J ournal of South China University of Technology
A rticl e ID : 10002565X (2003) 0920070206
Si m ult a n e o us D e t e cti o n of L a ct o n e For m a n d Aci d For m
M o n a c oli n K b y S e nsiti ve TL C M e t h o d
(1. College of Food & Biological Engineering , South China Univ. of Tech. , Guangzhou 510640 , China ;
2. Dept . of Food Sci . & Tech. , College of Agricutural Life Sci . , Chungnan National Univ. , Taejon 305 - 764 , Korea ;
3. Daedok Biotechnique Inc . , Taejon 305 - 764 , Korea)
A bs t r act : A novel and sensitive thin2layer chromatography ( TLC) method for specific and simultaneous detection
of both lactone form Monacolin K and acid form Monacolin K is developed in this study. The TL C works in the fol2
lowing conditions : The TL C plate was Silica Gel 60 , RP - 18 F254 , 0. 5 mm , chemically modified layer , Merck ,
Germany ; The solvent system was chloroform methanol ammonium hydroxide = 25 3 1 ( volume ratio) ; Moni2
toring the TL C under 365 nm after heating it with a slight coating of the charring reagent 30 % ( volume fraction)
H2SO4 ethanol on the TL C plate , allowed the specific detection of Monacolin K and the low detection limit was first
time brought down to 30 ng. The present TL C method is suitable for the routine qualitative and semi2quantitative
analysis of the bulk materials containing Monacolin K.
Ke y w or ds : thin2layer chromatograhpy ; lactone form Monacolin K; acid form Monacolin K
Monacolin K (also called lovastatin) possesses var2
Monacolin K : lactone f orm and acid f orm ( refer to Fig.
ious medical f unctions such as lowering high level blood
cholesterol [ 1 3 ] , anticancer[4 ,5 ] and promoting bone f or2
In our previous study we have developed a si2
mation[6 , 7 ] . Bef ore 1994 only pigment red rice was pro2
multaneous detection method f or both L FM K and AFM K
duced but after that the f unctional red rice which contains
by RP2HPL C in our lab[10] , but HPL C not only takes
monacolin K appeared in the market[8 ] . Theref ore in the
much time , but also is rather expensive . The method of
market there are both pigmental and f unctional red rice
double wave2length UV spectrophotometry was also re2
or their products . The f unctional red rice or its product
ported , but it requires sample pre2treatment through a
was f urther divided into different grades according to its
neutral aluminum oxide column and is theref ore quite
complicated[11 ]. So far the best reported TL C system
1. 0 % ( mass fraction , the following is the
[ 12 ] uses silica gel plate , the developing reagent of hex2
same) [9 ] . So it is very important to develop a rapid and
ane acetone = 1 1 ( volu2me ratio , the following is the
easy method to analyze total Monacolin K in red rice or
same) and the iodine as the colorant f or the separated
spots . The observation condition is under daylight . The
Study[3 ] has proved that there are two f orms of
reported TL C method can detect only L FM K and its
lower detection limit was 10 000 ng , while the usual
loading amount of standard Monacolin K was 40 000 ng.
Bi ogr ap h y : Wang Qi2jun (born in 1972) , male , Ph. D , lec2
As to AFM K , since it is not commercially available ,
turer , mainly researches on bioengineering and food ana2lysis .
moreover , its lower detection limit is as low as that of
L FM K with common TL C method ( indicated in this
Wang Qi2jun et al : Simultaneous Detection of Lactone Form and Acid
Form Monacolin K by Sensitive TL C Method
study) , theref ore it can not be detected by common TL C
methods . In the present study we have developed a sen2
sitive , rapid and economical TL C method which allowed
AFM K so far is not commercially available and it is
the qualitative , quantitative ( approximately) and simul2
prepared from L FM K in our laboratory. The stan2dard of
taneous detection of L FM K and AFM K when observed
L FM K was purchased from Sigma , and 1 mg/ mL of
under 365 nm UV light after charred with 30 % H
L FM K in 80 % acetonitrile water solution was used to
ethanol . And this method can be used to monitor Mona2
obtain AFM K in solution by alkaline treatment with 0. 1
colin K content during fermentation , and to estimate the
kg/ mol NaOH. The p H value was estimated with p H
test paper . AFM K was confirmed by L C/ MS .
quality of red rice or Monacolin K containing medicine .
The procedures of Monacolin K extraction from red
rice or its solid products mainly f ollowed the method de2
scribed by Moon[10 ] . 0. 200 g red rice powder or its
product was extracted with 1 mL 60 % acetonitrile water
solution in 1. 5 mL Enpendorf tube by sonicating f or 20
. The extract was then centrif uged at 12
000 r/ min for 5 minutes . The supernatant was stored at
if not directly used f or analysis .
