title: Protective effect of deferricoprogen isolated from Monascus purpureus NTU 568 on citrinin-induced apoptosis in HEK-293 cells.
abstract: Monascus  species have traditionally been used in Asian food, with rice as their fermentation substrate. Red mold rice (RMR) contains citrinin, a nephrotoxic agent capable of exerting oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis. We investigated the components in RMR that could minimize the adverse effects of citrinin. Combining chemical separations and bioactivity assays, we identified an antioxidative component called deferricoprogen (DFC) in the fermented rice of  Monascus purpureus  NTU 568. The DFC structure was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectra analysis. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical-scavenging activity of DFC was similar to that of vitamin E. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometric analysis showed the effect of DFC and citrinin on cell viability and cell cycle. DFC was found to be protective against the cytotoxicity and cell death induced by citrinin on human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. DFC also demonstrated anti-apoptotic property in preventing citrinin-induced apoptosis.
authors: Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors: Li-Chuan
authors: LC
authors: Hsu
authors: Ya-Wen
authors: YW
authors: Hsu
authors: Yu-Han
authors: YH
authors: Liang
authors: Zhi-Hu
authors: ZH
authors: Lin
authors: Yao-Haur
authors: YH
authors: Kuo
authors: Tzu-Ming
authors: TM
authors: Pan
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002953:Citrinin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D054659:Diketopiperazines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005285:Fermentation; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D032741:Monascus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D054659:Diketopiperazines; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; C576795:deferricoprogen; D002953:Citrinin; D020169:Caspases