| dc.description.abstract | Several types of fungi are known to be able to produce lovastatin that can be used as cholesterol-lowering drugs so that they can reduce the risk caused by high cholesterol levels in the blood. This study aimed to obtain endophytic fungal isolates from citronella, to test their ability to produce anticholesterol compounds, to optimize the production medium and to identify potential fungal isolates. Endophytic fungi were isolated from citronella plant weeds and leaves, selection of fungal ability to produce lovastatin, analysis of lovastatin compounds using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method, optimization of production medium and identification of fungal isolates molecularly. The results of the isolation of endophytic fungi from citronella were obtained as many as 22 isolates. The results of selection by Candida albicans test, TLC and spectrophotometer obtained 3 isolates of fungi that have the potential to produce lovastatin, namely Trichoderma harzianum CNB 2.5.3, Nigrospora sphaerica CND 2.1.1 and Waitea circinata CND 2.5.4. The HPLC results of the three fungal species showed that the fungus Nigrospora sphaerica produced lovastatin with the highest levels of 3.705 ppm with a cone of 0.741 ppm. Optimization of the production medium of the three fungi in producing lovastatin with 3 mediums namely PDB (Potato Dextrose Broth), Bushnell-Hass Broth (BHB) media and Czapek media, showed that PDB medium produced the highest levels of lovastatin compared to the other two media. | en_US |