S t a n d a r ds a n d R e d Ric e S a mp l es
tract were loaded on a TL C plate . After air dried , the
L FM K was purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. ,
TL C plate was developed in a presaturated solvent cham2
New York , USA . Functional red rice of FHQF and the
medicinal capsule of Xuezhikang were kindly donated by
ber. Bef ore the solvent front reaching the end of the
Professor Zhou Li2ping of Zhejiang Univ. of Tech. ,
TL C plate , the TL C plate was removed from solvent
Hangzhou , China . The pigmental red rice of HQF was
chamber and sprayed with an even coating of 30 %
H2SO4 ethanol charring reagent with a TL C sprayer
(Merck , Germany) . Then the TL C plate was observed
K5 Silica Gel 150 , 0. 25 mm and K6 Silica Gel
and photographed under 365 nm after being heated on a
60 , 0. 25 mm were from Whatman , USA . Silica Gel
60 , F254 , 0. 5 mm , Silica Gel 60 , F254 , 0. 5 mm , a2
luminum sheet and Silica Gel 60 , RP - 18 , F254 ,
0. 5 mm , chemically modified layer were from Merck ,
Pr ep a r a t i o n of A FM K f r o m L FM K
AFM K was prepared in liquid solution by alkaline
hydrolysis of lactone f orm Moancolin K. The hydrolysis
Acetonitrile , methanol , chlorof orm , hexane and
results were shown in Table 1. Treatment No. 3 was
acetone were purchased from Burdick & J ohnson USA ,
used to prepare the standard solution of AFM K. The
converted AFM K was confirmed by L C/ MS ( refer to
ammonium hydroxide was from Sigma Chemical Co.
USA . All other chemicals were of analytical reagent
grade , and obtained from Yakuri Pure Chemical Co.
J ournal of South China University of Technology (Natural Science Edition)
Alkaline treatments of lactone form Monacolin K
N ovel TL C D e t e ct i o n M e t h o d f or
Fig. 3 shows the result obtained with the TL C plate
9 1 , 2. 0 L (i . e . around 1 g total Monacolin K) of
1) 0. 5 mg/ mL L FM K in 60 % acteonitrile water ;
Novel TL C detection method for Monacolin K
5 : corresponding to the alkaline treatment from
No. 2 to No. 6 in Table 1 ; Sample C : the standard lactone form Mona2
colin K of 1 000 ng (left) and 500 ng (right) .
(2) A : observed directly under 365 nm before spraying charring
reagent , indicating Monacolin K itself had no fluorescence ; B : observed
under day light as normal TL C method required after charring treatment ,
the signal were very faint ; C : observed under 365 nm after charring
treatment , both L FM K and AFM K now showed bright yellow fluores2
(3) The Rf of LFM K was 0. 64 , the Rf of AFM K was 0. 025
A ( M + Na + = 404 + 23 ) : from the standard L FM K solution ;
B ( M + Na + = 422 + 23 ) : from the solution of treatment No. 4
The TL C plate was observed step by step . First ,
in the acid form Monacolin K preparation test
the plate was observed directly under daylight , under
In the experiment it was f ound that if the amount of
254 nm UV light and under 365 nm UV light respective2
NaOH in acetonitrile water solution was more than a cer2
ly , and no spots could be recognized , indicating that
tain amount compared to the amount of L FM K , the
Monacolin K had no fluorescence reaction. Second , the
L FM K could be converted completely into AFM K ( refer
TL C plate was observed under daylight , after being
to treatment No. 3 , 4 and 5) , but too much alkaline in
sprayed with the charring reagent of 30 % H2SO4 ethanol
the mixture could be harmf ul to both HPL C column and
and being heated properly the plate on a hot plate ( if
TL C plate . However if the amount of NaOH was not e2
over heated , the whole TL C plate will be spoiled) , and
nough , L FM K was only partially converted into AFM K
only faint gray spots (in fact hardly recognizable) shown
(refer to treatment No. 1 , 2) , and the conversion ratio
on the plate . Following the se2cond step , the TL C plate
increased with the storing temperature and time ( data not
was observed under 254 nm and the signals could not be
enhanced by any degree , compared with observing at
Additionally , we f ound that even under a very
daylight. However when the TL C was observed under
strong basic condition like treatment No. 6 , L FM K still
365 nm , and very bright yellow spots were found , indi2
could not be converted into Monacolin J . The conver2
sion of acid f orm Monacolin J f orm lactone f orm Mona2
cating that both L FM K and AFM K after being charred by
colin K need to be f urther studied.
H2SO4 could produce yellow fluorescence under 365 nm.
Wang Qi2jun et al : Simultaneous Detection of Lactone Form and Acid
Form Monacolin K by Sensitive TL C Method
The result were photographed under 365 nm .
