The antimycotic activity in vitro of five diols.

The antimycotic activity of ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, butane-1,3-diol, pentane-1,5-diol, and hexane-2,5-diol in vitro against Pityrosporum orbiculare, Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale and Epidermophyton floccosum was studied. Ethane-1,2-diol had the lowest activity (MIC of 40-100 g 1(-1)), and hexane-2,5-diol the highest activity (MIC of 10-40 g 1(-1)). Among, the higher diols there can be both effective antifungal agents and substances with a lower risk of allergic and irritative skin reactions than propane-1,2-diol.