Endothelium protector effect of Monascus purpureus, red yeast rice, standardized extract Efecto protector endotelial vascular de un extracto estandarizado de Monascus purpureus

Abstract

It was examined the efficacy of Monascus purpureus standardized extract (Mp) on the endothelial dysfunction (ED) of rat aortic rings caused by oxidative stress as a consequence of their exposition to a high glucose concentration. Endothelial functionality was determined by eliciting aortic muscle contractions with phenylephrine 10-6M and inducing an endothelium dependent relaxation with increasing acetylcholine concentration (1 × 10-8 to 1 × 10-4 M). The results show that Mp prevents 70%, and reverts 48% the ED induced by glucose and allows to propose, by the first time, that Monascus purpureus extract could partially protect the vascular endothelium from dysfunction caused by oxidative stress.