Lovastatin

Lovastatin
Clinical data
Trade names Mevacor
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a688006
Pregnancy
category
  • US: X (Contraindicated)
Routes of
administration		 Oral
ATC code C10AA02 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability <5%[1]
Protein binding >98%[1]
Metabolism Hepatic (CYP3A and CYP2C8 substrate)[1]
Biological half-life 2–5 hours[1]
Excretion Faeces (83%), urine (10%)[1]
Identifiers
Synonyms Monacolin K, Mevinolin
CAS Number 75330-75-5 YesY
PubChem (CID) 53232
IUPHAR/BPS 2739
DrugBank DB00227 YesY
ChemSpider 48085 YesY
UNII 9LHU78OQFD YesY
KEGG D00359 YesY
ChEBI CHEBI:40303 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL503 YesY
ECHA InfoCard 100.115.931
Chemical and physical data
Formula C24H36O5
Molar mass 404.54 g/mol
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
  (verify)

Lovastatin (Merck's Mevacor) is a statin drug, used for lowering cholesterol (hypolipidemic agent) in those with hypercholesterolemia to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Lovastatin is a naturally occurring compound found in food such as oyster mushrooms,[2] red yeast rice,[3] and Pu-erh.[4]

Medical uses

The primary uses of lovastatin is for the treatment of dyslipidemia and the prevention of cardiovascular disease.[5] It is recommended to be used only after other measures, such as diet, exercise, and weight reduction, have not improved cholesterol levels.[5]

Side effects

Lovastatin is usually well tolerated, with the most common side effects being, in approximately descending order of frequency: creatine phosphokinase elevation, flatulence, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, muscle aches or pains, nausea, indigestion, weakness, blurred vision, rash, dizziness and muscle cramps.[6] As with all statin drugs, it can rarely cause myopathy, hepatotoxicity (liver damage), dermatomyositis or rhabdomyolysis.[6] This can be life-threatening if not recognised and treated in time, so any unexplained muscle pain or weakness whilst on lovastatin should be promptly mentioned to the prescribing doctor. Other uncommon side effects that should be promptly mentioned to either the prescribing doctor or an emergency medical service include:[7]

  • muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
  • lack of energy
  • weakness
  • fever
  • dark colored urine
  • jaundice: yellowing of the skin or eyes
  • pain in the upper right part of the stomach
  • nausea
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • loss of appetite
  • flu-like symptoms
  • rash
  • hives
  • itching
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  • hoarseness

These less serious side effects should still be reported if they persist or increase in severity:[7]

  • constipation
  • memory loss or forgetfulness
  • confusion

Contraindications

Contraindications, conditions that warrant withholding treatment with lovastatin, include pregnancy, breast feeding, and liver disease. Lovastatin is contraindicated during pregnancy (Pregnancy Category X); it may cause birth defects such as skeletal deformities or learning disabilities. Due to its potential to disrupt infant lipid metabolism, lovastatin should not be taken while breastfeeding.[8] Patients with liver disease should not take lovastatin.[9]

Interactions

As with atorvastatin, simvastatin, and other statin drugs metabolized via CYP3A4, drinking grapefruit juice during lovastatin therapy may increase the risk of side effects. Components of grapefruit juice, the flavonoid naringin, or the furanocoumarin bergamottin inhibit CYP3A4 in vitro,[10] and may account for the in vivo effect of grapefruit juice concentrate decreasing the metabolic clearance of lovastatin, and increasing its plasma concentrations.[11]

Mechanism of action

Lovastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate.[12] Mevalonate is a required building block for cholesterol biosynthesis and lovastatin interferes with its production by acting as a reversible competitive inhibitor for HMG-CoA, which binds to the HMG-CoA reductase. Lovastatin is a prodrug, an inactive lactone in its native form, the gamma-lactone closed ring form in which it is administered, is hydrolysed in vivo to the β-hydroxy acid open ring form; which is the active form.

