Abstract:Objective: To investigate the consanguinity between 12 strains of Monascus(MS 0112)separated and purified from different samples of Hongqu collected from 12 areas in China and the variant strain of Monascus(MS 18)mutated from M.purpureus. Method: Gel electrophoresis of soluble protein,esterase and superoxide dismutase(SOD)was used to study the consanguinity between strains MS 0112 and the variant strain MS 18. Results: The electrochromatophoreses of soluble protein,esterase and SOD in the 12 strains (MS 0112) are identical,but in the variant strain MS 18 are remarkably different.The results are consistent with those of morphological studies. Conclusion: Strains MS 0112 are the identical species M.purpureus,but strain MS 18 is different from strains of MS 0112,or a variant of M.purpureus.