• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.283-288
• /
• 1998

Lovastatin, one of the potent cholesterol-lowering agents, is an inactive lactone prodrug which is metabolized to its active open acid, lovastatin acid (LVA). Bioequivalence study of two lovastatin preparations, the test drug ($Mevacor^{\circledR}$: Chungwae Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and the reference drug ($Lovaload^{\circledR}$: Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), was conducted according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Fourteen healthy male volunteers, $23.9{\pm}3.9$ years old and $67.6{\pm}8.0$ kg of body weight in average, were divided randomly into two groups and administered the drug orally at the dose of 160 mg as lovastatin in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study. Plasma concentrations of lovastatin acid were analysed by HPLC method for 12 hr after administration. The extent of bioavailability was obtained from the plasma concentration-time profiles of total lovastatin acid after alkaline hydrolysis of the plasma samples. By alkaline hydrolysis, trace amounts of unmetabolized lovastatin were converted to lovastatin acid. The $AUC_{0-12hr}$ was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule method. The $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were compiled directly from the plasma drug concentration-time data. Student's t-test indicated no significant differences between the formulations in these parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there were no differences in AUC, $C_{max}$, and $T_{max}$ between the formulations. The apparent differences between the formulations were far less than 20% (e.g., 7.07, 5.77 and 1.18% for AUC, $C_{max}$, and $T_{max}$, respectively). Minimum detectable differences(%) between the formulations at ${\alpha}=0.05$ and $1-{\beta}=0.8$ were less than 20% (e.g., 17.2, 15.1, and 15.9% for AUC, Cmax, and Tmax, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals for these parameters were also within ${\pm}20%$ (e.g.. $-5.20{\sim}19.3$, $-5.00{\sim}16.5$, and $-10.2{\sim}12.5%$ for AUC, $C_{max}$, and $T_{max}$, respectively). These results satisfied the bioequivalence criteria of KFDA guidelines, indicating that the two formulations of lovastatin were bioequivalent.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제58권3호
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2014

To enhance the in vitro permeation of lovastatin through excised hairless mouse and human cadaver skins, solubility was determined in various hydrophilic and lipophilic vehicles, and the effects of vehicles and penetration enhancers on the skin permeation from solution formulations were investigated. Solubility of lovastatin was highest in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) ($278.2{\pm}10.1$ mg/ml) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) ($162.2{\pm}9.7$ mg/ml). Among different pure vehicles used, NMP, DMSO, propylene glycol and isopropyl myristate provided some drug permeation ($6.9{\pm}1.1$, $5.9{\pm}1.6$, $3.0{\pm}0.5$ and $2.2{\pm}0.3{\mu}g/cm^2$ at 24 hr, respectively) through hairless mouse skin. The addition of oleic acid, linoleic acid and oleyl alcohol to DMSO showed the maximum permeation at around 5 v/v%, however, capric acid and caprylic acid had no enhancing effect. The increase of enhancer concentrations showed bell-shaped permeation rate, suggesting the presence of optimal concentration in lovastatin penetration. Increasing donor concentration from 10 mg/ml to 80 mg/ml in DMSO and a cosolvent of DMSO, NMP and DGME (3 : 3 : 4 v/v) did not show significant dose dependent permeation in both hairless mouse and human cadaver skins. The maximum lovastatin flux through human cadaver skin was found to be $0.87{\pm}0.46{\mu}g/cm^2$/hr with 5 v/v% linoleic acid and donor dose of 4 mg/0.64 $cm^2$ in the cosolvent. These results suggest that transdermal delivery of lovastatin would be feasible by establishing the optimal concentrations of donor dose and unsaturated fatty acids in appropriate vehicles.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
• /
• 제33권3호
• /
• pp.566-570
• /
• 2004

공시균인 A .terreus mutant로부터 lovastatin의 생산성을 극대화할 수 있는 조건을 확립하고자 액체 배양법 및 고체 배양법 을 이용하여 HPLC를 통해 분석하였다. Lovastaton의 생산을 위해 액체 배양에서는 균사체 접종법인 No. 2배지를 사용한 전배양 및 본배양법이 포자접종법인 No. 1배지를 사용한 경우보다 lovastatin의 생산이 더 우수하였다. 고체 배양법에서는 분쇄 밀의 호화전분을 사용하여 28$^{\circ}C$, 15일간 배양시 lovastatin의 생산이 가장 우수하였으며 대량배양을 위해 배양용기를 달리하여 배양하였으며 cap을 부착하는 내열성 plastic bag을 이용하여 배양한 결과 두 방향으로 cap을 부착하여 통기량을 조절한 배양에서 lovastatin의 생산이 가장 우수하게 나타났다.