Lovastatin and other statins have recently been studied for their chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects in certain cancers. However, based on clinical evidence, such effects could not be demonstrated.[13] In principle, independent of their hydroxymethyl glutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibition, lovastatin and other statins reduce proteasome activity, leading to an accumulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27, and G1 phase arrest in breast cancer cell lines. For that purpose, lovastatin is also used experimentally.[14]

History

Pleurotus ostreatus, the oyster mushroom, naturally contains up to 2.8% lovastatin on a dry weight basis.[15]

Compactin and lovastatin, natural products with a powerful inhibitory effect on HMG-CoA reductase, were discovered in the 1970s, and taken into clinical development as potential drugs for lowering LDL cholesterol.[16][17]

In 1982, some small-scale clinical investigations of lovastatin, a polyketide-derived natural product isolated from Aspergillus terreus, in very high-risk patients were undertaken, in which dramatic reductions in LDL cholesterol were observed, with very few adverse effects. After the additional animal safety studies with lovastatin revealed no toxicity of the type thought to be associated with compactin, clinical studies continued.

Large-scale trials confirmed the effectiveness of lovastatin. Observed tolerability continued to be excellent, and lovastatin was approved by the US FDA in 1987.[18] It was the first statin approved by the FDA.[19]

Lovastatin is also naturally produced by certain higher fungi, such as Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) and closely related Pleurotus spp.[20] Research into the effect of oyster mushroom and its extracts on the cholesterol levels of laboratory animals has been extensive,[21][22][20][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] although the effect has been demonstrated in a very limited number of human subjects.[32]

In 1998, the FDA placed a ban on the sale of dietary supplements derived from red yeast rice, which naturally contains lovastatin, arguing that products containing prescription agents require drug approval.[33] Judge Dale A. Kimball of the United States District Court for the District of Utah, granted a motion by Cholestin's manufacturer, Pharmanex, that the agency's ban was illegal under the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act because the product was marketed as a dietary supplement, not a drug.[34]

Discovery, biochemistry and biology

A ball-and-stick model of lovastatin

An elevated concentration of plasma cholesterol, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, is now generally accepted as a major risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease.[35] The objective is to decrease excess levels of cholesterol to an amount consistent with maintenance of normal body function. Cholesterol is biosynthesized in a series of more than 25 separate enzymatic reactions that initially involves three successive condensations of acetyl-CoA units to form the six-carbon compound 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA). This is reduced to mevalonate and then converted in a series of reactions to the isoprenes that are building-blocks of squalene, the immediate precursor to sterols, which cyclizes to lanosterol (a methylated sterol) and further metabolized to cholesterol. A number of early attempts to block the synthesis of cholesterol resulted in agents that inhibited late in the biosynthetic pathway between lanosterol and cholesterol. A major rate-limiting step in the pathway is at the level of the microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of HMG CoA to mevalonic acid, and that has been considered to be a prime target for pharmacologic intervention for several years.[12]

HMG CoA reductase occurs early in the biosynthetic pathway and is among the first committed steps to cholesterol formulation. Inhibition of this enzyme could lead to accumulation of HMG CoA, a water-soluble intermediate that is, then, capable of being readily metabolized to simpler molecules. This inhibition of reductase would lead to accumulation of lipophylic intermediates with a formal sterol ring.

Lovastatin was the first specific inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase to receive approval for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The first breakthrough in efforts to find a potent, specific, competitive inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase occurred in 1976, when Endo et al. reported the discovery of mevastatin, a highly functionalized fungal metabolite, isolated from cultures of Penicillium citrium.[36] Mevastatin was demonstrated to be an unusually potent inhibitor of the target enzyme and of cholesterol biosynthesis. Subsequent to the first reports describing mevastatin, efforts were initiated to search for other naturally occurring inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase. This led to the discovery of a novel fungal metabolite – lovastatin. The structure of lovastatin was determined to be different from that of mevastatin by the presence of a six alphamethyl group in the hexahydronaphthalene ring.

Key points from the study of the biosynthesis of lovastatin:

This implies that lovastatin is a unique compound synthesized by A. terreus and that mevastatin is not an intermediate in its formation.

