mevinolinic acid

Mevinolinic acid is the active hydroxy-acid metabolite of lovastatin (originally named Mevinolin), a member of the statin class of drugs. It is produced by hydrolysis of the lactone ring in lovastatin and acts as a highly potent competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. By inhibiting this enzyme, mevinolinic acid reduces endogenous cholesterol production in the liver. The compound was originally isolated from Aspergillus terreus and has been shown to lower plasma cholesterol levels in animal models. Mevinolinic acid itself is not marketed as a drug but represents the pharmacologically active form generated from prodrug statins like lovastatin after administration[1][6][7][8].

Other names

lovastatin acidmonacolin K acidopen-acid form of mevinolin