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Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia Aug 2012Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of multifactorial origin, which occurs in response to endothelial injury. The fungus Monascus ruber has...
BACKGROUND
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of multifactorial origin, which occurs in response to endothelial injury. The fungus Monascus ruber has hypocholesterolemic activity, and the polyphenols present in coffee residue have an antioxidant activity and can help prevent cardiovascular diseases. Coffee residue has a significant amount of fermentable sugars, being an adequate substrate for growing fungi.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of dry coffee residue fermented with Monascus ruber on the lipid metabolism of ApoE knockout mice.
METHODS
The biological assay was performed with 30 ApoE knockout mice, divided into five groups and undergoing different treatments. The phytochemical prospection and quantification of phenolic compounds of the fermented and non-fermented coffee residues were performed. The sera of the animals were analyzed by using enzyme kits, and the aortic tissue was embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to undergo histopathological analysis.
RESULTS
Comparing with the control group, the group receiving 2% non-fermented coffee residue showed a reduction of 42% in the serum levels of triacylglycerols and of approximately 41% in VLDL-c. The groups receiving 10% non-fermented coffee residue and 2% fermented coffee residue showed reductions in the lesion areas of 10.5% and 15.4%, respectively, as compared with the control group. The fermented coffee residue showed a higher content of phenolic compounds as compared with the non-fermented coffee residue.
CONCLUSION
The present study showed that coffee residue fermentation has a potentially beneficial effect on cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerosis.
Topics: Animals; Aorta; Apolipoproteins E; Atherosclerosis; Cholesterol; Chromatography; Coffee; Female; Fermentation; Male; Mice; Monascus; Phenols; Treatment Outcome; Triglycerides
PubMed: 22790402
DOI: 10.1590/s0066-782x2012005000068 -
MSphere Sep 2019The polyketide-derived secondary metabolite ascochitine is produced by species in the Didymellaceae family, including but not restricted to species pathogens of...
The polyketide-derived secondary metabolite ascochitine is produced by species in the Didymellaceae family, including but not restricted to species pathogens of cool-season food legumes. Ascochitine is structurally similar to the well-known mycotoxin citrinin and exhibits broad-spectrum phytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities. Here, we identified a polyketide synthase (PKS) gene (denoted ) responsible for ascochitine production in the filamentous fungus Deletion of the prevented production of ascochitine and its derivative ascochital in The putative ascochitine biosynthesis gene cluster comprises 11 genes that have undergone rearrangement and gain-and-loss events relative to the citrinin biosynthesis gene cluster in Interestingly, we also identified homologs in two recently diverged species, and var. , that are sister taxa closely related to ascochitine producers such as and However, nonsense mutations have been independently introduced in coding sequences of the homologs of and var. that resulted in loss of ascochitine production. Despite its reported phytotoxicity, ascochitine was not a pathogenicity factor in infection and colonization of faba bean ( L.). Ascochitine was mainly produced from mature hyphae at the site of pycnidial formation, suggesting a possible protective role of the compound against other microbial competitors in nature. This report highlights the evolution of gene clusters harnessing the structural diversity of polyketides and a mechanism with the potential to alter secondary metabolite profiles via single nucleotide polymorphisms in closely related fungal species. Fungi produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites, many of which are of pharmacological importance whereas many others are noted for mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin and citrinin, that can threaten human and animal health. The polyketide-derived compound ascochitine, which is structurally similar to citrinin mycotoxin, has been considered to be important for pathogenicity of legume-associated species. Here, we identified the ascochitine polyketide synthase (PKS) gene in and its neighboring genes that may be involved in ascochitine biosynthesis. Interestingly, the ascochitine PKS genes in other legume-associated species have been mutated, encoding truncated PKSs. This indicated that point mutations may have contributed to genetic diversity for secondary metabolite production in these fungi. We also demonstrated that ascochitine is not a pathogenicity factor in The antifungal activities and production of ascochitine during sporulation suggested that it may play a role in competition with other saprobic fungi in nature.
Topics: Ascomycota; Genetic Variation; Multigene Family; Mycotoxins; Point Mutation; Polyketide Synthases; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 31554725
DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00622-19 -
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical... Nov 2008Lovastatin is a potent hypercholesterolemic drug used for lowering blood cholesterol. Lovastatin acts by competitively inhibiting the enzyme, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl...
Lovastatin is a potent hypercholesterolemic drug used for lowering blood cholesterol. Lovastatin acts by competitively inhibiting the enzyme, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Commercially lovastatin is produced by a variety of filamentous fungi including Penicillium species, Monascus ruber and Aspergillus terreus as a secondary metabolite. Production of lovastatin by fermentation decreases the production cost compared to costs of chemical synthesis. In recent years, lovastatin has also been reported as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of various types of tumors and also play a tremendous role in the regulation of the inflammatory and immune response, coagulation process, bone turnover, neovascularization, vascular tone, and arterial pressure. This review deals with the structure, biosynthesis, various modes of fermentation and applications of lovastatin.
PubMed: 21369428
DOI: 10.4103/0250-474X.49087 -
The Journal of Antibiotics Dec 1986Monacolin M, a new specific inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis structurally related to monacolin K (mevinolin), was isolated from cultures of a strain of Monascus...
