Statins: A Review of Wonder Drug from Fungus

Statins are potent inhibitors of the enzyme, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) that catalyzes the rate limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. Statins lowers the plasma cholesterol level, thus effective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Statins are compounds of natural origin that are biosynthesized as secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi and act as competitive inhibitors of HMGR. Sales of statins have dominated the pharmaceutical market in recent years, consistently ranking as the number one class of drugs, so are called “the golden child” for pharmaceutical companies. Statins have also been reported as a potential therapeutic agent in the regulation of inflammatory and immune response, bone turnover, neovascularisation, vascular tone, and arterial pressure along with hypocholestremic property. With the emerging multiple therapeutic effects, the wonder drugs “statins” are proving to be much more powerful drugs than ever thought