Nystatin – the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Adiclair®

Adiclair contains nystatin as the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Nystatin belongs to the group of polyene antimycotics. It was isolated from culture filtrates of Streptomyces noursei in 1950. Polyenes possess a macrocyclic lactone ring with a strongly hydrophobic side containing several conjugated double bonds and a hydrophilic side.

Mechanism of action

The mechanism of action of nystatin is based upon its high affinity for ergosterol, the typical component of the plasma membrane of yeasts. Ergosterol in the fungi cell membrane is important for maintaining structural integrity.

Nystatin has the ability to bind with fungal ergosterol forming a hydrophilic pore. In this way, nystatin takes on the property of an ionophore. The bonding of nystatin to the sterols of the cell membrane leads to a change in the membrane properties in that the permeability increases, causing a loss of ions from the cell, especially potassium, at low concentrations of the active substance.

At high concentrations of the active substance or longer contact time, higher molecular weight cytoplasmic components are also lost, whereby the physiological intracellular environment and hence the total cell is damaged. The type of effect of nystatin is therefore fungicidal (destructive).

The effect of the antimycotic drug extends both to proliferating as well as to resting cells.

Adiclair Film-coated tablets international package insert to download
Adiclair Suspension international package insert to download
Adiclair Nystatin Mouth Gel international package insert to download
Adiclair Ointment international package insert to download