摘要
It is difficult to extract beneficial components from Monascus pigments due to their complex composition. The low purity of Monascus pigment preparations limits their further application in research and production. Therefore, this study was conducted to optimize the conditions for extraction and isolation of Monascus pigments from red yeast rice, to improve the purity of Monascus pigment preparations. Three fractions were isolated using column chromatography from red yeast rice, they were red, orange and yellow respectively. Then, the three fractions were analyzed for composition and purity using thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS). The chromatograms revealed that the yellow and orange fractions had complex compositions that were difficult to be separated, while the red fraction consisted of fewer components. Finally, a single component was isolated from the red fraction using a thin layer chromatography plate, identified as monascorubramine according to its molecular mass.
It is difficult to extract beneficial components from Monascus pigments due to their complex composition. The low purity of Monascus pigment preparations limits their further application in research and production. Therefore, this study was conducted to optimize the conditions for extraction and isolation of Monascus pigments from red yeast rice, to improve the purity of Monascus pigment preparations. Three fractions were isolated using column chromatography from red yeast rice, they were red, orange and yellow respectively. Then, the three fractions were analyzed for composition and purity using thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS). The chromatograms revealed that the yellow and orange fractions had complex compositions that were difficult to be separated, while the red fraction consisted of fewer components. Finally, a single component was isolated from the red fraction using a thin layer chromatography plate, identified as monascorubramine according to its molecular mass.
