Effect of Dietary Monascus Pigment on the Liver Damage Induced with $CCl_4$in Rats

  • Park, Young-Ja (Department of Public Health, College of Natural Science, Keimyung University) ;
  • Park, Hyeoun-Yeoun (Department of Public Health, College of Natural Science, Keimyung University) ;
  • Kim, Young-Ran (Department of Public Health, College of Natural Science, Keimyung University) ;
  • Oh, Jeong-Dae (Department of Public Health, College of Natural Science, Keimyung University) ;
  • Yoon, Chong-Guk (Department of Public Health, College of Natural Science, Keimyung University)
  • Published : 2003.09.01

Abstract

In the biological world, there are a number of ecological fights for survival between each organism such as plants, animals and microorganism In such events, an organism can use its natural bioactive products as defence agent against other organisms. Furthermore, natural bioactive products can be utilized for medicine or functional food. Recently, we investigate the effect of Monascus pigment extracted from a fungus, Monascus anke, on the alcohol metabolism and blood lipid profile. In the present study, it is observed that Monascus pigment supplemented dietary may have a hepatoprotective effect on rat's liver damage induced with $CCl_4$ . By treatment with $CCl_4$(3 times, I.P), liver damage was reduced more in the rats fed 2% Monascus pigment extract supplemented diet than those fed standard diet, based on the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, microsomal glucose-6-phosphatse activity and hepaic malondialdehyde content. On the other hand, oxygen free radical generating enzymes, hepatic P-450 dependent aniline hydroxylase, xanthine oxidase, and oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes, hepatic glutathione S-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase activities were generally higher both in $CCl_4$ treated group and control fed 2% Monascus pigment extract supplemented diet than those fed standard diet. In conclusion, the rats fed 2% Monascus pigment extract supplemented diet showed more reduced liver damage than those fed standard diet, which may be due to the acceleration of oxygen free radical metabolism.

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