Hamycin - antimicrobial drug and its therapeutic uses

DESCRIPTION:
Hamycin is a polyene antimycotic organic compound. It is obtained from a strain of  Streptomyces  pimprina (bacteria).

MECHANISM OF ACTION:
Hamycin inhibits fungal growth by binding to sterols.It binds to ergosterol in the plasma membrane ,preventing ergosterol-dependent fusion of vacuoles, as well as membrane fusion and fission. This differs from the  mechanism of most other polyene antibiotics, which tend to work by altering fungal membrane permeability instead.

PHARMACOLOGY:
It  is an antifungal  drug for topical ophthalmic administration.
It possesses in vitro activity against a variety of yeast and filamentous fungi, including Candida, Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, F usarium and Peniciilum.
Absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is  very poor.

 THERAPEUTIC USES:
• It is useful as an antifungal antibiotic drug.
• To treat the topical as well as systemic mycoses.

ADVERSE EFFECTS:
• Redness
• Stinging
• Nausea
• Bud taste
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhorea ( due to increase in peristalsis movement)

DRUG-DRUG  INTERACTION:
Beclomethasone + Hamycine =  It can cause oral candidiasis.

REFERENCE
Tripathi KD, Essential of Medical Pharmacology, 7th edition, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher (P) LTD. Page No: 790