Types of statins
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Summary
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These studies suggest that statins are a class of drugs with multiple potential uses including lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of coronary events, triggering apoptosis in certain cancer cells, and possibly treating ocular diseases, though they may have rare serious adverse reactions.
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Types of Statins: An Overview
Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are a class of drugs widely used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. They are categorized into natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic types, each with unique properties and applications.
Natural Statins: Lovastatin and Compactin
Lovastatin
Lovastatin is a natural statin primarily produced by the fungus Aspergillus terreus. It is one of the earliest statins discovered and is used to lower LDL cholesterol levels effectively. Lovastatin is produced industrially through liquid submerged fermentation, although solid-state fermentation is emerging as a viable alternative with certain advantages.
Compactin
Compactin, also known as mevastatin, is another natural statin produced by the fungus Penicillium citrinum. Like lovastatin, it is used to lower cholesterol levels and is produced through similar fermentation processes.
Semisynthetic Statins: Simvastatin and Pravastatin
Simvastatin
Simvastatin is a semisynthetic derivative of lovastatin. It is synthesized from monacolin J (lovastatin without the side chain) using the enzyme acyltransferase LovD from Aspergillus terreus. Advances in biotechnology have enabled the direct fermentation of simvastatin by engineering A. terreus to produce the necessary side chain, 2,2-dimethylbutyrate, through combinational biosynthesis.
Pravastatin
Pravastatin is derived from compactin through a biotransformation process. It is hydrophilic, which differentiates it from other statins and affects its pharmacokinetic properties. Pravastatin is known for its lower potential to induce muscle-related side effects compared to other statins .
Synthetic Statins: Atorvastatin and Cerivastatin
Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin is a fully synthetic statin known for its potent cholesterol-lowering effects. It is widely prescribed due to its efficacy in reducing LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients. Atorvastatin also exhibits pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties .
Cerivastatin
Cerivastatin is another synthetic statin that has shown significant efficacy in lowering cholesterol levels. However, it was withdrawn from the market due to its association with severe muscle-related side effects, including rhabdomyolysis. Despite this, cerivastatin has been noted for its ability to induce apoptosis in certain cancer cell lines, suggesting potential therapeutic uses beyond cholesterol management.
Conclusion
Statins are a diverse group of drugs with varying origins and properties. Natural statins like lovastatin and compactin, semisynthetic statins like simvastatin and pravastatin, and synthetic statins like atorvastatin and cerivastatin each offer unique benefits and potential applications. Understanding these differences is crucial for optimizing their use in clinical practice and exploring new therapeutic avenues.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
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The statins as anticancer agents.
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602 Citations
2003