Protective Effect of Monascus pilosus Mycelial Extract on Hepatic Damage in High-Fat Diet Induced-obese Rats

Abstract

Hepatoprotective effects of Monascus pilosus mycelial ethanol extract (MPME) were examined in high-fat diet induced-obese rats. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups; normal control (NC) and a high-fat and high cholesterol diet group (HFC). The HFC diet group was fed a 5L79 diet supplemented with 15% lard and 1% cholesterol for 3 weeks for induction of obesity. And then, the rats were divided into 4 groups (n=5); the NC, a HFC diet obesity control group (HF), 0.5% MPME supplemented HFC diet group (MPM), and 2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplemented HFC diet group for 7 weeks. Whereas the daily weight gain of NC and HFC groups were 3.48 g and 4.48 g, respectively, those of MPM and CLA were 3.09 g and 4.38 g, respectively. Furthermore, activity of serum alanine and aspartic aminotransferase in HF was markedly higher than those of NC group, but, the activity in MPM and CLA was significantly lower than HF. Hepatic reduced glutathione content in MPM and CLA was higher than HF. On the contrary, hepatic lipid peroxide content in MPM and CLA was significantly lower than HF. In conclusion, although the precise mechanisms of the hepatoprotective effects of the MPME in this study are unknown, our study provides experimental evidence that MPME may prevent obesity and hepatic damage by high-fat and high cholesterol diet via inhibition of lipid absorption and induction of reactive oxygen spices scavenging enzyme such as superoxide dismutase.

Quality Characteristics and Content of Polysaccharides in Green Tea Fermented by Monascus pilosus

“…On the other hand, microorganisms such as Monascus produce statin-related components including monacolin K, which is an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis in the body ( 7 ), as well as producing color ingredients such as rubropuntain and monascin, which exhibit anti-cancer activitites ( 8 ). As previously reported, Monascus extracts have an anti-obesity effect ( 9 ) as well as a hepatoprotective effect on obese rats induced with a high-fat diet ( 10 ). Functional studies and experimentation of tea focuses mainly on polyphenol antioxidant activity.…”