Home Ingredients Ankascin® 568 (Monascus purpureus NTU 568 Fermented Rice)

Ankascin® 568 (Monascus purpureus NTU 568 Fermented Rice)

Monascus purpureus
Evidence Level
Limited
4 Clinical Trials
5 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Ankascin® 568 is a red mold rice ingredient from SunWay Biotech (Taiwan), fermented with the Monascus purpureus NTU 568 strain. The maker sells it as free of monacolin K and rich in the yellow pigments monascin and ankaflavin. Three small placebo-controlled trials tested versions of it in adults with raised cholesterol, blood sugar or blood pressure, each with a SunWay researcher among the authors. In the cholesterol trial, LDL cholesterol fell within the product group over 8 weeks and returned toward baseline after stopping. Fasting blood sugar fell within the product group, but after-meal glucose, HbA1c and insulin resistance did not differ from placebo. The blood pressure trial abstract reports a fall within the product group without a placebo comparison. Most results compare levels within the product group rather than against placebo. The NTU 568 strain made both monacolin K and citrinin, a mycotoxin, in an earlier lab study.

Studied Dose 500 mg a day (3 mg monascin, 1.5 mg ankaflavin) for 8 weeks in the cholesterol trial; 1,000 mg a day as two 500 mg capsules (6 mg monascin, 3 mg ankaflavin) for 12 weeks in the blood sugar trial; two 500 mg capsules for 8 weeks in the blood pressure trial.
Active Compound Fermented rice product or extract of Monascus purpureus NTU 568, standardized by the maker to the yellow pigments monascin and ankaflavin. Capsules used in the trials supplied 3 mg monascin and 1.5 mg ankaflavin per 500 mg. A toxicity study of the extract version (Ankascin 568-R) reported 41.61 mg/g monascin and 21.65 mg/g ankaflavin. The maker states it contains no monacolin K; the papers do not report citrinin results for the trial capsules.

Benefits

LDL cholesterol in adults with borderline high levels

In 40 adults with borderline high cholesterol, 500 mg a day of Ankascin 568 plus for 8 weeks lowered LDL cholesterol within the product group by about 20 percent, against about 4 percent on placebo. The paper reports a significant difference between groups only for the LDL to HDL and total to HDL cholesterol ratios, and LDL rose back toward baseline 4 weeks after stopping.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Fasting blood sugar in adults with raised levels

In 39 adults with fasting glucose of 100 to 125 mg/dL, two 500 mg capsules a day for 12 weeks lowered fasting glucose within the product group by 8.5 percent at week 6, with no change on placebo. After-meal glucose was unchanged, and HbA1c and insulin resistance did not differ from placebo. Blood sugar results were not the trial's designated endpoint.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Blood pressure readings in adults with raised blood pressure

In a placebo-controlled trial in adults with mild to moderate high blood pressure, two 500 mg capsules of Ankascin 568 for 8 weeks were followed by a fall in systolic pressure from about 142 to 134 mmHg and diastolic from about 92 to 85 mmHg. The abstract reports these as before and after values and gives no placebo result or between-group test.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 1

Liver, kidney and muscle markers during the trials

In the cholesterol and blood sugar trials, liver enzymes, kidney markers, electrolytes, thyroid hormones and creatine phosphokinase, a muscle damage marker, did not differ from placebo over 8 to 12 weeks. The blood pressure trial abstract reports no rise in muscle breakdown and no impairment of liver or kidney function. The trials were small and short.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 1

Monascin and ankaflavin in lab and animal studies

In rats on a high fat, high cholesterol diet, monascin and ankaflavin lowered LDL cholesterol and raised apolipoprotein A1 in the liver. In human immune cells in a dish, monascin reduced inflammatory signals through the PPAR gamma pathway. These are lab and animal findings from the university group that developed the strain, with a SunWay author on the rat study, and do not show effects in people.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Mechanism of action

1

Pigments rather than monacolin K

Most red yeast rice research rests on monacolin K, which blocks a key enzyme in cholesterol production. Ankascin 568 is sold as containing no monacolin K, and the cholesterol trial authors describe it as relying on monascin and ankaflavin instead. The same NTU 568 strain made monacolin K and the mycotoxin citrinin in liquid culture on yam and on rice media in an earlier lab study, so their absence depends on how the product is made and tested.

