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Published on: February 14, 2011
The antifungal agent butenafine manifests anti-inflammatory activity in vivo
1Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Background:
Dermatophyte infections are often accompanied by a striking inflammatory reaction, alleviation of which has often been achieved by the concomitant but controversial use of topical steroidal agents. Recent investigations have suggested the presence of inherent anti-inflammatory properties associated with certain antifungal agents, particularly those within the allylamine class. Butenafine, the first and only approved representative of the benzylamine antifungals, possesses a chemical structure and antifungal activity similar to the allylamines. Although several studies have demonstrated excellent antimycotic efficacy, none has addressed anti-inflammatory properties associated with butenafine.
Objective:
This study was designed to determine whether butenafine, a benzylamine antifungal, expresses anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Methods:
A randomized single-blinded control investigation comparing the attenuation of UVB irradiation-induced erythema by butenafine, its proprietary base cream, and no application (negative control) was performed in humans.
Results:
Butenafine demonstrated a significant and marked decrease in UVB-induced erythema as compared with both the base cream and the unaltered control.
Conclusion:
The benzylamine antifungal agent butenafine demonstrates inherent anti-inflammatory properties, in vivo, as demonstrated by reduced cutaneous erythema response after UVB irradiation.
