The monacolin K (lovastatin or
mevinolin) content in fermented substrates is
another functional value-added application of the
Monascus mold, which inhibits cholesterol
formation by stopping the action of a key enzyme
in the liver, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme
A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting step
in cholesterol biosynthesis (Manzoni and Rollini,
2002). The optimal cultivation temperature for