Cholesterol biosynthetic pathway
HMG CoA reductase reaction

Biosynthesis using Diels-Alder catalyzed cyclization

In vitro formation of a triketide lactone using a genetically modified protein derived from 6-deoxyerythronolide B synthase has been demonstrated. Witter and Vederas observed, "the stereochemistry of the molecule supports the intriguing idea that an enzyme-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction may occur during assembly of the polyketide chain. It, thus, appears that biological Diels-Alder reactions may be triggered by generation of reactive triene systems on an enzyme surface."[37]

Biosynthesis using Diels-Alder catalyzed cyclization
Biosynthesis using broadly specific acyltransferase

Total synthesis

A major bulk of work in the synthesis of lovastatin was done by M. Hirama in the 1980s.[38] [39] Hirama synthesized compactin and used one of the intermediates to follow a different path to get to lovastatin. The synthetic sequence is shown in the schemes below. The γ-lactone was synthesized using Yamada methodology starting with glutamic acid. Lactone opening was done using lithium methoxide in methanol and then silylation to give a separable mixture of the starting lactone and the silyl ether. The silyl ether on hydrogenolysis followed by Collins oxidation gave the aldehyde. Stereoselective preparation of (E,E)-diene was accomplished by addition of trans-crotyl phenyl sulfone anion, followed by quenching with Ac2O and subsequent reductive elimination of sulfone acetate. Condensation of this with lithium anion of dimethyl methylphosphonate gave compound 1. Compound 2 was synthesized as shown in the scheme in the synthetic procedure. Compounds 1 and 2 were then combined together using 1.3 eq sodium hydride in THF followed by reflux in chlorobenzene for 82 hr under nitrogen to get the enone 3.

Simple organic reactions were used to get to lovastatin as shown in the scheme.

Synthesis of compounds 1 and 2
Complete lovastatin synthesis

Stability

Due to its oxidative instability it is possible to add antioxidants to improve stability.[40]

Pharmacopoeia information

Lovastatin tablets are preserved when stored in well-closed, light-resistant containers in a cool place or at controlled room temperature.

Lovastatin tablets are tested for dissolution and assay as per the USP.

Limit for dissolution – Not less than 80% (Q) of the labeled amount of lovastatin is dissolved in 30 minutes.

Limit for assay – Each tablet contains not less than 90% and not more than 110% of the labeled amount of lovastatin, tested by HPLC analysis.