2

LDL assembly and HDL protein in animal work

In an 8 week rat study, monascin and ankaflavin reduced liver enzymes and proteins used to build LDL particles (including apolipoprotein B-100), raised LDL receptor expression and increased apolipoprotein A1, the main protein of HDL. These are animal findings and have not been measured in people taking the product.

3

PPAR gamma and inflammatory signaling

In human THP-1 immune cells, monascin at 1 to 25 micromolar lowered nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, and at 5 and 25 micromolar lowered TNF-alpha and IL-6; a PPAR gamma blocker showed its effect on JNK signaling ran through that receptor. The trial authors cite this pathway for the product, but no human study has measured it.

Clinical trials

1
Ankascin 568 Plus 500 mg a Day and Blood Cholesterol: Small 8 Week RCT
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial; one 500 mg capsule of Ankascin 568 plus a day (3 mg monascin, 1.5 mg ankaflavin) for 8 weeks, then a 4 week washout, maltodextrin placebo; the designated endpoint was the incidence of adverse events; product supplied by SunWay Biotech, one author from SunWay's research division and a co-author from National Taiwan University who lists SunWay as an affiliation in other papers on the product; no funding source stated; no registry number reported; the methods describe randomization at the end of an unnamed parent study (Liu et al. 2018, J Food Drug Anal)

40 adults aged 22 to 65 (10 men, 30 women) with total cholesterol of 180 mg/dL or more and LDL cholesterol of 130 to 190 mg/dL; 20 per group, all completed.

Within the product group, LDL cholesterol fell from 153.7 to 124.5 mg/dL at week 4 (19.0 percent) and 122.3 mg/dL at week 8, while placebo went from 155.5 to 149.0 mg/dL; total cholesterol fell 11.9 percent at week 4. The paper reports significant between-group differences for the LDL to HDL and total to HDL ratios; triglycerides and HDL did not differ. After the washout, LDL was 148.2 mg/dL. Liver, kidney, thyroid and creatine phosphokinase values did not differ.

2
Ankascin 568 Plus 1,000 mg a Day and Fasting Blood Sugar: Small 12 Week RCT
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial; two 500 mg capsules of Ankascin 568 plus a day (6 mg monascin, 3 mg ankaflavin) for 12 weeks, then 4 weeks of follow-up, maltodextrin placebo; the designated endpoint was the incidence of adverse events; run alongside the cholesterol trial by the same team, with the same SunWay and university author ties; no funding source stated and the authors declared no conflicts; no registry number reported (Wang et al. 2017, J Food Drug Anal)

39 adults who completed the trial (19 product, 20 placebo) out of 67 enrolled; the methods list fasting glucose of 100 to 125 mg/dL and HbA1c of 5.7 to 6.4 percent, while the abstract gives wider ranges.

Fasting glucose fell within the product group from 115.3 to 105.5 mg/dL at week 6 (8.5 percent) and 104.6 mg/dL at week 12, with no change on placebo. After-meal glucose was unchanged, and HbA1c, insulin and insulin resistance did not differ between groups. LDL cholesterol fell 10.3 percent within the product group at week 6; triglycerides, HDL, blood pressure and body weight did not differ from placebo.

3
Ankascin 568 and Blood Pressure: Placebo-Controlled 8 Week RCT
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial; two 500 mg capsules of Ankascin 568 for 8 weeks; two of the four authors list SunWay Biotech's research division, one of them also National Taiwan University; the authors declared no conflicts; funding, group sizes and registry are not given in the abstract, and the full text could not be accessed (Chen et al. 2017, Chin J Physiol)

Adults with mild to moderate high blood pressure; the number enrolled is not stated in the abstract.

Systolic pressure went from 141.6 to 133.9 mmHg and diastolic from 91.7 to 84.8 mmHg (both p < 0.05), reported as before and after values with no placebo result or between-group comparison in the abstract. The abstract also reports lower total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, higher HDL, and no rise in muscle breakdown or liver or kidney impairment.