Monacolin M, a new specific inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis structurally related to monacolin K (mevinolin), was isolated from cultures of a strain of Monascus ruber. The structure of monacolin M was determined to be beta-hydroxybutyryl ester of monacolin J by a combination of physical techniques. It was suggested that monacolin M is derived from monacolin J via a synthetic pathway distinct from that for the synthesis of monacolin K, alpha-methylbutyryl ester of monacolin J. The inhibitory effect of monacolin M on beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase was slightly lower than that of monacolin K.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anticholesteremic Agents; Ascomycota; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Lovastatin; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Naphthalenes
PubMed: 3818440
DOI: 10.7164/antibiotics.39.1670 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jan 1999Carbon isotope distribution of [13C]citrinin from Monascus ruber incubated with [13C]acetate revealed that the biosynthesis of the toxin originated from a tetraketide,...
Carbon isotope distribution of [13C]citrinin from Monascus ruber incubated with [13C]acetate revealed that the biosynthesis of the toxin originated from a tetraketide, instead of a pentaketide as has been shown for Penicillium and Aspergillus species. The production of polyketide red pigments and citrinin by M. ruber may therefore be regulated at the level of the tetraketide branch point.
PubMed: 9872798
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.65.1.311-314.1999 -
Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and... Sep 2008The health-promoting potential of 70% ethanolic extracts of 4 rice varieties fermented with Monascus ruber, Phellinus linteus, Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus blazei was...
The health-promoting potential of 70% ethanolic extracts of 4 rice varieties fermented with Monascus ruber, Phellinus linteus, Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus blazei was evaluated mainly focusing on their antioxidative and antimutagenic capacities based on the following parameters: phenolic compound and phytic acid content; inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation; scavenging activity on DPPH radical; suppressing ability on mitomycin C-induced mutagenesis in E. coli cells; and protective effect on 4-nitroquinoline oxide-triggered DNA lesion in V79 hamster cells. The fermented rice extracts were superior in overall health-promoting parameters compared to the source material. The higher antimutagenic activity of the fermented rice extracts might be in part caused by a larger amount of antioxidant constituents such as phenolic compounds or phytic acid. Of the fungal species, Monascus ruber was found to impart a marked increase in both the antioxidative and antimutagenic abilities to the source material. The current study suggests a possibility that such fermented rice may contribute to the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer through a daily intake of rice-based diets.
PubMed: 18818745
DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.2008056 -
The Journal of Antibiotics Mar 1989The microbial metabolites monacolins J and L are specific inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. The...
The microbial metabolites monacolins J and L are specific inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. The producing strain Monascus ruber M 4681 was found to convert exogenously added monacolin L to J. In this hydroxylation reaction 18O2 was incorporated into monacolin L, giving [18O]-monacolin J. The cell-free extracts of M. ruber quantitatively hydroxylated monacolin L to J, and molecular oxygen was required for the hydroxylation. The enzyme was located in the microsomal fraction and specific for NADPH. The enzyme activity was inhibited by metyrapone, carbon monoxide, sulfhydryl reagents and cytochrome c. The results indicate that monacolin L is the precursor of monacolin J, and that a monooxygenase is involved in this reaction.
Topics: Ascomycota; Hydroxylation; Naphthalenes
PubMed: 2708134
DOI: 10.7164/antibiotics.42.407 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Mar 2000During submerged culture in the presence of glucose and glutamate, the filamentous fungus Monascus ruber produces water-soluble red pigments together with citrinin, a...
During submerged culture in the presence of glucose and glutamate, the filamentous fungus Monascus ruber produces water-soluble red pigments together with citrinin, a mycotoxin with nephrotoxic and hepatoxic effects on animals. Analysis of the (13)C-pigment molecules from mycelia cultivated with [1-(13)C]-, [2-(13)C]-, or [1, 2-(13)C]acetate by (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance indicated that the biosynthesis of the red pigments used both the polyketide pathway, to generate the chromophore structure, and the fatty acid synthesis pathway, to produce a medium-chain fatty acid (octanoic acid) which was then bound to the chromophore by a trans-esterification reaction. Hence, to enhance pigment production, we tried to short-circuit the de novo synthesis of medium-chain fatty acids by adding them to the culture broth. Of fatty acids with carbon chains ranging from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, only octanoic acid showed a 30 to 50% stimulation of red pigment production, by a mechanism which, in contrast to expectation, did not involve its direct trans-esterification on the chromophore backbone. However, the medium- and long-chain fatty acids tested were readily assimilated by the fungus, and in the case of fatty acids ranging from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, 30 to 40% of their initial amount transiently accumulated in the growth medium in the form of the corresponding methylketone 1 carbon unit shorter. Very interestingly, these fatty acids or their corresponding methylketones caused a strong reduction in, or even a complete inhibition of, citrinin production by M. ruber when they were added to the medium. Several data indicated that this effect could be due to the degradation of the newly synthesized citrinin (or an intermediate in the citrinin pathway) by hydrogen peroxide resulting from peroxisome proliferation induced by medium-chain fatty acids or methylketones.
Topics: Acetates; Ascomycota; Caprylates; Carbon Isotopes; Citrinin; Fatty Acids; Glucose; Glutamic Acid; Glutarates; Indoles; Ketones; Peroxisomes; Pigments, Biological
PubMed: 10698780
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.66.3.1120-1125.2000 -
The Journal of Antibiotics Mar 1985Dihydromonacolin L and monacolin X those are structurally related to monacolin K, a potent inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis, were isolated from cultures of a mutant...
Dihydromonacolin L and monacolin X those are structurally related to monacolin K, a potent inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis, were isolated from cultures of a mutant of Monascus ruber. The structures of these two metabolites were determined by a combination of physical techniques. Data for dihydromonacolin L and monacolin X as inhibitors of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase and sterol biosynthesis in vitro are also given.
Topics: Animals; Anticholesteremic Agents; Ascomycota; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Cholesterol; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Naphthalenes; Rats
PubMed: 3839224
DOI: 10.7164/antibiotics.38.321