The improvements of ankaflavin isolated from Monascus-fermented products on dyslipidemia in high-fat diet-induced hasmster

► Ankaflavin (AK) is a yellow pigment isolated from Monascus-fermented products. ► AK regulates HO-1 and protects HDL through Nrf2 activation. ► AK stabilizes HDL structure via promoting ABCA1 and apo-A1 expression by LXRα. ► AK increases LDL expression, leading cholesterol to metabolize by CYP7A1. ► AK promotes the conversion of cholesterol into bile acid in hepatocytes via LDL.