US Patent 7192742 FO-6979 substances and process for producing the same

(Beauveria) sp. FO-6979 (FERM BP-6681), which belongs to the genus Beauveria and is capable of producing FO-6979-M0, -M1, -M2, -M3 and -M4 substances, is cultured in a medium to thereby accumulate the FO-6979-M0, -M1, -M2, -M3 and -M4 substances in the liquid culture medium. Then the FO-6979-M0, -M1, -M2, -M3 and -M4 substances are collected from the culture medium. The substances thus obtained are less toxic, specifically inhibit acyl-Coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase, and inhibit the formation of oil droplets in macrophages. Owing to these characteristics, the above substances are useful in preventing and treating human diseases caused by cholesterol accumulation.