This study aimed to determine the suitable culture conditions for the production of pigments and monacolin K from mold Monascus purpureus NBRC 4485. The growth and production of pigments and monacolin K of M. purpureusNBRC 4485 were tested in various substrates including red rice, purple rice, wholegrain white rice, white rice, Japanese rice, corn, and soybean. The appropriate conditions of solid-state fermentation for pigments and monacolin K production from M. purpureusNBRC 4485 were investigated through determination of the following solid-state fermentaion factors: initial moisture content of cultural medium (30, 40, 50, 60, 70% w/v), the density of inoculum mold (104, 105, 106spores/g), and incubation time (8 to 24 days). The results show that the wholegrain white rice was considered as the most appropriate substrate among tested substrates. The highest contents of yellow pigment, red pigment, and monacolin K were obtained at 3,057.8 AU/g, 1,781.0 AU/g, and 1,329.3µg/g, respectively. The most suitable conditions to produce pigments and monacolin K from M. purpureusNBRC 4485 on wholegrain white rice were the moisture content of 40% w/w, mold density of 106spores/g, and incubation time of 22 days. The contents of yellow pigment, red pigment, and monacolin K were 6.750,2 AU/g, 4.960,9 AU/g, and 2.089,3 µg/g, respectively.
