Antifungal drug Totally Explained

Everything about Antifungal totally explained

An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungal infections such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Such drugs are usually obtained by a doctor's prescription or purchased over-the-counter.

List of antifungal drugs

Antifungals work by exploiting differences between mammalian and fungal cells to kill off the fungal organism without dangerous effects on the host. Unlike bacteria, both fungi and humans are eukaryotes. Thus fungal and human cells are similar at the molecular level. This means it's more difficult to find a target for an antifungal drug to attack that doesn't also exist in the infected organism. Consequently, there are often side-effects to some of these drugs. Some of these side-effects can be life-threatening if not used properly.
There are several classes of antifungal drugs.

Polyene antifungals

A polyene is a circular molecule consisting of a hydrophobic and hydrophilic region. This makes polyene an amphoteric molecule. The polyene antimycotics bind with sterols in the fungal cell membrane, principally ergosterol. This changes the transition temperature (Tg) of the cell membrane, thereby placing the membrane in a less fluid, more crystalline state. As a result, the cell's contents leak out (usually the hydrophilic contents) and the cell dies. Animal cells contain cholesterol instead of ergosterol and so they're much less susceptible. (Note: as polyene's hydrophobic chain is reduced, its sterol binding activity is increased. Therefore, increased reduction of the hydrophobic chain may result in it binding to cholesterol, making it toxic to animals.)

Natamycin -- 33 Carbons, binds well to ergosterol
Rimocidin
Filipin -- 35 Carbons, binds to cholesterol (toxic)
Nystatin
Amphotericin B
Candicin

Imidazole and triazole antifungals

The imidazole and triazole antifungal drugs inhibit the enzyme cytochrome P450 14α-demethylase. This enzyme converts lanosterol to ergosterol, and is required in fungal cell membrane synthesis. These drugs also block steroid synthesis in humans. Imidazoles:
Miconazole (Miconazole nitrate) Ketoconazole Clotrimazole - marketed as Lotrimin or Lotrimin AF (and Canesten in the UK) Econazole Bifonazole Butoconazole Fenticonazole Isoconazole Oxiconazole Sertaconazole - marketed as Ertaczo in North America Sulconazole Tioconazole The triazoles are newer, and are less toxic and more effective:
Fluconazole Itraconazole Isavuconazole Ravuconazole Posaconazole Voriconazole Terconazole

Allylamines

Allylamines inhibit the enzyme squalene epoxidase, another enzyme required for ergosterol synthesis:
Terbinafine - marketed as "Lamisil" in North America, Australia, the UK and Germany. Amorolfine Naftifine - marketed as "Naftin" in North America Butenafine - marketed as Lotrimin Ultra

Echinocandins

Echinocandins inhibit the synthesis of glucan in the cell wall, probably via the enzyme 1,3-β glucan synthase:
Anidulafungin Caspofungin Micafungin

Others

Others:

Benzoic acid has antifugal properties but must be combined with a keratolytic agent Ciclopirox is a fungicidal. Its real name is ciclopirox olamine. Flucytosine, or 5-fluorocytosine, is an antimetabolite. Griseofulvin binds to polymerized microtubules and inhibits fungal mitosis. Gentian Violet Haloprogin Tolnaftate is fungicidal, marketed as Tinactin, Desenex, Aftate, as well as other names Undecylenic acid is fungistatic Alternatives: Tea tree oil -- ISO 4730 ("Oil of Melaleuca, Terpinen-4-ol type") Citronella oil lemon grass orange oil palmarosa oil patchouli lemon myrtle Neem Seed Oil Coconut Oil -- medium chain triglycerides in the oil have antifungal activities Zinc dietary supplements or natural food sources, including pumpkin seeds and chick peas Selenium dietary supplements or natural food sources, particularly Brazil nuts

Dandruff shampoos

Antifungal drugs are often found in dandruff shampoos. Among the most common are pyrithione zinc,selenium sulfide and ketoconazole (Nizoral).

Further Information

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