Anti-diabetic effects of Monascus purpureus NTU 568 fermented products on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Red-mold-fermented products have the unique ability to economically produce many secondary metabolites and are known to improve blood circulation. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by insufficient insulin action. In the current study, we examine the effect of Monascus purpureus NTU 568 fermented products on fasting blood glucose and oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. After 8 weeks of being fed with red-mold-fermented products at a dose of 200 mg/kg, the experimental results indicate that oral administration of red-mold-fermented products can delay the development of the plasma glucose level in rats. A significant reduction was found in urine sugar and urine protein levels. The study scientifically validates the widely claimed use of red-mold-fermented products as an ethnomedicine to treat diabetes mellitus.