EFFICACY OF AJOENE, AN ORGANOSULFUR DERIVED FROM GARLIC, IN THE SHORT-TERM THERAPY OF TINEA-PEDIS

The present report shows the efficacy of ajoene, a garlic-derived orga nic trisulphur, for short-term therapy of tinea pedis. The use of ajoe ne as a 0.4% (w/w) cream resulted in complete clinical and mycological cure in 27 of 34 patients (79%) after 7 days of treatment. The remain ing seven patients (21%) achieved complete cure after seven additional days of treatment. AU patients were evaluated for recurrence of mycot ic infections 90 days after the end of treatment, yielding negative cu ltures for fungus. These results show that ajoene is an alternative, e fficient and low-cost antimycotic drug for short-term therapy of tinea pedis. The fact that ajoene can be easily prepared from an alcoholic extract of garlic may make it suitable for Third World public health c are.