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Review
. 2023 Dec 29;25(1):466.
doi: 10.3390/ijms25010466.

Statins-From Fungi to Pharmacy

Anna Sadowska  1 , Patryk Osiński  2 , Alicja Roztocka  2 , Karolina Kaczmarz-Chojnacka  2 , Ewa Zapora  3 , Diana Sawicka  1 , Halina Car  1
Affiliations
Review

Statins-From Fungi to Pharmacy

Anna Sadowska et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Statins have been used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, both as monotherapy and in combination therapy. Natural fermentation processes of fungi such as Monascus spp., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus terreus, and Pleurotus ostreatus have given rise to natural statins. Compactin (mevastatin), the original naturally occurring statin, is the primary biotransformation substrate in the manufacturing process of marketed drugs. Statins are classified into natural, semi-synthetic derivatives of natural statins, and synthetic ones. Synthetic statins differ from natural statins in their structural composition, with the only common feature being the HMG-CoA-like moiety responsible for suppressing HMG-CoA reductase. Statins do not differ significantly regarding their pleiotropic and adverse effects, but their characteristics depend on their pharmacokinetic parameters and chemical properties. This paper focuses on describing the processes of obtaining natural statins, detailing the pharmacokinetics of available statins, divided into natural and synthetic, and indicating their pleiotropic effects.

Keywords: HMG-CoA reductase; cholesterol; fungi; statins.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Statin structures.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Differences in the chemical structures of fungal-derived statins.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Lovastatin pathway. lovA—cytochrome P450; lovB (LNKS)—lovastatin nonaketide synthase; lovC—enoyl reductase; lovD—transferase; lovF (LDKS)—diketide synthase.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pravastatin pathway [52].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Selected pleiotropic effects of statins.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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