Monascinol is a yellow-orange pigment isolated from the fungus Monascus purpureus used to produce red yeast ric . Monascinol increases the efficacy of irradiation in PC-3 prostate cancer cells, enhancing DNA damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Monascinol induces autophagy and cell death primarily via inhibition of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Monascinol is a moderately potent inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase. Monascinol has potent anti-androgen activity.