Luliconazole is a topical antifungal agent used to treat fungal infections. Luliconazole is a topical antifungal agent that acts by unknown mechanisms but is postulated to involve altering the synthesis of fungi cell membranes. It was approved by the FDA (USA) in November 2013 and is marketed under the brand name Luzu. Luliconazole is also approved in Japan. Luliconazole kills the organisms Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum, most likely by altering their fungal cell membranes. The exact mechanism of action for luliconazole's anti-fungal activity is still not known, but luliconazole is thought to inhibit the enzyme lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase. 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 this enzyme 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 leads to cell lysis which causes it to collapse and die.

Luliconazole Pathway References