Sites of action of antifungal drugs Sites of action of antifungal drugs. Amphotericin B and other polyenes, such as nystatin, bind to ergosterol in fungal cell membranes and increase membrane permeability. The imidazoles and triazoles, such as itraconazole and fluconazole, inhibit 14-α-sterol demethylase, prevent ergosterol synthesis, and lead to the accumulation of 14-α-methylsterols. The allylamines, such as naftifine and terbinafine, inhibit squalene epoxidase and prevent ergosterol synthesis. The echinocandins, such as caspofungin, inhibit the formation of glucans in the fungal cell wall. Source: Antifungal Agents, Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 12e Citation: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC. Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 12e; 2011 Available at: http://accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/DownloadImage.aspx?image=/data/books/1613/bru12_ch57_f001.png&sec=102163574&BookID=1613&ChapterSecID=102163571&imagename= Accessed: October 18, 2017 Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved