紅麴（Monascus）發酵產物為東亞常用的藥用食品，其二次代謝產物monacolin K (MK) 、ankaflavin (AK) 和monascin (MS) 已被報導具有抗氧化、抗發炎與抑制腫瘤轉移等功效。本研究主要在探討紅麴山藥酒精萃取物（ethanol extracts of red mold dioscorea, RMDE）是否能減少因放射線所誘發之促發炎細胞激素的提升。我們以B16-F0小鼠黑色素細胞瘤建立動物放射線治療模式，分析小鼠血清中促發炎細胞激素（即TNF-α 、IL-1β和 IL-6）的變化，並以小鼠巨噬細胞RAW 264.7來探討RMDE三種純物質AK 、MS和CT，那一種具有減少放射線鈷六十所誘發之發炎反應。動物實驗結果顯示，RMDE的餵食能增加C57BL/6小鼠之攝食量，並顯著減少因放射線治療所引起之血清促發炎細胞激素TNF-α 、IL-1β和IL-6 與促纖維化細胞激素TGF-β的提升。在細胞實驗方面，我們評估了AK 、MS和CT在受放射線照射的RAW 264.7細胞中之抗發炎效果，結果顯示，AK與MS兩
種化合物能顯著地減少因放射線所誘發處發炎激素與促纖維化激素的提升。

Monascus-fermented products offer valuable therapeutic benefits and have been extensively used in East Asia. Secondary polyketide metabolites of Monascus, including monacolin K (MK), ankaflavin (AK) and monascin (MS), have been reported to have antioxidation, antiinflammation and tumor metastasis suppression effects. This study investigated the attenuation of radiation-induced proinflammatory cytokines overexpression by ethanol extract of red mold dioscorea (RMDE). We used the B16-F0 melanoma cell line to establish an animal radiotherapy model and serum proinflammatory cytokines (i.e. TNF-a, IL-1b and IL-6) were analyzed. RAW 264.7 cells were pre-treated with different pure compounds [AK, MS and citrinin (CT)] of RMDE and irradiation of 2 Gy cobalt-60 g-radiation. The animal experiment results showed that oral administration of RMDE increased feed intake in C57BL/6 mice. Serum proinflammatory cytokine levels (i.e. TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and profibrotic cytokine (TGF-b) were significantly reduced in the RMDE group compared to control group (p < 0.01). For in vitro cell model, we evaluated the antiinflammative effects of AK, MS and CT in irradiated RAW 264.7 cells. Both AK and MS significantly reduced radiation-induced overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines and profibrotic cytokines. We have shown for the first time that Monascus-fermented products can attenuate ionizing radiation-induced inflammatory response. AK and MS are the main components of RMDE responsible for this effect.