Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P. R. China.
Food Funct. 2019 Feb 20;10(2):1073-1084. doi: 10.1039/c8fo02192a.
This study aimed to compare the hypolipidaemic activities of different Monascus pigments (yellow, red and orange pigments) and elucidate their possible regulatory mechanisms on lipid and cholesterol metabolism in rats fed on a high-fat diet (HFD). Results showed that oral administrations of Monascus yellow, red and orange pigments can markedly alleviate the disturbance of lipid metabolism through ameliorating the serum lipid levels and suppressing hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis. Meanwhile, the excretion of fecal cholesterol, triacylglycerols and bile acids was also promoted by the oral administrations of different Monascus pigments (MPs). Furthermore, Monascus pigment (MP) supplementation produced significant structural changes in the intestinal microbiota of HFD-fed rats, and modulated the relative abundance of functionally related microbial phylotypes compared with the HFD group in particular. Key phylotypes in response to the HFD and Monascus pigment (MP) intervention were found to strongly correlate with the lipid metabolism disorder associated parameters using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Some beneficial gut microbiota (such as Oscillibacter sp., Ruminococcus albus, Clostridium sp., etc.) were found to be negatively correlated with the serum and hepatic lipid indicator. Moreover, Monascus pigment (MP) treatments regulated the mRNA expression levels of the genes responsible for lipid and cholesterol metabolism. In general, different Monascus pigments (MPs) regulate the homeostasis of lipid and cholesterol metabolism through different regulatory pathways. These findings illustrated that not only Monascus yellow pigments, but also Monascus red and orange pigments have the potential to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders, and therefore could be used as potential functional food ingredients for the prevention or treatment of hyperlipidemia and gut microbiota dysbiosis.
本研究旨在比较不同红曲色素（黄色、红色和橙色色素）的降血脂活性，并阐明其对高脂饮食（HFD）喂养大鼠脂质和胆固醇代谢的可能调节机制。结果表明，红曲黄色、红色和橙色色素的口服给药可通过改善血清脂质水平和抑制肝脂质积累和脂肪变性，显著缓解脂质代谢紊乱。同时，不同红曲色素（MPs）的口服给药也促进了粪便胆固醇、三酰甘油和胆汁酸的排泄。此外，红曲色素（MP）补充剂对 HFD 喂养大鼠的肠道微生物群产生了显著的结构变化，并调节了与 HFD 组相比特定的功能相关微生物类群的相对丰度。响应 HFD 和红曲色素（MP）干预的关键类群与与脂质代谢紊乱相关参数强烈相关，使用 Spearman 相关系数。一些有益的肠道微生物群（如 Oscillibacter sp.、Ruminococcus albus、Clostridium sp. 等）与血清和肝脂质指标呈负相关。此外，红曲色素（MP）处理调节了负责脂质和胆固醇代谢的基因的 mRNA 表达水平。总的来说，不同的红曲色素（MPs）通过不同的调节途径调节脂质和胆固醇代谢的内稳态。这些发现表明，不仅红曲黄色素，而且红曲红色素和橙色色素都有可能改善脂质代谢紊乱，因此可作为预防或治疗高血脂和肠道微生物失调的潜在功能性食品成分。
