[Effect of monascus on improving the hemorheology of rats with high blood lipids].

The effects of monascus on the hemorheology of rats with high blood lipids were observed. Wistar rats were fed with high cholesterol to establish a model of hypercholesterolemia. Monascus at the dosage of 0.0, 0.6, 1.2 g/(d.kg BW) was administrated for 28 days. Normal control group was fed with standard rat chow. Rats in 0.0 g/kg BW group became hypercholesterolemia clearly. Monascus decreased TC, TG, and increased HDL-C significantly in the experimental groups. Monascus can significantly increase the deformability of erythrocyte(IDEI) and decrease aggregation index(AI), platelet adhesion rate(PADT) and blood viscosity at the shear rate of 5 s-1. No significant difference of platelet aggregation (PAGT) in groups was observed.