Monascin and ankaflavin—Biosynthesis from Monascus purpureus, production methods, pharmacological properties: A review

Monascus purpureus copiously yields beneficial secondary metabolites , including Monascus pigments, which are broadly used as food additives, as a nitrite substitute in meat products, and as a colorant in the food industry. Monascus yellow pigments (monascin and ankaflavin) have shown potential antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antidepressant, antibiotic, anticancer, and antiobesity activities. Cosmetic and textile industries are other areas where it has established its potential as a dye. This paper reviews the production methods of Monascus yellow pigments, biosynthesis of Monascus pigments from M. purpureus, factors affecting yellow pigment production during fermentation, and the pharmacological properties of monascin and ankaflavin.

[1]  Bo-Bo Zhang,et al.  Evaluating the effects of microparticle addition on mycelial morphology, natural yellow pigments productivity, and key genes regulation in submerged fermentation of Monascus purpureus , 2021, Biotechnology and bioengineering.

[2]  F. Vendruscolo,et al.  Enhancement of microbial pigment production from Monascus ruber by sodium octanoate addition. , 2020, Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria.

[3]  Bo-Bo Zhang,et al.  Ethanol addition elevates cell respiratory activity and causes overproduction of natural yellow pigments in submerged fermentation of Monascus purpureus , 2020 .

[4]  Lei Chen,et al.  Efficient Biosynthesis of Natural Yellow Pigments by Monascus purpureus in a Novel Integrated Fermentation System. , 2018, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[5]  R. Dikshit,et al.  Monascus purpureus : A potential source for natural pigment production , 2017 .

[6]  T. Pan,et al.  Ankaflavin and Monascin Induce Apoptosis in Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells through Suppression of the Akt/NF-κB/p38 Signaling Pathway. , 2016, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[7]  Yulong Yin,et al.  Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: What Polyphenols Can Do for Us? , 2016, Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity.

[8]  T. Pan,et al.  Monascin from Monascus-Fermented Products Reduces Oxidative Stress and Amyloid-β Toxicity via DAF-16/FOXO in Caenorhabditis elegans. , 2016, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[9]  Y. Hsu,et al.  Monascus-fermented monascin and ankaflavin improve the memory and learning ability in amyloid β-protein intracerebroventricular-infused rat via the suppression of Alzheimer's disease risk factors , 2015 .

[10]  W. Hsu,et al.  Monascus secondary metabolites monascin and ankaflavin inhibit activation of RBL-2H3 cells. , 2015, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[11]  Worasit Tochampa,et al.  Enhancement of antioxidant activity of monascal waxy corn by a 2-step fermentation , 2014 .

[12]  W. Hsu,et al.  A novel PPARgamma agonist monascin's potential application in diabetes prevention. , 2014, Food & function.

[13]  W. Hsu,et al.  Monascin attenuates oxidative stress-mediated lung inflammation via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf-2) modulation. , 2014, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[14]  W. Hsu,et al.  Treatment of metabolic syndrome with ankaflavin, a secondary metabolite isolated from the edible fungus Monascus spp. , 2014, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

[15]  W. Hsu,et al.  Monascin and ankaflavin act as natural AMPK activators with PPARα agonist activity to down-regulate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6 mice. , 2014, Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association.

[16]  W. Hsu,et al.  A novel natural Nrf2 activator with PPARγ-agonist (monascin) attenuates the toxicity of methylglyoxal and hyperglycemia. , 2013, Toxicology and applied pharmacology.

[17]  Y. Huang,et al.  Enhanced production of pigments by addition of surfactants in submerged fermentation of Monascus purpureus H1102. , 2013, Journal of the science of food and agriculture.

[18]  B. V. Mohite.  Isolation and characterization of indole acetic acid (IAA) producing bacteria from rhizospheric soil and its effect on plant growth , 2013 .

[19]  W. Hsu,et al.  Inhibition of Th2 cytokine production in T cells by monascin via PPAR-γ activation. , 2013, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[20]  A. Brandelli,et al.  Stability Modeling of Red Pigments Produced by Monascus purpureus in Submerged Cultivations with Sugarcane Bagasse , 2013, Food and Bioprocess Technology.

[21]  Y. Hsu,et al.  Monascus-fermented yellow pigments monascin and ankaflavin showed antiobesity effect via the suppression of differentiation and lipogenesis in obese rats fed a high-fat diet. , 2013, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[22]  W. Hsu,et al.  Ankaflavin and monascin regulate endothelial adhesion molecules and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). , 2012, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[23]  V. Balachandar,et al.  Monascus pigment production by solid-state fermentation with corn cob substrate. , 2011, Journal of bioscience and bioengineering.

