Monacolin K (MK) is a secondary metabolite of the Monascus species that can inhibit cholesterol synthesis. Functional red mold rice (FRMR) is the fermentation product of Monascus spp., which is rich in MK. FRMR is usually employed to regulate serum cholesterol, especially for hypercholesterolemic patients who refuse statins or face statin intolerance. The present perspective summarized the bioactive components of FRMR and their functions. Subsequently, efficient strategies for FRMR production, future challenges of FRMR application, and possible directions were proposed. This perspective helps to understand the present situation and developmental prospects of FRMR.

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Perspectives on Functional Red Mold Rice: Functional Ingredients, Production, and Application.

The aim of this project was to improve the Aspergillus terreus strain and pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse as carrier substrate for bulk production of lovastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, in solid state fermentation. Sugarcane bagasse was treated with alkali (1–3% NaOH) for the conversion of complex polysaccharides into simple sugars for better utilization of carrier substrate by microorganism for maximum lovastatin production. Ethidium bromide (time of exposure 30–180 min) was used to induce mutation in Aspergillus terreus and the best mutant was selected on the basis of inhibition zone appeared on petri plates. Fermented lovastatin was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The fermented lovastatin, produced by parent and mutant Aspergillus terreus strain, was checked on body weight, blood glucose and serum cholesterol, ALT, AST, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG and TC levels of rats for their cholesterol lowering capacity. Our results indicate that selected strain along with 2% NaOH treated sugar cane bagasse was best suitable for bulk production of lovastatin by fermentation and fermented lovastatin effectively lower the cholesterol level of rats.

Development of One Pot Strategy for Hyper Production and In Vivo Evaluation of Lovastatin.

Development of a prototype device for near real-time surface-enhanced Raman scattering monitoring of biological samples.

Morphological and structural characterization of chitin as a substrate for the screening, production, and molecular characterization of chitinase by Bacillus velezensis

Effect of synthetic fatty liquor and neatsfoot oil as co-contaminants on the reduction of hexavalent chromium using Fusarium oxysporum and its kinetic study

Metabolic pathway analysis and dynamic macroscopic model development for lovastatin production by Monascus purpureus using metabolic footprinting concept

P Sankar

Papers

Metabolic pathway analysis and dynamic macroscopic model development for lovastatin production by Monascus purpureus using metabolic footprinting concept