Microassay of Antifungal Properties of Steroid Hormones and Other Compounds

The antifungal activities of a number of steroids and other compounds were compared by a spore-counting method, employing Candida tropicalis as the principal test organism. This organism proved to be of particular value as an indicator in these tests. While most of the steroid compounds possessed some activity, only a few exhibited any notable property as fungicides. With the exception of desoxycorticosterone, the active steroids were nitrogen-containing derivatives of sex hormones. A few steroid hormones, including cortisone, accelerated the growth of the fungi. Probably this acceleration is not related to the enhancement of fungus infections which has sometimes been noted in connection with cortisone therapy for the relief of other conditions. Certain mixtures of the steroids and other compounds inhibited the growth of the fungi synergistically. In other mixtures, the antifungal potencies of the components were antagonistic.