[24]  W. Hsu,et al.  The Monascus metabolite monascin against TNF-α-induced insulin resistance via suppressing PPAR-γ phosphorylation in C2C12 myotubes. , 2011, Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association.

[25]  Xiao Wu,et al.  Bacterial cellulose membrane – A new support carrier for yeast immobilization for ethanol fermentation , 2011 .

[26]  Yun-Lian Lin,et al.  Inhibition of endothelial adhesion molecule expression by Monascus purpureus-fermented rice metabolites, monacolin K, ankaflavin, and monascin. , 2011, Journal of the science of food and agriculture.

[27]  J. Jadhav,et al.  Optimization of medium for indole‐3‐acetic acid production using Pantoea agglomerans strain PVM , 2011, Journal of applied microbiology.

[28]  S. Limtong,et al.  Continuous ethanol production using immobilized yeast cells entrapped in loofa-reinforced alginate carriers , 2011, Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology].

[29]  Y. Hsu,et al.  Anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties of ankaflavin and monaphilone A from monascus purpureus NTU 568. , 2011, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[30]  Y. Hsu,et al.  The effect of Monascus secondary polyketide metabolites, monascin and ankaflavin, on adipogenesis and lipolysis activity in 3T3-L1. , 2010, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[31]  W. Schmidell,et al.  Construction and application a vane system in a rotational rheometer for determination of the rheological properties of Monascus ruber CCT 3802 , 2010 .

[32]  S. Lumyong,et al.  Indole-3-acetic acid production by Streptomyces sp. isolated from some Thai medicinal plant rhizosphere soils , 2010 .

[33]  Zhi-de Zhou,et al.  Immobilization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase on hybrid alginate-chitosan beads. , 2010, International journal of biological macromolecules.

[34]  T. Tan,et al.  Immobilization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to modified bagasse for ethanol production , 2010 .

[35]  N. Mathivanan,et al.  Growth promotion of groundnut by IAA producing rhizobacteria Bacillus licheniformis MML2501 , 2010 .

[36]  Ashok Pandey,et al.  Solid-state fermentation for the production of Monascus pigments from jackfruit seed. , 2007, Bioresource technology.

[37]  C. R. Soccol,et al.  Effect of substrates on the production of Monascus biopigments by solid-state fermentation and pigment extraction using different solvents , 2007 .

[38]  S. R. Couto,et al.  Application of solid-state fermentation to food industry—A review , 2006 .

[39]  H. Humpf,et al.  Cytotoxic and antimitotic effects of N-containing Monascus metabolites studied using immortalized human kidney epithelial cells. , 2006, Molecular nutrition & food research.

[40]  A. Klip,et al.  Tissue-specific roles of IRS proteins in insulin signaling and glucose transport , 2006, Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism.

[41]  Yan Lin,et al.  Ethanol fermentation from biomass resources: current state and prospects , 2006, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

[42]  C. Soccol,et al.  Biopigments from Monascus: strains selection, citrinin production and color stability , 2005 .

[43]  H. Nishino,et al.  Anti‐Tumor‐Initiating Effects of Monascin, an Azaphilonoid Pigment from the Extract of Monascus pilosus Fermented Rice (Red‐Mold Rice) , 2005, Chemistry & biodiversity.

[44]  Laurent Dufossé,et al.  Microorganisms and microalgae as sources of pigments for food use: a scientific oddity or an industrial reality? , 2005 .

[45]  J. Qian,et al.  The ultrasonic effect on biological characteristics of Monascus sp. , 2005 .

[46]  Nan-Wei Su,et al.  Ankaflavin from Monascus-fermented red rice exhibits selective cytotoxic effect and induces cell death on Hep G2 cells. , 2005, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[47]  S. Subramanian,et al.  Effect of Eugenia Jambolana seed kernel on antioxidant defense system in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. , 2004, Life sciences.

[48]  U. Hölker,et al.  Biotechnological advantages of laboratory-scale solid-state fermentation with fungi , 2004, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

[49]  C. Shin,et al.  Color characteristics of monascus pigments derived by fermentation with various amino acids. , 2003, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[50]  Jong Hoon Kim,et al.  Morphology control of Monascus cells and scale-up of pigment fermentation , 2002 .

[51]  I. S. Pretorius,et al.  Microbial Cellulose Utilization: Fundamentals and Biotechnology , 2002, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews.

