| polyenes |
amphotericin B, natamycin,
nystatin |
cell membrane
(direct) |
binds to
ergosterol, forming
pores in the fungal cell membrane, which leads to cell lysis |
| azoles |
imidazoles: clotrimazole,
ketoconazole, luliconazole |
cell membrane
(indirect) |
inhibits ergosterol
biosynthesis by blocking lanosterol-14α-demethylase, compromising
membrane structure and integrity |
| triazoles: efinaconazole,
fluconazole, isavuconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole |
| allylamines |
butenafine, naftifine, terbinafine |
cell membrane (indirect) |
inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis
by blocking the enzyme squalene epoxidase, damaging membrane formation
and generating toxic squalene byproducts |
| echinocandins |
anidulafungin, caspofungin,
micafungin |
cell wall
(indirect) |
inhibits
1,3-β-d-glucan synthesis by targeting 1,3-β-glucan
synthase,
compromising fungal cell wall formation |
| others |
flucytosine |
nucleic acid synthesis (indirect) |
interferes with DNA and
RNA synthesis via its metabolic products |
| griseofulvin |
cell division (direct) |
binds to tubulin, disrupting
microtubule function and inhibiting fungal cell division |
| ciclopirox |
enzyme cofactors (direct) |
chelates polyvalent metal
cations, inhibiting the function of enzymes vital for fungal cellular
activities |
| amorolfine |
cell
membrane (indirect) |
inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis
by targeting Δ14-sterol reductase and Δ7–Δ8-cholestenol isomerase, impairing membrane formation |
