Monascin

Monascin is a kind of azaphilonoid pigments extracted from Monascus pilosus-fermented rice (red-mold rice). Monascin also exhibits anti-tumor-initiating activity and anti-inflammatory activity with oral administration. Monascin inhibits the activation of NOR 1 (an NO donor). Monascin is a Nrf2 activator and PPARγ agonist[1][2].

[1]Akihisa T, et al. Anti-tumor-initiating effects of monascin, an azaphilonoid pigment from the extract of Monascus pilosus fermented rice (red-mold rice). Chem Biodivers. 2005 Oct;2(10):1305-9.|[2]Lee CL, et al. Monascus fermentation of dioscorea for increasing the production of cholesterol-lowering agent--monacolin K and antiinflammation agent--monascin. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2006 Oct;72(6):1254-62.|[3]Shi YX, Chen WS. Monascin ameliorate inflammation in the lipopolysaccharide-induced BV-2 microglial cells via suppressing the NF-κB/p65 pathway. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2020;23(4):461-468. |[4]Hsu WH, et al. A novel natural Nrf2 activator with PPARγ-agonist (monascin) attenuates the toxicity of methylglyoxal and hyperglycemia. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2013 Nov 1;272(3):842-51.