ABSTRACT
Monacolin K (MK), also known as lovastatin (LOV), is a secondary metabolite synthesized by Monascus in the later stage of fermentation and is the main component of functional red yeast rice (RYR). The structure of MK is similar to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA), and it can competitively bind to 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), thus reducing the level of blood lipids. MK can affect the expression of MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and NF-κB pathway, prepare conjugates with other compounds, and enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs so as to induce apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, and liver cancer. Combined with the synthetic route of MK, this paper summarizes the latest lipid-lowering and anticancer mechanism of MK, and provides a reference for the application of MK in medicine.
