Evaluation of rice straw for purification of lovastatin

Cholesterol synthesis in the human body can be catalyzed by coenzyme HMG-CoA reductase, and lovastatin, a key enzyme inhibitor, reduce hypercholesterolemia. Lovastatin obtained as secondary metabolite of Aspergillus terreus ATCC 20542. In this study, rice straw lignocellulose was used aeration agitation bath fermentation 1-L flask, maximal crude extraction rate 473 mg/L lovastatin obtained. The extract treated with silica gel (230–400 mesh) column chromatography. Ethyl acetate/ethanol (95%) mobile phase, isolation performed through elution various ethyl ratios. highest production 153 achieved ratio 8:2. gained from added to 12 fractions 0.001 N alkali, acetone then added. After 24 h recrystallization at 4°C, underwent high-performance liquid purity had increased 25% 84.6%, recovery 65.2%.