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.
Molecular Formula | C21H28O5 |
References |
Chiu H et al (1012) Monascuspiloin enhances the radiation sensitivity of human prostate cancer cells by stimulating endoplasmic reticulum stress and inducing autophagy. PLoS One 7:e40462 Li X et al (2013) HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors from monascus-fermented rice. J Chem. 872056:1 Wu M et al (2019) Screening of azaphilone derivatives from Monascus pilosus-fermented rice (red yeast rice) and their evaluation as nonsteroidal androgen receptor antagonists. Nat Prod Commun. 14:1 |