A selective and potent inhibitor of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) in vivo with an ED50 value of 0.2-0.5 and 0.36-33.3 mg/kg in rats and mice, respectively; reduced total cholesterol by 19% in normolipemic hamsters at a dose of 55 mg/kg/day for 11 days and 25% in hyperlipemic hamsters at a dose of 148 mg/kg/day for 25 days