Brand names

Other applications

In plant physiology, lovastatin has occasionally been used as inhibitor of cytokinin biosynthesis.[41]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Neuvonen, PJ; Backman, JT; Niemi, M (2008). "Pharmacokinetic comparison of the potential over-the-counter statins simvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin and pravastatin.". Clinical Pharmacokinetics. 47 (7): 463–74. doi:10.2165/00003088-200847070-00003. PMID 18563955.
  2. ↑ . Gunde-Cimerman N; Cimerman A. (Mar 1995). "Pleurotus fruiting bodies contain the inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase-lovastatin.". Exp Mycol. 19 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1006/emyc.1995.1001. PMID 7614366.
  3. ↑ Liu J, Zhang J, Shi Y, Grimsgaard S, Alraek T, Fønnebø V (2006). "Chinese red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) for primary hyperlipidemia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". Chin Med. 1 (1): 4. doi:10.1186/1749-8546-1-4. PMC 1761143Freely accessible. PMID 17302963.
  4. ↑ Zhao ZJ, Pan YZ, Liu QJ, Li XH (2013). "Exposure assessment of lovastatin in Pu-erh tea". International Journal of Food Microbiology. 164 (1): 26–31. doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2013.03.018. PMID 23587710.
  5. 1 2 "Lovastatin". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Mevacor, Altoprev (lovastatin) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more". Medscape Reference. WebMD. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Lovastatin". MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Lovastatin". LactMed. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  9. ↑ Stöppler, Melissa. "Mevacor Side Effects Center". RxList. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  10. ↑ David G. Bailey, J. Malcolm, O. Arnold, J. David Spence (1998). "Grapefruit juice-drug interactions". Br J Clin Pharmacol 46 (2): 101–110. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2125.1998.00764.x. PMC 1873672. PMID 9723817.
  11. ↑ Kantola T, Kivistö KT, Neuvonen PJ (Apr 1998). "Grapefruit juice greatly increases serum concentrations of lovastatin and lovastatin acid". Clin Pharmacol Ther. 63 (4): 397–402. doi:10.1016/S0009-9236(98)90034-0. PMID 9585793.
  12. 1 2 Alberts AW (1998). "Discovery, biochemistry and biology of lovastatin". The American Journal of Cardiology. 62 (15): 10J–15J. doi:10.1016/0002-9149(88)90002-1. PMID 3055919.
  13. ↑ Katz MS (2005). "Therapy insight: Potential of statins for cancer chemoprevention and therapy". Nature Clinical Practice Oncology. 2 (2): 82–9. doi:10.1038/ncponc0097. PMID 16264880.
  14. ↑ Rao S, Porter DC, Chen X, Herliczek T, Lowe M, Keyomarsi K (July 1999). "Lovastatin-mediated G1 arrest is through inhibition of the proteasome, independent of hydroxymethyl glutaryl-CoA reductase". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96 (14): 7797–802. doi:10.1073/pnas.96.14.7797. PMC 22141Freely accessible. PMID 10393901.
  15. ↑ Alarcón J, Aguila S, Arancibia-Avila P, Fuentes O, Zamorano-Ponce E, Hernández M (Jan–Feb 2003). "Production and purification of statins from Pleurotus ostreatus (Basidiomycetes) strains". Z Naturforsch C. 58 (1–2): 62–4. doi:10.1515/znc-2003-1-211. PMID 12622228.
  16. ↑ Vederas JC, Moore RN, Bigam G, Chan KJ (1985). "Biosynthesis of the hypocholesterolemic agent mevinolin by Aspergillus terreus. Determination of the origin of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen by 13C NMR and mass spectrometry". J Am Chem Soc. 107 (12): 3694–701. doi:10.1021/ja00298a046.
  17. ↑ Alberts AW, Chen J, Kuron G, Hunt V, Huff J, Hoffman C, Rothrock J, Lopez M, Joshua H, Harris E, Patchett A, Monaghan R, Currie S, Stapley E, Albers-Schonberg G, Hensens O, Hirshfield J, Hoogsteen K, Liesch J, Springer J (July 1980). "Mevinolin: a highly potent competitive inhibitor of hydroxymethlglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and a cholesterol-lowering agent". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 77 (7): 3957–61. doi:10.1073/pnas.77.7.3957. PMC 349746Freely accessible. PMID 6933445.
  18. ↑ FDA Orange Book Detail for application N019643 showing approval for 20 mg tablets on Aug 31, 1987 and 40 mg tablets on Dec 14, 1988
  19. ↑ Endo, Akira (Oct 2004). "The origin of the statins". Atheroscler. Suppl. 5 (3): 125–30. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosissup.2004.08.033. PMID 15531285.
  20. 1 2 Bobek P, Ozdín L, Galbavý S (1998). "Dose- and time-dependent hypocholesterolemic effect of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in rats". Nutrition. 14 (3): 282–6. doi:10.1016/S0899-9007(97)00471-1. PMID 9583372.
