Dihydromevinolin, a potent hypocholesterolemic metabolite produced by Aspergillus terreus.

G Albers-Schönberg, H Joshua, M B Lopez, O D Hensens, J P Springer, J Chen, S Ostrove, C H Hoffman, A W Alberts, A A Patchett

Index: J. Antibiot. 34(5) , 507-12, (1981)

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Abstract

A new, potent hypocholesterolemic agent is produced by cultures of Aspergillus terreus. The isolation of the compound and its characterization as 4a,5-dihydromevinolin containing a trans-fused octahydro-naphthalene system are described. Comparative data for dihydromevinolin and mevinolin in three biological assays are given: in vitro inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, inhibition of sterol synthesis in cell cultures, and inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in vivo in rats.