Lovastatin

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
Lovastatin, a type I statin.

Lovastatin, also known as lovastatina (Spanish), lovastatine (French), lovastatinum (Latin) and 6-alpha-methylcompactin, is a type I statin used to treat hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and prevent heart attacks and strokes by diminishing coronary atherosclerosis. It functions by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. It is a pro-drug, which only becomes active after metabolism to the active form, the $\beta$-hydroxyacid, a potent inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate. The conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate is an early step in the biosynthetic pathway of cholesterol. It was the first drug in the class HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors class, and it is a fungal metabolite isolated from cultures of Aspergillus terreus.

Its IUPAC name is [(1S,3R,7S,8S,8aR)-8-[2-[(2R,4R)-4-hydroxy-6-oxooxan-2-yl]ethyl]-3,7-dimethyl-1,2, 3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl] (2S)-2-methylbutanoate and its chemical formula is C₂₄H₃₆O₅.

Brand names

• Altocor
• Altoprev
• Artein
• Belvas
• Cholestra
• Closterol
• Colevix
• Hipolip
• Hipovastin
• Lestatin
• Lipdip
• Lipivas
• Lipofren
• Lovalip
• Lovalord
• Lovasterol
• Lovastin
• Lozutin
• Mevacor
• Mevinacor
• Mevlor
• Monacolin K
• Nergadan
• Paschol
• Rodatin
• Rovacor
• Sivlor
• Taucor
• Tecnolip
• Teroltrat

External links

The most up-to-date information about Lovastatin and other drugs can be found at the following sites.

• Lovastatin - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Lovastatin - Drug information for consumers from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Lovastatin - Detailed information from DrugBank.