• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1553-1561
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• 2009

This study investigated the biological activities and chemical characteristics of Monascus-fermented Korean red ginseng (MFRG). The comparative activities of water, ethanol, and methanol extracts from MFRGE and Korean red ginseng (RG) were tested in vitro of anti-oxidative models of linoleic acid peroxidation by thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods and DPPH ($\alpha,\alpha'$-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl)radical scavenging activities. In addition, measurements of their bioactive total phenolic compounds and minerals, and extract yield, were obtained. The extract yield of each solvent extracted from MFRG and RG was aqueous by 6.58% and 5.83%, ethanol by 0.62% and 0.98%, and methanol by 1.27% and 3.04%, respectively. Total phenolic compounds were higher in all solvents extracted from MFRG than those from RG. Major mineral contents (ppm) of MFRG and RG were K by 16,936 and 22,386, Ca by 2,310 and 3,693, Mg by 2,703 and 2,647, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activities were higher in all solvents extracted from MFRG than those from RG, however, all these extracts exhibited a relatively low level of radical-scavenging activity compared to the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). In antioxidative activities determined by TBA method using linoleic acid peroxidation, 70% methanol extract from MFRG and RG showed the highest antioxidative activity at a concentration of 0.1%. These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities of bio-active materials derived from MFRG.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1153-1160
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• 2009

Monascus-fermented Korean red ginseng (MFRG), fermented by Monascus purpureus KCCM 12002, may be an ideal candidate for the hepatoprotectic, hypolipidemic and antioxidative activities. Effect of MFRG powder on these parameters in rats was investigated. Body weight gain, food intake, and water consumption were not significantly different among the groups. Total and relative weights of liver were significantly higher in MFRG group than that in other groups. The activities of AST and $\gamma$-GTP were highly lowered in MFRG group compared to control group. Contents of serum total lipid and triglyceride were significantly lowered in silymarin group and were significantly increased in MFRG group compared to control group, but tended to be lowered in RG group. Serum content of total cholesterol tended to be lowered in silymarin, RG, and MFRG groups compared to control group. HDL-cholesterol contents was only significantly increased in MFRG group compared to control group. At the same time, atherogenic index (AI) was also significantly lowered in silymarin, RG and MFRG groups compared to control group, and this effect was more pronounced in MFRG group. Content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver was significantly lowered in MFRG group and tended to lowered in silymarin and RG groups compared to control group. The hepatic glutathione concentration was significantly higher in silymarin and MFRG groups. Hepatic morphology in all experimental groups revealed clear-cut hepatic lobules with the uniform pattern of the polyhedral hepatocytes radiating towards the periphery from the central vein. These results suggested that MFRG may have anti-atherogenic index (AI) and antioxidative activity in normal dietary feeding rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.983-993
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• 2009

The effects of Monascus-fermented Korean red ginseng (MFRG) on the contents of serum lipids and tissues lipid peroxidation was investigated in alcohol feeding rats (AC group). Serum contents of total lipid and free fatty acid in alcohol feeding rats were significantly increased, but these increases tended to decrease in the AMFRG group. Serum triglyceride content was also significantly decreased in the AMFRG group compared to other groups. Serum content of total-cholesterol was significantly increased in AC group compared to normal control (NC) group, whereas there was no significant difference between the AC and AMFRG groups. Content of HDL-cholesterol in serum was slightly increased in the AC group compared to the NC group, but this increase in the AC group was more significantly increased in the AMFRG group. At the same time, atherogenic index (AI) was also significantly decreased in the AMFRG group compared to the AC group. Contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver, heart, spleen and testes were significantly increased in the AC group compared to the NC group, but these increases were significantly less in the AMFRG group. Contents of liver nonheme ion was increased in the AC group and was significantly decreased in the AMFRG group, which suggested that lipid peroxidation contents are inversely correlated with liver nonheme ion content. Hepatic glutathione concentration was significantly decreased in the AC group, but this content was significantly increased in the AMFRG group and it showed the antioxidant abilities of glutathione. These results suggested that Monascus-fermented Korea red ginseng has anti-atherogenic index (AI) effects as well as antioxidative activities through reduced tissue oxidative stress in alcohol feeding rats.