Butenafine (Mentax) is a synthetic benzylamine antifungal agent, related structurally and pharmacologically to terbinafine. It is thought to act by inhibiting the enzyme squalene 2,3-epoxidase, resulting in decreased ergosterol and corresponding increase in squalene, with subsequent cell membrane permeability alteration and cell death. It is active against dermatophytes, yeast, and Sporothrix.
Definition
ChEBI: Trimethylamine in which hydrogen atoms attached to different methyl groups are substituted by 1-naphthyl and 4-tert-butylphenyl groups. It is an inhibitor of squalene epoxidase, an enzyme responsible for the creation of sterols needed in funga
cell membranes, and is used as its hydrochloride salt for treatment of dermatological fungal infections.
