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

Abstract

Monascus-fermented monascin and ankaflavin are found to strongly inhibit differentiation and lipogenesis and stimulate lipolysis effects in a 3T3-L1 preadipocyte model, but the in vivo regulation mechanism is unclear. This study uses obese rats caused by a high-fat diet to examine the effects of daily monascin and ankaflavin feeding (8 weeks) on antiobesity effects and modulation of differentiation, lipogenesis, and lipid absorption. The results show that monascin and ankaflavin had a significant antiobesity effect, which should result from the modulation of monascin and ankaflavin on the inhibition of differentiation by inhibiting CCAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) expression (36.4% and 48.3%) and its downstream peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) (55.6% and 64.5%) and CCAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) expressions (25.2% and 33.2%) and the inhibition of lipogenesis by increasing lipase activity (14.0% and 10.7%) and decreasing heparin releasable lipoprotein lipase (HR-LPL) activity (34.8% and 30.5%). Furthermore, monascin and ankaflavin are the first agents found to suppress Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) protein expression (73.6% and 26.1%) associated with small intestine tissue lipid absorption. Importantly, monascin and ankaflavin are not like monacolin K, which increases creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity, known as a rhabdomyolysis indicator.

Accumulation of yellow Monascus pigments by extractive fermentation in nonionic surfactant micelle aqueous solution

“…Recently, the bioactivity of yellow Monascus pigments, such as anti-tumor (Su et al 2005;Hus et al 2011), antiinflammation (Hsu et al 2012), anti-obesity (Lee et al 2013), anti-diabetic, and anti-oxidative stress (Shi et al 2012), has been recognized. Lovastatin is recognized as the active component of cholesterol depression in traditional red yeast rice, and high lovastatin content of red yeast rice (0.1 g/kg in Korean and 1 g/kg in China) has already been sold as functional food additive (Jeong 2014).…”

The blood lipid regulation of Monascus -produced monascin and ankaflavin via the suppression of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol assembly and stimulation of apolipoprotein A1 expression in the liver

“…15 In Table 1, the food intake of HFC group was significantly lower than the NOR group (p <0.05). This may be because the unit calorie level of the high fat diet is higher (HFC: 4.17 kcal/g and NOR: 3.34 kcal/g).…”

Monaschin and Ankaflavin- In Diabetic Nephropathy?

“…monascin and ankaflavin had a significant antiobesity effect. [7] 13. Monascin and Ankaflavin act as PPARα agonists to upregulate AMPK activity and diminish NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).…”