clotrimazole brands

Molecular formula: C22H17ClN2

Clotrimazole acts primarily by damaging the permeability barrier in the cell membrane of fungi. Clotrimazole causes inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis, an essential constituent of fungal cell membranes. If ergosterol synthesis is either completely or partially inhibited, the cell is no longer able to construct an intact and functional cell membrane,. Because ergosterol directly promotes the growth of fungal cells in a hormone‐like fashion, rapid onset of the above events leads to dose-dependent inhibition of fungal growth. Though decreased ergosterol, due to the inhibition of lanosterol 14-demethylase (also known as _CYP51_) is accepted to be primarily responsible for the antimycotic properties of clotrimazole, this drug also shows other pharmacological effects. These include the inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase, depletion of intracellular calcium, and blocking of calcium‐dependent potassium channels and voltage‐dependent calcium channels. The action of clotrimazole on these targets accounts for other effects of this drug that are separate from its antimycotic activities. Clotrimazole exerts its antifungal activity by altering cell membrane permeability, apparently by binding with phospholipids in the fungal cell membrane. In contrast to polyene antibiotics (eg, amphotericin B), the action of clotrimazole is less dependent on the sterol content of the cell membrane. As a result of alteration of permeability, the cell membrane is unable to function as a selective barrier, and potassium and other cellular constituents are lost.

Source: PubChem (NCBI) · compound 2812