4
Ankascin 568-R 13 Week Rat Toxicity and Genotoxicity Study (animal study, not a trial in people)
PubMed

Animal and lab safety study following OECD guideline 408; rats given the extract by mouth for 13 weeks plus Ames, chromosome and micronucleus tests; research grant and test material provided by SunWay Biotech, with three of the six authors listing SunWay Biotech, one of them also National Taiwan University (Lin et al. 2022, Toxicol Rep)

96 Sprague-Dawley rats (12 per sex per group) at 0, 100, 300 or 1,000 mg/kg a day, and 25 male mice for the micronucleus test.

No adverse effects were linked to the extract; one high-dose rat died from a dosing accident. Dose checks found concentrations below target, so the no observed adverse effect level was set at 796.2 mg/kg a day. The extract was not genotoxic in the three tests.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

In the cholesterol trial, no clinical symptoms or discomfort were recorded in 40 adults over 8 weeks, and liver, kidney, thyroid and creatine phosphokinase values did not differ from placebo.
In the blood sugar trial, 28 of 67 enrolled people withdrew, which the paper attributes to developing other illnesses without saying which group they were in; liver and kidney markers of those who completed did not differ from placebo.
The trials lasted 8 to 12 weeks, so longer-term safety in people is unknown, and there are no data in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Monascus fermentation can produce the mycotoxin citrinin, and the NTU 568 strain made it in an earlier lab study; the trial papers and the maker's listing that were reviewed do not report citrinin test results for the product.
In rats, 13 weeks of the extract caused no adverse effects up to 796.2 mg/kg a day, and it was not genotoxic in lab tests; animal results do not set a safe human dose.

Important Drug interactions

No drug interaction studies of Ankascin 568 have been published. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any supplement you take.
Glucose-lowering medicine: people taking it were excluded from the blood sugar trial, so effects alongside these drugs are unknown. Do not use it in place of prescribed treatment.
Cholesterol and blood pressure medicine: the cholesterol and blood sugar trials let people enter on stable doses, yet also say people with high blood pressure were not to use blood pressure lowering drugs during the trial unless pressure rose suddenly. Results were not reported separately for anyone on these medicines, so combined effects are unknown.

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Frequently asked questions about Ankascin® 568 (Monascus purpureus NTU 568 Fermented Rice)

What is Ankascin 568?

It is a red mold rice ingredient made by SunWay Biotech in Taiwan by fermenting with the Monascus purpureus NTU 568 strain. The maker standardizes it to two yellow pigments, monascin and ankaflavin, and sells it as free of monacolin K. Versions named Ankascin 568, 568 plus, 568-R and 568-P appear in the research, and the papers do not explain how they differ.

How is Ankascin 568 different from regular red yeast rice?

Regular red yeast rice research centers on monacolin K, and potency varies between products. Ankascin 568 is sold as containing no monacolin K and relies on monascin and ankaflavin instead. The NTU 568 strain made both monacolin K and citrinin in liquid cultures in an earlier lab study, so the absence of both depends on the maker's production and testing, which the reviewed papers do not report.

What dose of Ankascin 568 was studied?

The cholesterol trial used one 500 mg capsule a day for 8 weeks, supplying 3 mg monascin and 1.5 mg ankaflavin. The blood sugar and blood pressure trials used two 500 mg capsules for 8 to 12 weeks. Follow the product label and ask a healthcare provider for personal advice.

How strong is the evidence for Ankascin 568?

It rests on three small trials in Taiwan, each with a SunWay researcher among the authors and none with a published registry number. Most results compare levels before and after within the product group rather than against placebo, and blood sugar control measures such as HbA1c did not differ. Two larger 24 week SunWay trials are registered but have no posted results, although their estimated completion date of October 2025 has passed.

What is Ankascin 568 used for?

NutraSmarts does not list Ankascin 568 under a health category. What the research covers: In 40 adults with borderline high cholesterol, 500 mg a day of Ankascin 568 plus for 8 weeks lowered LDL cholesterol within the product group by about 20 percent, against about 4 percent on placebo.

