Econazole Sulfosalicylate

Econazole is an imidazole with antifungal property. Econazole compromises the integrity of fungal cell wall through inhibiting 14-alpha demethylase, which catalyzes conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol, an essential component of the fungal cell wall. As a result, this agent increases cellular permeability thereby resulting in leakage of cellular contents. Furthermore, econazole has also been implicated to inhibit endogenous respiration, interact with membrane phospholipids, inhibit purine uptake, and impair triglyceride and/or phospholipid biosynthesis.

The aim of this investigation was to compare the contact action of econazole sulfosalicylate (E-SSA) on mycetes (Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton rubrum, T. cutaneum, Pityrosporum sp.), Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii) with that exerted by econazole nitrate (E-NIT). The results show E-SSA activity greater than E-NIT (in particular against mycetes and Gram-negative bacteria). The E-SSA contact activity trials illustrated certain properties of this imidazole sulfosolicylate such as: absence of latency time, antimicrobial activity proportional to its concentration, when a high concentration is used, given the limiting influence of pH and ionic strength of the medium. The higher E-SSA contact activity, in relation to E-NIT, can be correlated to its greater lipophylia considering also the lipophylic properties of SSA and the scarce dissociation of E-SSA.

Simonetti, N., Spignoli, G., D’Auria, F. D., & Strippoli, V. (1991). Antimicrobial Contact Activity of Econazole Sulfosalicylate. Journal of Chemotherapy, 3(2), 101-107.