近年來紅麴二次代謝物 monascin 及 ankaflavin 之相關研究日益增加,已發現具有抗發炎、抑制癌細胞生長等多種保健功效。本研究利用高膽固醇飲食倉鼠模式,進行改善脂質代謝與抗氧化之評估。結果顯示:monascin 及 ankaflavin 具有降低血中膽固醇及三酸甘油酯的功效,且 ankaflavin 功效較 monascin 顯著。在膽固醇的組成方面,可降低低密度脂蛋白膽固醇 (low density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C),並且高密度脂蛋白膽固醇 (high density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C) 不致下降,因此降低 LDL-C/HDL-C 比值。此外亦可降低脂蛋白元 B (Apolipoprotein B, Apo B),提升脂蛋白元 A1 (Apolipoprotein A-1,ApoA-1) 含量,降低罹患心血管疾病風險。Monascin 及 ankaflavin 亦可減緩高膽固醇飲食造成之非酒精性脂肪肝,調節血清胰島素及血糖。在抗氧化方面,monascin 及 ankaflavin 皆具有降低體內脂質過氧化程度能力,並增加麩胱甘肽 (glutathione, GSH) 含量,提升麩胱甘肽過氧化酶 (glutathione peroxidase, GSH Px)、麩胱甘肽還原酶 (glutathione peroxidase, GSH Px) 活性。研究結果顯示 monascin 及 ankaflavin 對於調節脂質代謝及抗氧化都有良好效果,可預防動脈粥狀硬化及脂肪肝,保健功效極具發展潛力。
Recently, the research of Monascus-fermented secondary metabolites, monascin and ankaflavin, was gradually popular. The function of monascin and ankaflavin were possessed of anti-inflammation, cancer prevention and hypolipidemic effect. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of monascin and ankaflavin on lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity in a high-cholesterol diet fed hamster model. The results showed that monascin and ankaflavin with lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides in the efficacy. Ankaflavin had more effectiveness than monascin. Monascin and ankaflavin were able to maintain high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level and decrease low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio. In addition, to reduce apolipoprotein B (Apolipoprotein B, Apo B), to enhance the apolipoprotein A1 (Apolipoprotein A-1, ApoA-1) levels, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease risk. Monascin and ankaflavin can reduce the non-alcoholic fatty liver caused by high-cholesterol diet, and regulate serum insulin concentration and blood glucose. It also indicates that monascin and ankaflavin would perform a potent effect on hypolipidemic via the reduce of lipid peroxidation and the increase of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px) and glutathione reductase (GSH Rd) activity. These results indicated that monascin and ankaflavin exerted hypolipidemic effect and antioxidant activity to prevent atherosclerosis and fatty liver, may serve as a potential development functional compound.