A New Dihydroisocoumarin Derivative from the Extract of the Fungus Monascus-Fermented Rice

Examination of the EtOAc-soluble fraction from a 70% ethanolic extract of red yeast rice fermented with the yellow mutant of the fungus Monascus sp. (Eurotiaceae) yielded a new dihydroisocoumarin derivative, monascusmellein (1). The structure of compound 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, and extensive 1D and 2D NMR analysis.