Is Ankascin 568 safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Ankascin 568 include: In the cholesterol trial, no clinical symptoms or discomfort were recorded in 40 adults over 8 weeks, and liver, kidney, thyroid and creatine phosphokinase values did not differ from placebo. It may also interact with some medications. Ankascin 568 is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Ankascin 568 interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No drug interaction studies of Ankascin 568 have been published. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any supplement you take. Glucose-lowering medicine: people taking it were excluded from the blood sugar trial, so effects alongside these drugs are unknown. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Ankascin 568?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Ankascin 568 as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 4 study summaries and 11 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(11 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Liu SF, Wang YR, Shen YC, Chen CL, Huang CN, Pan TM, Wang CK. A randomized, double-blind clinical study of the effects of Ankascin 568 plus on blood lipid regulation. J Food Drug Anal. 2018;26(1):393-400. doi: 10.1016/j.jfda.2017.04.006.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Ankascin 568 plus (500 mg a day, 3 mg monascin and 1.5 mg ankaflavin per capsule, supplied by SunWay Biotech) for 8 weeks plus a 4 week washout in 40 adults with borderline high total and LDL cholesterol. The designated endpoint was adverse events. LDL fell within the product group from 153.7 to 122.3 mg/dL at week 8 (placebo 155.5 to 149.0) and returned to 148.2 mg/dL after washout; the paper reports between-group differences for the LDL to HDL and total to HDL ratios. Triglycerides and HDL did not differ. Liver, kidney, thyroid and creatine phosphokinase values did not differ. The authors state the product contains monascin and ankaflavin, not monacolin K. One author is from SunWay's research division; no funding statement or registry number is given.
  2. Wang YR, Liu SF, Shen YC, Chen CL, Huang CN, Pan TM, Wang CK. A randomized, double-blind clinical study to determine the effect of ANKASCIN 568 plus on blood glucose regulation. J Food Drug Anal. 2017;25(2):409-416. doi: 10.1016/j.jfda.2016.06.011.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Ankascin 568 plus, two 500 mg capsules a day (6 mg monascin, 3 mg ankaflavin) for 12 weeks plus 4 weeks of follow-up, in 39 adults who completed (19 product, 20 placebo) of 67 enrolled; 28 withdrew. The designated endpoint was adverse events. Fasting glucose fell within the product group (8.5 percent at week 6) with no change on placebo; after-meal glucose was unchanged and HbA1c, insulin and HOMA-IR did not differ between groups. LDL fell 10.3 percent within the product group at week 6. Blood pressure, weight, liver and kidney markers did not differ. One author is from SunWay; the authors declared no conflicts; no registry number given.
  3. Chen CL, Tseng JH, Pan TM, Hsiao SH. A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Study on Blood Pressure Reduction and Blood Lipid Profile Amelioration on Treatment with Ankascin 568. Chin J Physiol. 2017;60(3):158-165. doi: 10.4077/CJP.2017.BAF452.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of two 500 mg capsules of Ankascin 568 for 8 weeks in adults with mild to moderate high blood pressure. The abstract reports systolic pressure falling from 141.6 to 133.9 mmHg and diastolic from 91.7 to 84.8 mmHg (p < 0.05) as before and after values, without placebo results or a between-group test, plus lower total and LDL cholesterol and no muscle, liver or kidney harm. Two of the four authors list SunWay Biotech's research division, one of them also National Taiwan University; the authors declared no conflicts. Read from the abstract only; the full text was not accessible.
  4. Lin CW, Chen HL, Yang YH, Chen YY, Hsu YW, Pan TM. Toxicological evaluation of the red mold rice extract, ANKASCIN 568-R: 13-week chronic toxicity, and genotoxicity studies. Toxicol Rep. 2022;9:356-365. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.02.008.PubMedUsed to support: Animal and lab study. Thirteen-week oral toxicity study in rats of Ankascin 568-R, a red mold rice extract containing 41.61 mg/g monascin and 21.65 mg/g ankaflavin, plus Ames, chromosome aberration and mouse micronucleus tests. No adverse effects were attributed to the extract and it was not genotoxic; because dosing solutions measured below target, the no observed adverse effect level was set at 796.2 mg/kg a day. The research grant and test material came from SunWay Biotech, and three of the six authors list SunWay Biotech.
