Study on the Stability of Monascus Pigment

Pigment-contained rice was produced after the solid fermentation by Monascus anka. Extraction process of Monascuspigment from the fermented rice was studied and the optimum conditions for the process were determined. The stability conditions ofthe Monascus Pigment such as the heat resistance, Sunlight tolerance, resistance to acid, alkali and reagent, were thoroughly investigatedafter it was extracted.The research results indicated that radio the Monascus pigment could kept relatively stable under 150℃, maintainedstable in the ultraviolet radiation, but very sensitive to the sunlight; while different reagents could differently affect the Monascuspigment. The results showed that small amount of NaCl and CaCl2 had almost no influence, but some ions such as Cu2+ and Zn2+ hadobvious effect on it. Monascus pigment was stable for pH values, as the extracted liqud could hold steadily red even at the pH11 value.