The low detection limit f or AFM K was also estimated ,
But the problem was that the spots of AFM K even
and the result was shown in Fig. 5. The low detection
did not move f orward in this TL C system . So the f urther
limit was also around 30 ng. It was quite close to the
screening work f or the proper mobile phases or other
low detection limit of HPL C/ UV detection method ,
20 ng. We supposed that such lower detec2
tion limit of this TL C system perhaps were also suitable
f or the other Moncolin K analogs like Monacolin J , L ,
Five kinds of solvent systems , i . e . chlorof orm
X , M and so on , since they share the basic common
methanol = 9 1 ; hexane chlorof orm methanol = 9 3
1 ; hexane acetone = 1 1 ; chloroform methanol am2
monium hydroxide = 25 3 1 ; he2xane chloroform iso2
propanol = 6 3 1 and six kinds of TL C plates listed in
the section of material and methods were tried f or
screening the optimal stationary phase and mobile phase
f or detecting Monacolin K. The most important part of
the results were shown in Fig. 4. The optimal TL C plate
as Silica Gel 60 , RP - 18 F254 , 0. 5 mm , chemically
modified layer , Merck , Germany , and the optimal mo2
Sensitivity estimation of the screened TL C
AFM K contents of spots 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 were 300 , 150 ,
L FM K and AFM K were 0. 62 and 0. 54 , respectively.
100 , 50 , 30 , 20 , 15 , 10 ng , respectively.
The low detection limit f or L FM K was 30 ng ( refer to
In this experiment we f ound that after developing
Fig. 4) . It should be pointed out that the mobile phase
TL C plates of the kind F254 even in different mobile
temperature could slightly affect the Rfs of both L FM K
phases , sprayed with 30 % H2SO4 ethanol then heated on
and AFM K , but it would not interfere the re2cognition
under 365 nm , the bright yellow spots of both L FM K
V ali di t y of t h e Sc r e e n e d TL C
Considering a lot of other compounds in red rice ,
in order to confirm whether this yellow fluorescence was
specific f or Monacolin K or not , two f unctional red rice
samples of FHQF and Xuezhikang and one pigmental red
rice of HQF as well as standard Monacolin K were ap2
plied to the screened TL C system . After developed , the
TL C was also observed step by step . The results were
(1) Samples on all of 3 plates were the same : 1 # 500 ng LFM K
plus 500 ng AFM K , 2 # 20 ng L FM K , 3 # 30 ng L FM K , 4 # 50 ng
It was f ound that this novel TL C method could
L FM K. In each plate , the upper arrow pointing to L FM K , and the low2
greatly improve the resolution and sensitivity f or Mona2
colin K detection. L ots of other compounds in red rice
(2) Plate A : Silica Gel 60 , F254 , 0. 5 mm , Merck , Germany ,
samples especially in pigmental red rice had fluorescence
Rf = 0. 18 and 0. 00 ; Plate B : Silica Gel 60 , F254 , 0. 25 mm , alu2
minum sheet , Merck , Germany , Rf = 0. 18 and 0. 02 ; Plate C : Silica
Gel 60 , RP - 18 F254 , 0. 5 mm , chemically modified layer , Merck ,
J ournal of South China University of Technology (Natural Science Edition)
Validity of this novel TL C method estimated with red rice samples
(1) A , B , C was from same one developed TLC plate but observed under different conditions . Samples of 1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,5 : were 300 ng LFM K, 500 ng
AFM K plus 500 ng L FM K; red rice powder FHQF (4 L of 5 times dilute) ; Xuezhi Kang (4 L of 5 times dilute) ; red rice powder HQF ( 4 L spotting
from 5 X dilute) , respectively. In pattern A and B , arrow a pointed to L FM K; and arrow
b pointed to AFM K. In photo C , all the arrows pointed to
(2) A : observed at 365 nm after spraying 30 % H2SO4 ethanol and heating ; B : observed under day light , after spraying 30 % H2SO4 ethanol and heat2
ing ; C : directly observed at 365 nm before spraying 30 % H2SO4 ethanol , indicating many other compounds in red rice has fluorescence .
the charring reagent and heating , when observed under
and the target components spots turned strong.
daylight as done in most reported TL C methods , there
In conclusion , the developed TL C system greatly
were many gray spots in both f unctional and pigmental
improved the resolution of Monacolin K in red rice and
rice . Theref ore even with the standard Monacolin K as
f or the first time allowed the simultaneous detection of
control , it was difficult to judge that in pigmental rice
both L FM K and AFM K. The low detection limit was
there was no Monacolin K. Furthermore , the standards
brought down to 30 ng , which was quite near to that of
spots of 500 ng Monacolin K were very weak too ( refer
to Fig. 6 B ) . However , when observed under 365 nm
plicity and rapidity of TL C , this method would be very
after being heated , the bright yellow Monacolin K spots
usef ul monitoring Monacolin K production during the
became very clear and the standard of 300 ng Monacolin
fermentation process or estimation of the Monacolin K
K now could be seen clearly , and what is more impor2
tant , other interfering spots were not the problem any
When this method is used , attention has to be paid
Endo A . Monacolin K , a new hypocholesterolemic agent
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Dentists on tour, Auvergne, 12. – 17.09.2010• Teil 1: Seniorenmedizin im engeren Sinne Folgende Postenarbeit: Erarbeiten von Hilfsmitteln bringen häufiger Probleme der Wechslwirkung• neurologische Störungen• Immunsuppression• AugenleidenInsuffizienzKranzgefässeVitienRhythmusstörungenTransplantationam häufigsten coronareoder hypertensive CardiopathieBeachte: häufig weitereBeg