Ganoderic acid and its derivatives as cholesterol synthesis inhibitors.

Oxygenated lanosterol derivatives, which were isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporaceae) or their derivatives obtained by chemical conversion, were tested for their effect on cholesterol biosynthesis from 24,25-dihydrolanosterol by rat hepatic subcellular 10,000 x g supernatant fraction. The sterol (VI, 40 microM) with 7-oxo and 15 alpha-hydroxy groups potently inhibited the synthesis of cholesterol from [24,25-3H]-24,25-dihydrolanosterol (18 microM).