Microbial production of Lovastatin: a bioprospecting and green pharmaceutical approach

Authors

  • Shukla Shraddha Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Deogiri College (Autonomous), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India- 431005
  • Kale Ganesh Students, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Deogiri College (Autonomous), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India- 4310
  • Nagre Pavan Students, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Deogiri College (Autonomous), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India- 4310
  • Gayakwad Ganesh Students, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Deogiri College (Autonomous), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India- 4310
  • Jadhav Yash Students, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Deogiri College (Autonomous), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India- 4310
  • Jadhav Mahadev Head and Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Deogiri College (Autonomous), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India- 431005

Keywords:

Lovastatin, Aspergillus terreus, submerged fermentation, bioprospecting, Green pharmaceutical approach, HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor, HPLC, ATR-FTIR analysis.

Abstract

Lovastatin, a potent inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, is an important cholesterol-lowering agent produced as a secondary metabolite by filamentous fungi, particularly species within the Aspergillus genus. While chemically synthesized statins are widely available, microbial fermentation offers a sustainable and “natural” alternative for large-scale industrial production. The objective of this study was to isolate, screen, and identify high yielding lovastatin producing fungal strains from natural sources (soil) across different regions of Maharashtra, India. Two primary isolates were selected and identified using standardized microbiological methods including morphological characterization and microscopic techniques. Production was evaluated via submerged fermentation, with preliminary screening conducted through Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), and UV spectrophotometric analysis. Confirmatory analysis was performed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR) against a reference standard. Among the isolates, Aspergillus terreus (RFI) isolated from rice farm soil exhibited the highest yield 530 mg/100 ml, while Aspergillus terreus (RSI) from red soil also showed significant production levels 410 mg/100 ml of Czapek dox broth. This study demonstrates that a bioprospecting approach toward local fungal biodiversity provides a viable and efficient platform for green pharmaceutical manufacturing, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical synthesis for cholesterol control.

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Published

2026-05-30

How to Cite

Shukla Shraddha, Kale Ganesh, Nagre Pavan, Gayakwad Ganesh, Jadhav Yash, & Jadhav Mahadev. (2026). Microbial production of Lovastatin: a bioprospecting and green pharmaceutical approach. International Journal of Life Sciences, 14(1A), 157–164. Retrieved from https://ijlsci.in/ls/index.php/home/article/view/1608

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1A (2026): International Journal of Life Sciences

Section

Biotechnology & Industrial Microbiology

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