Coronary heart disease and most heart attacks are due to
hypercholesterolemia, which is the accumulation of cholesterol
in blood plasma that results in atherosclerosis (blockage
of arteries). Almost one-third of the total body cholesterol
comes from food intake and the other two-thirds is synthesised
in the body [1]. A potent hypocholesterolemic agent,
known as lovastatin (mevinolin and monacolin K) can inhibit
the rate-limiting enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme
A reductase. This enzyme has a regulatory and rate