Question

What does Monascus purpureus yeast produce?

Answer 1

Monascus purpureus:

1. Monascus purpureus is an yeast.
2. It is used to produce blood cholesterol-lowering statins on a commercial scale.
3. Red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) is rice fermented with red yeast rice.
4. It contains several derivatives of mevic acid, including lovastatin.
5. Lovastatin is the active ingredient in cholesterol-lowering drugs, but when it is found in red koji rice, it is more commonly called its synonym, monacolin K.
6. Rhabdomyolysis is a known complication of statin therapy.