Discovery of a new class of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor from Polyalthia longifolia as potential lipid lowering agent

Bioassay guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula, led to the discovery of the clerodane diterpene, 16α-hydroxycleroda-3, 13 (14) Z-dien-15, 16-olide (1), as a new structural class of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Importantly, the in vivo effects of 1 corroborated well with its molecular docking analysis and also with its hamster plasma pharmacokinetics.

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► Bioassay guided fractionation led to the discovery of antidyslipidemic clerodane diterpene 1.
► Studies indicate it to be a new structural class of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.
► It exhibited better lipid lowering activity than the standard drug Lovastatin.
► The in vivo effects of 1 corroborated well with its molecular docking and also with its pharmacokinetic analysis.