Protective Effect of Monascus-Fermented Red Mold Rice against Alcoholic
Liver Disease by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response
J. Agric. Food Chem., 2011, 59 (18), pp
9950–9957
Monascus purpureus NTU 568
fermented rice is reported to exhibit a wide variety of biological effects,
including antitumor, antihypertriglyceridemia, antioxidant, and
anti-inflammatory activities. However, its role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic
liver disease remains obscure. In this study, the hepatoprotective effects of
Monascus-fermented red mold rice (RMR) was evaluated in vivo using
chronic alcohol-induced mice as an experimental model. The alcohol-induced mice
were orally treated with RMR at 307.5 mg/kg (1-fold), 615 mg/kg (2-fold), and
1537.5 mg/kg (5-fold) for 5 weeks, whereas controls received vehicle only.
Treatment with RMR significantly attenuated the increased level of serum
transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) and
hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol accumulation. Furthermore, RMR
elevates hepatic antioxidant ability that reduced hepatic cell damage
(steatosis) and decreased tissue inflammatory cytokine levels. These findings
suggest that Monascus-fermented RMR may represent a novel, protective
strategy against alcoholic liver disease by attenuating oxidative stress,
inflammatory response, and steatosis.
