摘要 |
Compounds of formula (I): <IMAGE> (I) (wherein OH represents OH or OH), that is to say M-4 carboxylic acid and M-4' carboxylic acid, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof and the corresponding ring-closed lactones may be prepared by contacting an ML-236B compound with a microorganism of the genus Nocardia or a cell-free, enzyme-containing extract thereof and then, if necessary, subjecting the resulting product to one or more of the following reactions: hydrolysis, salification, esterification and lactonisation. The resulting M-4 and M-4' derivatives have the ability to inhibit the biosynthesis of cholesterol and are therefore of value in the therapy and/or prophylaxis of hyperlipaemia and arteriosclerosis. |