New insight into occurrence, quantification and bioactivities of lovastatin from natural resources (mushroom, red yeast rice and tea)

Lovastatin is a naturally occurring secondary metabolite. It has garnered significant attention due to its potent cholesterol-lowering property, mainly achieved through the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. This review explores the multifaceted aspects of lovastatin in natural resources such as mushrooms, red yeast rice and Pu-erh tea, focusing on its occurrence, quantification and bioactivities. The serious muscle damage including myopathy may cause due to continuous intake of lovastatin tablets, hence identification of natural lovastatin sources is crucial. Mushrooms produce lovastatin as a part of their metabolic pathways. Red yeast rice, an Asian dietary supplement fermented with Monascus purpureus is another rich source of lovastatin. Pu-erh tea, known for the complex fermentation process, contains unique metabolites including lovastatin, contributing to its health-promoting properties. Further, this review highlights advanced analytical methods to quantify lovastatin in natural resources. Furthermore, this review examines clinical trials evaluating lovastatin bioactivities, including its lipid-lowering and anti-cancer properties. This comprehensive review gives insights in to natural occurrence and bioactivities of lovastatin and underscores its significance in functional foods and pharmaceuticals, paving the way for future research and clinical applications. • Natural sources of lovastatin- Mushrooms, tea and red yeast rice are rich in lovastatin • Fermentation for production- optimization of fermentation in red yeast rice boosts lovastatin yields. • Quantification techniques- advanced methods including HPLC and LC-MS enhance lovastatin analysis • Bioactivities of lovastatin- lovastatin helps to manage hypercholesterolemia and heart diseases • Sustainable future prospects- Natural lovastatin offers eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic statin