Monascus purpureus KFRI 1134 균주에 대해 UV ($235_{nm}$, 30 second) 조사를 통한 변이주 형성을 유도하여 Monascus sp. MK2-2를 분리하였다. 홍국 천연색소 생산의 최적조건은 rice powder 0.3%와 0.2% yeast extract, 0.3% $NH_4H_2PO_4$의 배지 조성에서 초기 pH 5.0, 배양온도 $30^{circ}C$ 및 배양기간은 5일이었으며, 홍국 천연색소 생산에 미치는 탄소원의 영향은 wheat flour > rice powder > fructose 순으로 높았다. 질소원은 sodium nitrate > $KNO_3$의 순서로 생성능이 높았으며, C/N ratio가 $17sim22$일 때 색소의 생성능이 우수하였다. Anti-thrombosis activity 측정결과 Monascus sp. MK2-2 추출물은 aspirin과 유사한 항혈전 기능을 지니고 있음을 알 수 있었다.
For the production of natural pigments with microbe, the strains which produced monascus pigment were isolated, and then culture condition and extraction condition were investigated. These results are summarized as follows; The strain which ran produce monascus natural pigment was isolated from natural microbial sources and we made mutant of this strain with UV($235_{nm}$, 30 second) irradiation. The mutant was identified as Monascus sp. MK2-2. The optimal culture conditions were investigated optimal medium containing 0.3% rice powder, 0.2% yeast extract, 0.3% $NH_4H_2PO_4$ and $30^{circ}C$ in a rotary shaker (120 rpm) for 5 days (initial pH 5.0), while the pigment production was determined at 24 hr intervals. The effective carbon sources were wheat flour > rice powder > fructose, and effective nitrogen sources were sodium nitrate > $KNO_3$ for production of the monascus natural pigment. The pigment capacity is good from 17 to 22 in C/N ratio. The production amount of monascus natural pigment was 0.38 g per 1 kg of rice. Also, extract of red yeast rice had anti-thrombosis activity like a degree of aspirin.
