Mevastatin
Mevastatin Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.
Mevastatin or compactin is a cholesterol-lowering agent isolated from Penicillium citinium. It was the first discovered agent belonging to the class of cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins. During a search for antibiotic compounds produced by fungi in 1971, Akira Endo at Sankyo Co. (Japan) discovered a class of compounds that appeared to lower plasma cholesterol levels. Two years later, the research group isolated a compound structurally similar to hydroxymethylglutarate (HMG) that inhibited the incorporation of acetate. The compound was proposed to bind to the reductase enzyme and was named compactin. Mevastatin is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase with a binding affinity 10,000 times greater than the HMG-CoA substrate itself. Mevastatin is a pro-drug that is activated by in vivo hydrolysis of the lactone ring. It has served as one of the lead compounds for the development of the synthetic compounds used today.
The primary cause of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerotic plaque formation. Mevastatin lowers hepatic production of cholesterol to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Mevastatin competitively inhibits HMG-CoA reductase. This inhibition prevents the rate limiting step in cholesterol synthesis. Decreased hepatic cholesterol levels causes increased uptake of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and reduces cholesterol levels in the circulation.
| Trade Name | Mevastatin |
| Generic | Mevastatin |
| Mevastatin Other Names | Compactin, Mevastatin, Mevastatina, Mévastatine, Mevastatinum |
| Type | |
| Formula | C23H34O5 |
| Weight | Average: 390.52 Monoisotopic: 390.240624195 |
| Groups | Experimental |
| Therapeutic Class | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Available Country | |
| Last Updated: | September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am |
Uses
Not used therapeutically due to its many side effects.
How Mevastatin works
Mevastatin is structurally similar to the HMG, a substituent of the endogenous substrate of HMG-CoA reductase. Mevastatin is a prodrug that is activated in vivo via hydrolysis of the lactone ring. The hydrolyzed lactone ring mimics the tetrahedral intermediate produced by the reductase allowing the agent to bind with 10,000 times greater affinity than its natural substrate. The bicyclic portion of mevastatin binds to the coenzyme A portion of the active site.
Toxicity
Side effects include those of other statins, such as myalgias, abdominal pain, nausea. It also has a higher chance of giving more severe side effects related to myotoxicity (myopathy, myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and hepatotoxicity, than other statins. Due to these major side effects and their enhanced rate of occurance, Mevastatin is not given therapeutically.
Food Interaction
- Avoid alcohol.
- Avoid grapefruit products.
Innovators Monograph
You find simplified version here Mevastatin
