Anticandidal activity of flunarizine.

Susceptibility of 138 yeast-like strains from patients were tested against flunarizine (Flu), ketoconazole (Ktz), and the combination of Ktz with Flu, using Sabouraud dextrose broth. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC)s for 101 strains of C. albicans were: Flu 319+ 30.1 micrograms/ml, Ktz 27.9 + 9.1 micrograms/ml. The combination of Ktz and Flu in various ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1) was found to exert a synergistic effect and the mean values of the following combinations were: Ktz+Flu 6.26 + 0.25, 4.8 + 0.27, 5.41 + 0.25 micrograms/ml. These results were significantly different (p < 0.001) when compared with ketoconazole alone. Our findings indicate that flunarizine (calcium channel blocker) increases the antifungal activity of Ktz against C. albicans in vitro.