Advances on the Pharmacological Effects of Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice (RYR) is produced by the fermentation of rice (Oryza sativa) using Monascus sp., and has a long history as a food colorant and a folk medicine in China. RYR is well-known for lowering blood cholesterol levels due to its bioactive component, monacolin K (lovastatin). In addition to antihypercholesterolemic effect, RYR showed evidence to be effective for the control of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, as well as for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. This review is focused on the study of the bioactive and pharmacological effects of RYR.