• 한국임상약학회지
• /
• 제8권2호
• /
• pp.107-112
• /
• 1998

Lovastatin is a lipid lowering agent for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and belongs to a new class of pharmacologic compounds called the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors. By competitively inhibiting HMG CoA reductase, lovastatin disrupts the biosynthesis of cholesterol in hepatic and peripheral cells and increases the synthesis of high-density-lipoprotein HDL) receptors. Following oral administration, the lactone ring of lovastatin is hydrolysed to the active inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase, lovastatin acid. Lovastatin is known to have poor oral absorption and wide individual variation. In this study, bioequivalence test of two lovastatin formulations, the test drug ($Lovaload^{TM}$, Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Co.) and the reference drug ($Mevacor^{TM}$, Chung Wae Pharmaceutical Co.) were conducted according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). A total of 18 healthy male volunteers, $31.90\pm3.60$ years old and $72.17\;7.88$ kg of body weight in average, were evaluated in a randomized crossover manner with a 2-week washout period. Concentrations of lovastatin acid in plasma were measured upto 12 hours following a single oral administration of eight tablets (20 mg of lovastatin per tablet) by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection at 238 nm. The area under the concentration-vs-time curve from 0 to 12 hours $(AUC_{0-12h})$ was calculated by the trapezoidal summation method. The statistical analysis showed that there are no significant differences in $AUC_{0-12h),\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between the two formulations ($6.72\%,\;1.52\%,\;and\;0.88\$, respectively). The least significant differences between the formulations at $\alpha$=0.05 were less than $20\%\;(11.65\%,\;19.73\%,\;and\;14.81\%\;for\;AUC_{0-12h},\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively). The $90\%$ confidence intervals for these parameters were also within $\pm20\%\;(-1.50{\leq}{\delta}{\leq}15.00$, $-12.50{\leq}{\delta}{\leq}15.50,\;and\;-9.64{\leq}{\delta]{\leq}11.40{\leq}\;for\;\;AUC_{0-12h}$ ,$C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively). In conclusion, the new generic product $Lovaload^{TM}$ was proven to be bioequivalent with the reference drug.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제24권2호
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 2009

본 연구는 Asp. terreus ATCC 20542 변이주로부터 lovastatin 생합성 유전자 중 polyketide 생합성 유전자 등을 이용한 PCR법으로 Aspergillus sp. 이외의 statin계열 물질 생산균주의 탐색법 구축 및 lovastatin 대량생산을 하고자 하였다. Lovastatin 생합성 유전자 중 가장 중요한 유전자인 polyketide synthase gene와 diketide synthase gene로부터 각각의 primer를 제작하여 PCR을 이용한 lovastatin 생산 균주를 탐색하였다. 선발된 7개의 균주의 형태학상의 특성 및 lovastatin 생산성을 검토한 결과 Aspergillus sp. 이외의 Penicillium sp.으로 추정되는 균주를 재선발하여 SJ-2로 명명하였다. 선발된 SJ-2는 액체배양 및 고체배양을 한 후 추출하여 TLC와 HPLC를 통하여 각각의 lovastatin 생산량을 비교, 검토하였다. 또한, SJ-2에 대두를 이용하여 lovastatin 고생산성을 확인한 결과, 대두-전배양체를 $30^{\circ}C$, 1시간동안 열처리하여 접종하여 본배양 15일째에 가장 높은 lovastatin을 생산할 수 있었다. In vitro assay 결과에서는 HMG-CoA reductase에 대한 저해활성도가 75%로 나타났다. 본 연구는 기존의 lovastatin 탐색법으로 널리 알려져 있는 bioassay법이 아닌 lovastatin 생합성 유전자를 이용하여 PCR을 통한 lovastatin 생산균주의 탐색이 신속하고 효과적인 방법으로 사료되었다.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국생물공학회 2002년도 생물공학의 동향 (X)
• /
• pp.184-187
• /
• 2002

Lovastatin is a cholesterol-lowering agent, which plays a role of an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA). When thiamine was supplemented in 3L batch fermentation, the production of lovastatin was improved. At the same time, the levels of pyruvic acid and NAD(P)H were estimated in the course of the fermentation of A. terreus. For the high level production of lovastatin, semi fed-batch fermentation was performed. And the thiamine level was maintained to a concentration of 20 mg/L and glucose was supplied. The final dry cell weight was lowered by 30 % and final lovastatin concentration was increased by 33 %. Final lovastatin concentration of 3.3 g/L was achieved in 8 days.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제15권3호
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2007

