Abstract

Monacolin K (lovastatin or mevinolin) is a naturally occurring hypocholesterolemic statin used to prevent cardiovascular diseases for those persons suffering from hypercholesterolemia, a condition characterized by very high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is originally derived from the fungus Monascus ruber and Monascus purpureus family Monascaceae. Monacolin K is a lactone polyketide derived compound converted in the body to the active form, B-hydroxy acid of monacolin K. It acts by inhibiting the hepatic HMG-CoA Reductase enzyme. In this paper, we report a selective precise and accurate new HPLC method for analysis of both lactone form and acid form of monacolin k in red rice pharmaceutical preparations.