Seven new Monascus pigments from red yeast rice and their hypolipidemic activities.

Seven unreported Monascus pigments (1 and 2a/2b-4a/4b) were isolated from the red yeast rice, among which three pairs of enantiomers (2a/2b-4a/4b) were successfully isolated by the chiral-phase HPLC. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were determined on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. The hypolipidemic activities of these compounds were evaluated via OA/PA-BSA stimulated HepG2 cells. Compounds 2a/2b-4a/4b could significantly reduce the intracellular lipid droplet levels, exhibiting certain hypolipidemic potential.