  21. ↑ Hossain S, Hashimoto M, Choudhury EK, et al. (July 2003). "Dietary mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) ameliorates atherogenic lipid in hypercholesterolaemic rats". Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 30 (7): 470–5. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1681.2003.03857.x. PMID 12823261.
  22. ↑ Bobek P, Galbavý S (October 1999). "Hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effect of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in rabbits". Nahrung. 43 (5): 339–42. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1521-3803(19991001)43:5<339::AID-FOOD339>3.0.CO;2-5. PMID 10555301.
  23. ↑ Opletal L, Jahodár L, Chobot V, et al. (December 1997). "Evidence for the anti-hyperlipidaemic activity of the edible fungus Pleurotus ostreatus". Br. J. Biomed. Sci. 54 (4): 240–3. PMID 9624732.
  24. ↑ Bajaj M, Vadhera S, Brar AP, Soni GL (October 1997). "Role of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida) as hypocholesterolemic/antiatherogenic agent". Indian J. Exp. Biol. 35 (10): 1070–5. PMID 9475042.
  25. ↑ Bobek P, Ozdín L, Kuniak L, Hromadová M (March 1997). "[Regulation of cholesterol metabolism with dietary addition of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) in rats with hypercholesterolemia]". Cas. Lek. Cesk. (in Slovak). 136 (6): 186–90. PMID 9221192.
  26. ↑ Bobek P, Ozdín L, Kuniak L (August 1996). "Effect of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus) and its ethanolic extract in diet on absorption and turnover of cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic rat". Nahrung. 40 (4): 222–4. doi:10.1002/food.19960400413. PMID 8810086.
  27. ↑ Bobek P, Ozdín O, Mikus M (1995). "Dietary oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) accelerates plasma cholesterol turnover in hypercholesterolaemic rat". Physiol Res. 44 (5): 287–91. PMID 8869262.
  28. ↑ Bobek P, Ozdin L, Kuniak L (1995). "The effect of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), its ethanolic extract and extraction residues on cholesterol levels in serum, lipoproteins and liver of rat". Nahrung. 39 (1): 98–9. doi:10.1002/food.19950390113. PMID 7898579.
  29. ↑ Bobek P, Ozdin L, Kuniak L (March 1994). "Mechanism of hypocholesterolemic effect of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in rats: reduction of cholesterol absorption and increase of plasma cholesterol removal". Z Ernahrungswiss. 33 (1): 44–50. doi:10.1007/BF01610577. PMID 8197787.
  30. ↑ Chorváthová V, Bobek P, Ginter E, Klvanová J (1993). "Effect of the oyster fungus on glycaemia and cholesterolaemia in rats with insulin-dependent diabetes". Physiol Res. 42 (3): 175–9. PMID 8218150.
  31. ↑ Bobek P, Ginter E, Jurcovicová M, Kuniak L (1991). "Cholesterol-lowering effect of the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus in hereditary hypercholesterolemic rats". Ann. Nutr. Metab. 35 (4): 191–5. doi:10.1159/000177644. PMID 1897899.
  32. ↑ Khatun K, Mahtab H, Khanam PA, Sayeed MA, Khan KA (January 2007). "Oyster mushroom reduced blood glucose and cholesterol in diabetic subjects". Mymensingh Med J. 16 (1): 94–9. doi:10.3329/mmj.v16i1.261. PMID 17344789.
  33. ↑ "FDA bans red yeast rice product" by Michael McCarthy, The Lancet, Volume 351, Issue 9116, Page 1637, 30 May 1998
  34. ↑ Cholesterol Treatment Upheld, The New York Times, February 18, 1999
  35. ↑ Coronary heart disease: MedLine Plus Medical Encyclopedia
  36. ↑ Endo, Akira; Kuroda M.; Tsujita Y. (December 1976). "ML-236A, ML-236B, and ML-236C, new inhibitors of cholesterogenesis produced by Penicillium citrinium". Journal of Antibiotics (Tokyo). 29 (12): 1346–8. doi:10.7164/antibiotics.29.1346. PMID 1010803.
  37. ↑ Witter, DJ; Vederas, JC (1996). "Putative Diels-Alder catalyzed cyclization during the biosynthesis of lovastatin". J Org Chem. 61 (8): 2613–23. doi:10.1021/jo952117p. PMID 11667090.
  38. ↑ Hirama M, Vet M (1982). "A chiral total synthesis of compactin". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 104 (15): 4251. doi:10.1021/ja00379a037.
  39. ↑ Hirama M, Iwashita; Iwashita, Mitsuko (1983). "Synthesis of (+)-Mevinolin starting from Naturally occurring building blocks and using an asymmetry inducing reaction". Tetrahedron Lett. 24 (17): 1811–1812. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)81777-3.
  40. ↑ Javernik S, Kreft S, Strukelj B, Vrecer F (2001). "Oxidation of lovastatin in the solid state and its stabilization with natural antioxidants". Die Pharmazie. 56 (9): 738–40. PMID 11593996.
  41. ↑ Hartig K, Beck E (2005). "Assessment of lovastatin application as tool in probing cytokinin-mediated cell cycle regulation". Physiologia Plantarum. 125 (2): 260–267. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.2005.00556.x.

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