Studies on the Determination Method of Monascus Pigments in Foods

This study was performed for development of new analytical method of monascus pigments in foods. In this method, analysis of monascus pigment in foods has been carried out by detection of monascin and ankaflavin of the main color component of monascus pigment as indicator compounds. Monascin and ankaflavin were isolated and identified by TLC, HPLC, Prep. HPLC, and Mass spectrophotometer. The analysis of monascin and ankaflavin in foods such as massal, sausage, mixed press ham, mixed fish sausage, semi-dried sausage and syrup was performed by using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatograph with Capcell Pak C18 column at wave length 390 nm. The quantitative results of monascin were as follows : item in massal, in mixed fish sausage, and in semi-dried sausage. But the quantitative results of ankaflavin were as follows: in massal, ankaflavin were not founded in other samples.