文章目录
Product Overview
Monascus Red Pigment is a high-quality natural food coloring derived from the fermentation of filamentous fungi of the Monascus genus. It is a secondary metabolite of Monascus. The pigment, commonly known as Monascus Red, is produced using rice and soybeans as primary raw materials through liquid fermentation with Monascus, followed by extraction, concentration, and refinement. It is also made from Red Yeast Rice through extraction, concentration, and refinement, yielding a natural red colorant. It is widely used in the food industry for enhancing the color of meat products, making red yeast wine, coloring pickled vegetables, and coloring flour-based products.
Production Process of Monascus Red Pigment
Produced through fermentation. Common strains used include *Monascus purpureus*, *M. anka*, and *M. barkeri*. The strains are distributed in a culture medium and left to grow at 30°C for about three weeks (with shaking for liquid cultures). The strains proliferate throughout the medium, with the mycelium turning deep red. After drying and crushing, the material is extracted with aqueous ethanol or propylene glycol, filtered, concentrated, and centrifuged to obtain ethanol-soluble paste-like precipitate (product) and water-soluble supernatant liquid products. The powder product is obtained by adding a drying aid (e.g., β-cyclodextrin) and spray-drying. Alternatively, rice (long-grain, regular, or glutinous rice) is soaked, steamed, inoculated with Monascus (starter culture), and cultured to produce Red Yeast Rice, which is then extracted with ethanol to obtain the pigment. In China, Red Yeast Rice made by inoculating M. anka on rice is also known as Red Yeast, Chi Qu, Red Rice, or Fu Mi.
Functions and Effects of Monascus Red Pigment
Primarily used as a coloring agent in food.
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is also believed to promote blood circulation, invigorate the spleen, and aid digestion.
Application Scenarios for Monascus Red Pigment
- Food Industry: Used in dairy products, meat products, baked goods, flour-based foods, various beverages, candies, and condiments.
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Health foods, excipients, fillers, biopharmaceuticals, and raw pharmaceutical materials.
- Industrial Products: Used in the petroleum industry, manufacturing, agricultural products, scientific research, batteries, precision casting, etc.
- Other Industries: Can replace glycerin as a flavoring agent, antifreeze, and moisturizer in tobacco.
- Personal Care Products: Facial cleansers, beauty creams, toothpaste, shower gels, face masks, etc.
- Feed Industry: Pet food, animal feed, nutritional feed, research on genetically modified feed, aquatic feed, vitamin feed products, etc.
- Laboratory Reagents: Used in various research and development experiments.
Packaging and Storage of Monascus Red Pigment
【Storage Conditions】The product should be sealed, protected from light, kept in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place.
【Packaging Method】Bulk in 25kg cardboard drums, small samples in 1kg aluminum foil bags, customizable packaging available upon request.
【Transportation Method】Courier or freight, domestic courier delivery within three days, freight delivery within five days. The quoted price generally includes domestic shipping costs.
【Shelf Life】Two years.
