Beneficial effects of Monascus purpureus NTU 568-fermented products: a review

Monascus-fermented products have been used infood, medicine, and industry dating back over a thousandyears in Asian countries. Monascus-fermented productscontained several bioactive metabolites such as pigments,polyketidemonacolins, dimerumic acid, and γ-aminobutyricacid. Scientific reports showed that Monascus-fermentedproducts proved to be effective for the management of bloodcholesterol, diabes, blood pressure, obesity, Alzheimer’sdisease, and prevention of cancer development. This reviewarticle describes the beneficial effects about using Monascusfermentedproducts in human beings and animals.