prediction tool of Design Expert 7.1 software (Statease Inc. USA).