The effects of methanol extracts from beni-koji produced by Monascus pilosus (MP) or Monascus ankar (MA) and pigments (MAP) produced by MA on blood pressure, lipid metabolism and cation balance of male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) fed a 1% NaCl diet for 17 days were examined. The results were as follows.
1) The blood pressure of control group markedly elevated, while the blood pressure of group fed diets added extract equivalent to 0.3% and 0.03% MP or MA koji-moldes depressed significantly at 10th and 15th feeding day, respectively. On the contrary, MAP could not exhibit any hypotensive effects.
2) Plasma Na/K ratio of groups fed MP- or MA-diet decreased during the test period. Positive correlation between blood pressure and Na/K ratio was observed. There are no significant difference in mineral balance of cations tested so far.
3) Increase of fecal excretion of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu and Fe was observed in the group fed 1% but not 0.1% MAP-diet.
4) The plasma total cholesterol levels of groups fed MP-, MA- and MAP-diet were lower than that of control group on both 7th and 15th day.