Abstract: Lovastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor can be produced by Monascus purpureus. Plackett-Burman experimental design was used to identify important nutrients useful for the production of lovastatin by Monascus purpureus MTCC 369 under submerged fermentation. Nine nutrient parameters such as dextrose, peptone, NH4Cl, yeast extract, KH2PO4, FeSO4.7H2O, MgSO4.7H2O, MnSO4.H2O and CaCl2.2H2O were screened in twelve experiments as per the design. MnSO4.H2O and dextrose had contributed to a large extent, yeast extract, FeSO4.7H2O and CaCl2.2H2O had little impact, while, NH4Cl, KH2PO4 and peptone contributes moderately in production of lovastatin.