MonascusPigments

Monascus pigments (MPs) are a group of azaphilonic secondary metabolites produced by Monascus spp. They are widely utilised as natural food colourants worldwide, especially in China for more than 1,000 years. Besides their usage as food colourants, MPs possess a series of physiological functions such as anti-cancer properties, anti-obesity characteristics, etc, and they could even be used for dyeing cotton yarn and leather, sensitising solar cells and preparing gels. In this chapter, the categories and application prospects, physiological functions, chemical and physical properties, assay methods and units, MP producer-Monascus spp., application and economics of MPs are described.