Oxiconazole is a topical antifungal agent, known as the brand name Oxistat, that is used to treat a variety of skin fungal infections such as athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm.It is used to treat a number of different yeasts and dermatophytes such as T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans, T. violaceum, E. floccosum, M. canis, M. audouini, M. gypseum, C. albicans, and M. furfur. It is applied topically to the infected area where it can inhibit the target enzymes in the fungal cells by diffusing into the cell. Oxiconazole inhibits both lanosterol synthase and lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase in the endoplasmic reticulum of fungal cells. Lanosterol synthase is the enzyme that catelyzes the synthesis of lanosterol from (S)-2,3 oxidosqualene. Lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase is the enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of 4,4'-dimethyl cholesta-8,14,24-triene-3-beta-ol from lanosterol. With both of these enzymes inhibited ergosterol synthesis cannot occur which causes a significant low concentration of ergosterol in the fungal cell. Ergosterol is essential in maintaining membrane integrity in fungi. Without ergosterol, the fungus cell cannot synthesize membranes thereby increasing fluidity and preventing growth of new cells. This causes the cell to collapse and die.

Oxiconazole Pathway References