NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Manescus purpureus is a yeast used commercially in the production of blood cholesterol lowering statins. It is fungus most important because of its use in the form of red yeast rice in the production of fermented food in China.

Detailed explanation-2: -Monascus purpureus is a yeast used commercially in the production of blood cholesterol-lowering statins.

Detailed explanation-3: -Red yeast (Monascus purpureus) stops the action of an enzyme in the body that helps make cholesterol. Red yeast rice contains substances known as monacolins. One of these, monacolin K, has the same chemical makeup as lovastatin (Mevacor), a prescription drug that lowers cholesterol.

Detailed explanation-4: -The prescription drug lovastatin, identical to monacolin K, is the principal statin produced by M. purpureus.

Detailed explanation-5: -Red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) is rice fermented with red yeast. It contains several derivatives of mevinic acids, including lovastatin. Lovastatin is an active ingredient in cholesterol-lowering medicinal products, but when found in red yeast rice it is more often referred to by its synonymous name monacolin K.