Antifungini

Antifungini, or antifungal agents, are medications that kill or inhibit the growth of fungi. They are used to treat fungal infections in humans and animals and, in some contexts, to protect crops from fungal pathogens. Broadly, antifungals target fungi by disrupting membranes, cell walls, or nucleic acid synthesis, exploiting differences between fungal and human cells.

Major classes include:

- Polyenes (for example, amphotericin B and nystatin), which bind ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane and form pores that disrupt membrane integrity.

- Azoles (such as fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole), which inhibit lanosterol 14‑α‑demethylase and reduce ergosterol synthesis.

- Echinocandins (caspofungin, micafungin, anidulafungin), which inhibit beta-1,3-glucan synthase, weakening the fungal cell wall.

- Allylamines (terbinafine), which inhibit squalene epoxidase, also affecting ergosterol production.

- Nucleic acid–targeting agents (flucytosine), which after conversion disrupt fungal DNA and RNA synthesis.

- Griseofulvin, which disrupts fungal mitotic spindle function and is mainly used for dermatophyte infections of skin and nails.

Indications vary by agent and may include systemic infections (candida, cryptococcus, aspergillus) and superficial infections (dermatophytes, candidiasis, onychomycosis). Many antifungals are administered orally or intravenously, with topical forms available for some infections. Adverse effects range from nephrotoxicity (notably with amphotericin B) to hepatotoxicity (with several azoles), and drug interactions via cytochrome P450 metabolism are common. Resistance can arise through target alterations or efflux mechanisms. The term antifungini is often used as a synonym for antifungal agents in various languages, with antifungals as the standard English term.