Discovery of a new class of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor from Polyalthia longifolia as potential lipid lowering agent.

Bioassay guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula, led to the discovery of the clerodane diterpene, 16α-hydroxycleroda-3, 13 (14) Z-dien-15, 16-olide (1), as a new structural class of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Importantly, the in vivo effects of 1 corroborated well with its molecular docking analysis and also with its hamster plasma pharmacokinetics.