Anti-Tumor-Initiating Effects of Monascin, an Azaphilonoid Pigment from the Extract of Monascus pilosus Fermented Rice (Red-Mold Rice)

• Published in: Chemistry & biodiversity Vol. 2; no. 10; pp. 1305 - 1309
• Main Authors: Akihisa, Toshihiro, Tokuda, Harukuni, Ukiya, Motohiko, Kiyota, Ayaka, Yasukawa, Ken, Sakamoto, Naoyuki, Kimura, Yumiko, Suzuki, Takashi, Takayasu, Junko, Nishino, Hoyoku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Zürich WILEY-VCH Verlag 01-10-2005; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - metabolism; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Female; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring - chemistry; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring - metabolism; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred SENCAR; Molecular Structure; Monascus; Monascus - metabolism; Monascus pilosus; Oryza - metabolism; Oryza - microbiology; Oryza sativa; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Skin Neoplasms - chemically induced; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1612-1872; 1612-1880
• DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.200590101

Monascin (1) constitutes one of the azaphilonoid pigments in the extracts of Monascus pilosus‐fermented rice (red‐mold rice). Compound 1 was evaluated for its anti‐tumor‐initiating activity via oral administration on the two‐stage carcinogenesis of mouse skin tumor induced by peroxynitrite (ONOO−; PN) or by ultraviolet light B (UVB) as an initiator and 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) as a promoter. Compound 1 exhibited marked inhibitory activity on both PN‐ and UVB‐induced mouse skin carcinogenesis tests. These findings suggest that compound 1 may be valuable as potential cancer chemopreventive agent in chemical and environmental carcinogenesis.