Antifungal Activity oftheAllylamine Derivative Terbinafine InVitro

Terbinafine, anallylamine derivative, represents themosteffective ofthis newchemical class ofantimycotic compounds. Underinvitro conditions, terbinafine proved tobehighly active against dermatophytes (MIC range, 0.001 to0.01,ug/ml), aspergilli (MICrange, 0.05 to1.56tig/ml), andSporothrix schenckii (MICrange, 0.1to0.4,ug/ml) andalso exerted goodactivity against yeasts (MICrange, 0.1to>100,ig/ml). Thegrowth ofMalasseziafurfur wasinhibited also (MICrange, 0.2to0.8,ig/ml). Terbinafine displays aprimary fungicidal action against dermatophytes, other filamentous fungi, andS.schenckii. Thetypeofaction against yeasts is species dependent andcanbeprimarily fungicidal (Candida parapsilosis) orfungistatic (Candida albicans). The invitro activity ofterbinafine ispHdependent andrises withincreasing pHvalue. Thediscovery oftheantifungal activity ofnaftifine (Exoderil), which hasbeenshowninvitro andinvivoagainst avariety ofmedically important species offungi (3,6),ledto intensive chemical andbiological investigations ofthestructure-activity relationships ofallylamine derivatives atthe