ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the mode of action of the major chemical classes of antifungals. Polyenes constitute a major class of anti-Candida drugs and are known to bind with the plasma membrane leading to altered permeability and subsequent death of the organism. The first reports of the fungicidal properties of N-substituted imidazoles were made towards the end of the 1960s by a research group at Bayer and P. A. J. Janssen. Fluconazole and itraconazole are the most recent addition to the list of triazole. Allylamines represent an entirely new class of antifungal agents. Cerulenin is an antifungal isolated from the culture filtrate of Cephalosporium caerulens. The two drugs octenidine and pirtenidine have recently been developed as potential mouth washes having both antibacterial and antimycotic properties. Garlic has been used as a spice, food and folk medicine since ancient times. Medicinal uses of garlic suggested include insecticidal, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antitumoricidal properties.
