Mevastatin

Mevastatin

Mevastatin (also known as compactin) is a statin medication, originally isolated from the fungus Penicillium citrinum. It was the first statin to be discovered and is a naturally occurring compound. Mevastatin is a lipid-lowering agent that inhibits the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a key role in the production of cholesterol in the body.

History

Mevastatin was discovered in the 1970s by Dr. Akira Endo, a Japanese biochemist working for the pharmaceutical company Sankyo. Dr. Endo was searching for a natural compound that could lower cholesterol levels. His research led him to the discovery of Mevastatin, the first statin drug. However, due to potential side effects, Mevastatin was never marketed as a drug.

Pharmacology

Mevastatin is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a critical step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. By inhibiting this enzyme, Mevastatin reduces the amount of cholesterol produced in the body, thereby lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Clinical Use

While Mevastatin itself is not used clinically due to potential side effects, it paved the way for the development of other statin drugs that are widely used today to treat hypercholesterolemia and prevent cardiovascular disease. These include lovastatin, simvastatin, and atorvastatin, among others.

Side Effects

Potential side effects of Mevastatin include myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and hepatotoxicity. These side effects were a major reason why Mevastatin was never marketed as a drug. However, subsequent statins have been developed with improved safety profiles.

See Also

• Statin
• HMG-CoA reductase
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Cardiovascular disease