Although lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase, has been shown to have anti-cancer actions, the effect on human hepatoma cells was not investigated. Moreover, the exact mechanism of this action is not fully understood. In this study we investigated the mechanism by which lovastatin induces apoptosis using HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells. Lovastatin induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner in the cells, assessed by the flow cytometric analysis. Treatment with mevalonic acid, a precursor of cholesterol, did not significantly suppress the lovastatin-induced apoptosis. Lovastatin induced a rapid and sustained increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Treatment with EGTA, an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator did not significantly alter the lovastatin-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase and apoptosis, whereas intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ reduction with BAPTA/AM and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blockers (dantrolene and TMB-8) completely blocked these actions of lovastatin. In addition, the lovastatin-induced apoptosis was significantly reduced by a calpain inhibitor, a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk and inhibitors specific for caspase-9 and caspase-3 (z-LEHD-fmk and z-DEVD-fmk, respectively), but not by an inhibitor specific for caspase-8 (z-IETD-fmk). Collectively, these results suggest that lovastatin induced apoptosis of HepG2 hepatoma cells through intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release and calpain activation, leading to triggering mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. These results further suggest that lovastatin may be valuable for the therapeutic management of human hepatoma.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.78-84
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to optimize the solid state cultivation of Monascus ruber on sterile rice. A single-level-multiple-factor and a single-factor-multiple-level experimental design were employed to determine the optimal medium constituents and to optimize carbon and nitrogen source concentrations for lovastatin production. Simultaneous quantitative analyses of the ${\beta}$-hydroxyacid form and ${\beta}$-hydroxylactone for of lovastatin were performed by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with a UV photodiode-array (PDA) detector. The total lovastatin yield ($4{\sim}6\;mg/g$, average of five repeats) was achieved by adding soybean powder, glycerol, sodium nitrate, and acetic acid at optimized levels after 14 days of fermentation. The maximal yield of lovastatin under the optimal composition of the medium increased by almost 2 times the yield observed prior to optimization. The experimental results also indicated that the ${\beta}$-hydroxylactone form of lovastatin (LFL) and the ${\beta}$-hydroxyacid form of lovastatin (AFL) simultaneously existed in solid state cultures of Monascus ruber. while the latter was the dominant form in the middle-late stage of continued fermentation. These results indicate that optimized culture conditions can be used for industrial production of lovastatin to obtain high yields.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제45권2호
• /
• pp.220-226
• /
• 2001

A bioequivalence study of Lovastati $n^{TM}$ tablets (Dong Sung Pharmaceutical Co., Korea) to Mevaco $r^{TM}$ tablets (Choong Wae Pharmaceutical Co., Korea) was conducted according to the guidelines (No. 98-56) of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Each tablet contained 20 mg of lovastatin. Eighteen healthy Korean male subjects received each formulation at a lovastatin dose of 80 mg (i.e., four tablets) in a 2 $\times$ 2 crossover study. There was a washout period of a week between the dose of the two formulations. Plasma concentrations of lovastatin acid were monitored by a GC/MS method for over a period of 12hr after each administration. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 12hr (AUC) was calculated by a linear trapezoidal method. The maximum plasma drug concentration ( $C_{max}$) and the time to reach $C_{max}$ ( $T_{max}$) were compiled from the plasma drug concentration-time data. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of these parameters revealed that there are no differences in AUC and $C_{max}$ between the formulations. The apparent differences between the formulations in these parameters were 4.87 and 8.03% for AUC and $C_{max}$, respectively. Minimum detectable differences (%) at $\alpha$=0.1 and 1-$\beta$=0.8 were 17.84 and 15.36% for AUC and $C_{max}$ respectively. The 90% confidence intervals were -15.30~5.56 and -17.02-0.95% for AUC and $C_{max}$, respective1y. Thus, the criteria of the KFDA guidelines for the bioequivalence was satisfied, indicating Mevaco $r^{TM}$ tablets and Dong Sung Lovastati $n^{TM}$ tablets are bioequivalent.ivalent.ent.alent.ent.

• 한국환경과학회지
• /
• 제22권12호
• /
• pp.1615-1624
• /
• 2013

The aims of this study were to investigate and confirm the occurrence and distribution patterns of blood lipid lower agents (BLLAs) in Nakdong river basin (mainstream and its tributaries). 4 (atorvastatin, lovastatin, mevastatin and simvastatin) out of 5 statins and 2 (clofibric acid and zemfibrozil) out of 3 fibrates were detected in 29 sampling sites and simvastatin (>50%) was predominant compound followed by atorvastatin, lovastatin and clofibric acid. The total concentration levels of BLLAs on April, August and November 2009 in surface water samples ranged from ND~25.7 ng/L, ND~18.8 and ND to 38.8 ng/L, respectively. The highest concentration level of BLLAs in the mainstream and tributaries in Nakdong river were Goryeong and Jincheon-cheon, respectively. The sewage treatment plants (STPs) along the river affect the BLLAs levels in river and the BLLAs levels decreased with downstream because of dilution effects.