Anti-tumor-initiating effects of monascin, an azaphilonoid pigment from the extract of Monascus pilosus fermented rice (red-mold rice)

Chem Biodivers. 2005 Oct;2(10):1305-9. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.200590101.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 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 / metabolism*
  • Oryza / metabolism*
  • Oryza / microbiology*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • Plant Extracts
  • monascin