Lipid-lowering efficacy and safety of Monascus biopigment beverage
2017
Reginio, F. C., Jr. | Hurtada, W. A. | Estacio, M. A. C. | Dizon, E. I.
The study aimed to test the efficacy of Monascus biopigment beverage, which was made fromthe extract of Monascus-fermented rice, to lower serum lipid levels of Sprague-Dawley ratsconsuming high cholesterol diet, and assess its safety through physical and physiologicalobservations for toxicity evaluation and clinical blood chemistry examinations. Sixteen (16)adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n= 8 per group), negativecontrol and treatment. The latter was administered with Monascus biopigment beverage, asidefrom commercial pellets and cholesterol diet (500 mg cholesterol/kg body weight) given toboth groups daily in 30-day experimental period. Blood (0.5 mL) was drawn from the orbitalsinus of each animal subject, which was performed at day 0, 15, and 30. The collected bloodsamples were then analyzed for lipid profile and toxicity evaluation. Results showed thatMonascus biopigment beverage was effective in lowering lipid levels of Sprague-Dawleyrats. Total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreasedsignificantly by 18.5% and 45.64%, respectively, while high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C) significantly increased by 47.12%. However, triglyceride (TG) remained statisticallyunchanged but was reduced by 2.0%. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and alanineaminotransferase (ALT) did not differ significantly between the two groups from day 0 to day30. Moreover, Monascus beverage-treated rats did not develop any physical and physiologicalsigns of toxicity.
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