Monacolin M, a new specific inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis structurally related to monacolin K (mevinolin), was isolated from cultures of a strain of Monascus ruber. The structure of monacolin M was determined to be beta-hydroxybutyryl ester of monacolin J by a combination of physical techniques. It was suggested that monacolin M is derived from monacolin J via a synthetic pathway distin...

Citrinin mycotoxin is a polyketide produced by several species of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Monascus. Though A. niger is reported to be the highest producer of citrinin among the Aspergillus species, other citrinin producers of this genus include A. awentil, A. ostianus, A. fumigatus, A. niveus, A.awamori and A. parasiticus [1]. Some of the citrinin producing fungi are also able t...