The antihistaminic chlorpheniramine inhibits in vitro growth of several fungi isolated from harvested fruits

Chlorpheniramine (CPA) is an antihistaminic that changes the conformation o f DNA and inhibits polyamine biosynthesis in mammalian cells. In the presen t work, we tested the effect of CPA on four genera of fungi species (Altern aria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporiodies and three Pe nicillium spp.) grown in vitro. Similar growth inhibitions of these genera were produced by 0.5 mM iprodione, CPA and histidinol, but CPA was the most effective. The CPA sensitivities of the two B, cinerea strains were differ ent. Putrescine did not restore the fungal growth inhibited by CPA.