  5. Hsu LC, Hsu YW, Hong CC, Pan TM. Safety and mutagenicity evaluation of red mold dioscorea fermented from Monascus purpureus NTU 568. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014;67:161-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2014.02.033.PubMedUsed to support: Animal and lab study. Red mold dioscorea powder fermented with Monascus purpureus NTU 568 was not mutagenic in the Ames test or chromosome aberration test, and 2,000 mg/kg in mice and in a 28 day rat study caused no toxic responses. This tested an earlier yam-based fermented product, not the trial capsules. One author is from SunWay Biotech.
  6. Lee CL, Hung HK, Wang JJ, Pan TM. Improving the ratio of monacolin K to citrinin production of Monascus purpureus NTU 568 under dioscorea medium through the mediation of pH value and ethanol addition. J Agric Food Chem. 2007;55(16):6493-502. doi: 10.1021/jf0711946.PubMedUsed to support: Lab study. When Monascus purpureus NTU 568 was grown in a yam (dioscorea) liquid medium, it produced both monacolin K and the mycotoxin citrinin, at higher levels than in a rice liquid medium where it also made both, and culture conditions changed the amounts (monacolin K up to 27.9 mg/g and citrinin 2.15 micrograms per gram under the optimized condition). It shows the strain itself can make both compounds, so their absence in a product depends on production and testing.
  7. Lee CL, Wen JY, Hsu YW, Pan TM. The blood lipid regulation of Monascus-produced monascin and ankaflavin via the suppression of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol assembly and stimulation of apolipoprotein A1 expression in the liver. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2018;51(1):27-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2016.06.003.PubMedUsed to support: Animal study. In rats fed a high fat, high cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, monascin and ankaflavin from Monascus purpureus NTU 568 lowered LDL cholesterol and preserved HDL, reduced liver proteins used to assemble LDL (including apolipoprotein B-100), raised LDL receptor expression and increased apolipoprotein A1. One author is from SunWay Biotech.
  8. Hsu WH, Lee BH, Liao TH, Hsu YW, Pan TM. Monascus-fermented metabolite monascin suppresses inflammation via PPAR-γ regulation and JNK inactivation in THP-1 monocytes. Food Chem Toxicol. 2012;50(5):1178-86. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2012.02.029.PubMedUsed to support: Cell study. In human THP-1 monocytes, monascin at 1, 5 and 25 micromolar reduced iNOS, COX-2, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, and at 5 and 25 micromolar reduced TNF-alpha and IL-6; a PPAR gamma blocker showed that its reduction of JNK activation worked through increased PPAR gamma. Lab work only. PubMed lists only the first author's National Taiwan University affiliation.
  9. SunWay Biotech Co., LTD. (sponsor) Effect of ANKASCIN 568-P Products Regulating Blood Lipid- A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Research ClinicalTrials.gov. 2023;NCT05737355. First posted 2023-02-21; last updated 2025-08-28..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (trial registry record). SunWay-sponsored randomized double-blind trial of two 440 mg Ankascin 568-P capsules a day against maltodextrin placebo, primary outcome total cholesterol versus placebo at 24 weeks, estimated 80 participants. Listed as recruiting with estimated completion in October 2025; no results posted.
  10. SunWay Biotech Co., LTD. (sponsor) Effect of ANKASCIN 568-P Products on Decreasing HbA1c and Regulating Blood Glucose- A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Research ClinicalTrials.gov. 2023;NCT05737342. First posted 2023-02-21; last updated 2025-08-28..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (trial registry record). SunWay-sponsored randomized double-blind trial of two 440 mg Ankascin 568-P capsules a day against maltodextrin placebo, primary outcome HbA1c versus placebo at 24 weeks, estimated 80 participants. Listed as recruiting with estimated completion in October 2025; no results posted.
  11. SunWay Biotech Co., LTD. (accessed 2026) Red yeast rice extract (ANKASCIN 568) supplier product listing Pharmaceutical Technology supplier directory. 2026;Supplier product page, accessed October 2026..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (maker's product listing). SunWay Biotech states the extract comes from its patented Monascus purpureus NTU 568 strain, is free of monacolin K and contains monascin and ankaflavin. The page gives no percentages, no citrinin data and no daily dose. These are the maker's own claims.