Antiobesity effect of a jelly food containing the L-tryptophan derivative of Monascus pigment in mice

• Drinkable jelly food containing the Trp derivative of monascus pigment was produced.
• Antiobesity effects of the jelly food were confirmed using mice testing.
• Inhibitory action of the Trp derivative against the lipase reaction occurred.
• Administration of the jelly food lowered the lipid levels in mouse serum.

Drinkable jelly food products containing the L-tryptophan (Trp) derivative of monascus pigment were prepared and tested for their antiobesity effect using mice. Orange monascus pigment was produced in a 5 L jar fermenter using a fungus of Monascus. The Trp derivative was synthesized using a reaction of the orange pigment with L-tryptophan. Antiobesity testing using C57BL/6J mice was performed with oral administration of drinkable jelly foods containing different amounts of the Trp derivative. Jelly products containing the Trp derivative significantly reduced increases in body weight gain, epididymal fat weight, and subcutaneous fat and visceral fat amounts in mice, confirmed using micro CT images of mice tissues. Antiobesity effects were apparently produced by the inhibitory action of the Trp derivative in jelly against the lipase reaction with lipids. Administration of the jelly food lowered the total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triacylglycerol levels in the mouse serum.