Determination of Lovastatin (mevinolin) and mevinolinic acid in fermentation liquids

A rapid and simple HPLC method for the determination of Lovastatin (mevinolin) and mevinolinic acid in fermentation fluids of Aspergillus terreus using a Separon SGX C₁₈ column and methanol-18 mM orthophosphoric acid (77.5:22.5, v/v) as mobile phase with detection at 238 nm is described. The detection limit of Lovastatin and mevinolinic acid was 20–30 ng/ml.