[52]  A. Mangrich,et al.  Effects of citrinin on iron‐redox cycle , 2002, Cell biochemistry and function.

[53]  Bum-Kyu Lee,et al.  Production of red pigments byMonascus purpureus in submerged culture , 2001 .

[54]  J. Kolls,et al.  Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces hepatic insulin resistance in obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats via interaction of leukocyte antigen-related tyrosine phosphatase with focal adhesion kinase. , 2000, Diabetes.

[55]  G. Goma,et al.  Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Affect Citrinin Production in the Filamentous Fungus Monascus ruber , 2000, Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

[56]  J. François,et al.  Biosynthetic Pathway of Citrinin in the Filamentous Fungus Monascus ruber as Revealed by 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance , 1999, Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

[57]  G. Goma,et al.  Production and Identification of N-Glucosylrubropunctamine and N-Glucosylmonascorubramine from Monascus ruber and Occurrence of Electron Donor-Acceptor Complexes in These Red Pigments , 1997, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[58]  M. Johns,et al.  Effect of carbon source on ethanol and pigment production by Monascus purpureus , 1994 .

[59]  Henry Y. Wang,et al.  Pigment Production from Immobilized Monascus sp. Utilizing Polymeric Resin Adsorption , 1984, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[60]  H. Iizuka,et al.  Production of Extracellular Pigment by a Mutant of Monascus kaoliang sp. nov , 1982, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[61]  D. Shepherd,et al.  The effect of different nitrogen sources on pigment production and sporulation of Monascus species in submerged, shaken culture. , 1977, Canadian journal of microbiology.

[62]  J. Ahlborn,et al.  Role of Fungi in Fermented Foods , 2020 .

[63]  I. Srianta,et al.  Monascus-fermented sorghum: pigments and monacolin K produced by Monascus purpureus on whole grain, dehulled grain and bran substrates. , 2015 .

[64]  Widya Mandala,et al.  Recent research and development of Monascus fermentation products , 2014 .

[65]  Tochampa,et al.  Effect of monosodium glutamate and peptone on antioxidant activity of monascal waxy corn , 2013 .

[66]  W. Hsu,et al.  Ankaflavin regulates adipocyte function and attenuates hyperglycemia caused by high-fat diet via PPAR-γ activation , 2013 .

[67]  T. Padmavathi,et al.  A Solid Liquid State Culture Method to Stimulate Monascus Pigments by Intervention of Different Substrates , 2013 .

[68]  T. Pan,et al.  Monascin from red mold dioscorea as a novel antidiabetic and antioxidative stress agent in rats and Caenorhabditis elegans. , 2012, Free radical biology & medicine.

[69]  Fusheng Chen,et al.  Monascus pigments , 2012, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

[70]  V. Joshi,et al.  Microbial Pigments , 2011 .

[71]  A. Ariff,et al.  Enhancement of Red Pigment Production by Monascus purpureus FTC 5391 through Retrofitting of Helical Ribbon Impeller in Stirred-Tank Fermenter , 2009, Food and Bioprocess Technology.

[72]  Liang Shi-zhong.  Effect of Ammonium Salts on Monascus Yellow and Red Pigments and Citrinin Production , 2009 .

[73]  M. Moo-young,et al.  Ethanol fermentation technologies from sugar and starch feedstocks. , 2008, Biotechnology advances.

[74]  S. Haam,et al.  Enhancement of Monascus Pigment Production by the Culture of Monascus sp. J101 at Low Temperature , 2006, Biotechnology progress.

[75]  Huang Yu-feng.  Study on biological characteristics of yellow pigment producer strain Monascus HB-5 , 2006 .

[76]  A. Ariff,et al.  Fermentation conditions affecting growth and red pigment production of Monascus purpureus FTC 5391 (Keadaan fermentasi yang memberi kesan terhadap pertumbuhan dan penghasilan pigmen merah oleh Monascus purpureus FTC 5391) , 2005 .

[77]  D. M. Stuart,et al.  Production of pigments byMonascus purpureus in solid culture , 2005, Journal of Industrial Microbiology.

[78]  Chien Hsin,et al.  Effects of Monascus rice powder on lipid metabolism in hamsters. , 2000 .

[79]  A. Pandey,et al.  Solid State Fermentation , 1997 .

[80]  N. Meinander,et al.  Continuous fermentation by conventional and recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized in Ca-alginate beads hardened with trivalent ion , 1996 .

[81]  V. Kfen.  Secondary metabolites of the fungus Monascus: a review , 2022 .