RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 In vitro and in vivo biotransformation of simvastatin, an inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase.
JF Drug Metabolism and Disposition
JO Drug Metab Dispos
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 476
OP 483
VO 18
IS 4
A1 S Vickers
A1 C A Duncan
A1 K P Vyas
A1 P H Kari
A1 B Arison
A1 S R Prakash
A1 H G Ramjit
A1 S M Pitzenberger
A1 G Stokker
A1 D E Duggan
YR 1990
UL http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/18/4/476.abstract
AB Simvastatin (SV), an analog of lovastatin, is the lactone form of 1', 2', 6', 7', 8', 8a'-hexahydro-3,5-dihydroxy-2', 6'-dimethyl-8' (2", 2"-dimethyl-1"-oxobutoxy)-1'-naphthalene-heptanoic acid (SVA) which lowers plasma cholesterol by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase. SV but not its corresponding hydroxy acid form SVA underwent microsomal metabolism. Major in vitro metabolites were 6'-OH-SV (I) and 3"-OH-SV (III) formed by allylic and aliphatic hydroxylation, respectively, and 6'-exomethylene-SV (IV) formed by dehydrogenation. In rats, dogs, and humans, biliary excretion is the major route of elimination. Biliary metabolites (as both hydroxy acids and lactones) also included 6'-CH2OH-SV (V) and 6'-COOH-SV (VI) in both of which the 6'-chiral center had been inverted. High levels of esterase in rodent plasma favored the formation of SVA from SV. The formation of 1', 2', 6', 7', 8', 8a'-hexahydro-2', 6'-dimethyl-8'-(2",2"-dimethyl-1-oxobutoxy)-1'-naphthalene-pentano ic acid (VII) only in rodents represented a species difference in the metabolism of SV. It is proposed that VII is formed by beta-oxidation pathways of fatty acid intermediary metabolism. Several metabolites resulting from microsomal oxidation (after subsequent conversion from lactones to hydroxy acids) are effective inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and may contribute to the cholesterol lowering effect of SV. Qualitatively, the metabolism of SV closely resembles that of lovastatin.