SPL Set ID: 2eeb34ac-f973-e7d9-e063-6294a90a076e
1 drug(s) with this SPL Set ID
Lovastatin is a cholesterol lowering agent isolated from a strain of Aspergillus terreus. After oral ingestion, lovastatin, which is an inactive lactone, is hydrolyzed to the corresponding β-hydroxyacid form. This is a principal metabolite and an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, which is an early and rate limiting step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Lovastatin is [1 S -[1α( R * ),3α,7β,8β(2 S * ,4 S * ),8aβ]]-1,2,3,7, 8,8a-hexahydro-3,7-dimethyl-8-[2-(tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-6-oxo-2 H -pyran-2-yl)ethyl]-1-naphthalenyl 2-methylbutanoate. The empirical formula of lovastatin is C 24 H 36 O 5 and its molecular weight is 404.55. Its structural formula is: Lovastatin is a white, nonhygroscopic crystalline powder that is insoluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol, methanol, and acetonitrile. Lovastatin tablets USP are supplied as 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg tablets for oral administration. In addition to the active ingredient lovastatin, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: D&C Yellow No. 10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, lactose anhydrous, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and pregelatinized corn starch. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is added as a preservative. lovastatin