Pimaricin (also known as natamycin, INN) belongs to a naturally occurring antifungal agent produced through the fermentation of the bacterium Streptomyces natalensis. It is a kind of macrolide polyene antifungal used for the treatment of fungal keratitis, which is a kind of eye infection. In medical field, it can be used for the treatment of various kind of fungal infections caused by Candida, Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, Fusarium, and Penicillium. In food industry, it can be used as a natural preservative to prevent fungal outgrowth. Its mechanism of action is through binding to the ergosterol in the plasma membrane of fungi, inhibiting the process of ergosterol-dependent fusion of vacuoles and membrane fusion, further inhibiting the fungal growth. It also inhibit the transport of amino acid and glucose through inhibiting membrane transport proteins.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natamycin
https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00826
Natamycin was discovered in the 1950s. As described by Struyk et al. A new crystalline antibiotic, pimaricin, has been isolated from fermentation broth of
a culture of a Streptomyces species, isolated from a soil sample obtained near
Pietermaritzburg, State of Natal, Union of South Africa. This organism has been
named Strepyomyces natalensis. The original name "pimaracin" can be found in
earlier publications but it is no longer accepted by the WHO. Natamycin is
classified as a macrolide polyene antifungal and is characterized by a macrocyclic
lactone-ring with a number of conjugated carbon–carbon double bonds.
The full chemical name is 22-(3-amino-3,6-dideoxy-b-D-manno pyranosol) oxy-
1,3,26 trihydroxy-12-methyl-10-oxo-6,11,28-trioxiatri [22.3.1.05.7] o catosa-
8,14,16,18,20-pentanene-25-carboxylic acid.
Natamycin has a low solubility in water (approximately 40 ppm), but the
activity of neutral aqueous suspensions is very stable. Natamycin is stable to heat
and it is reported that heating processes for several hours at 100 C lead to only
slight activity losses. Natamycin is active against almost all foodborne yeasts and
molds but has no effect on bacteria or viruses. The sensitivity to natamycin in vitro
(minimal inhibitory concentration) is in most cases below 20 ppm.
Natamycin acts by binding irreversibly with ergosterol and other sterols, which
are present in the cell membranes of yeasts and vegetative mycelium of molds. It disrupts the cell membrane and increases the cell permeability, which finally leads
to cell death. The fungicidal of natamycin is an ‘‘all-or-none’’ effect, which
destroys the cell membrane of the target cells.
Due its interaction with ergosterol, which is a major constituent of fungal cells,
it is unlikely that fungi will develop resistance. So far, after many decades of use,
no development of resistance has been reported. Natamycin is mostly used for
surface applications, particularly for treating surfaces of hard cheese and salamitype
sausages. One of the advantages over sorbate is that even the dissolved
fraction of natamycin hardly migrates into the food matrix. Natamycin can be applied by spraying the surface (e.g. of cheese), by dipping, by
applying natamycin via coating emulsions or by direct addition.
The antifungal efficacy of natamycin has been extensively studied and a substantial
amount of scientific papers have been published. Comprehensive overview
articles are available. However, due to its long history of use, no data
on application studies have been published recently.
Natamycin is a naturally occurring macrolide polyene antifungal agent produced during fermentation by the bacterium S. natalensis, commonly found in soil. With minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 4-64 μM, natamycin is used to treat fungal infections, including Candida, Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, Fusarium, and Penicillium. Natamycin blocks fungal growth by binding specifically to ergosterol with an apparent affinity of ~100 μM, but it does not permeabilize cell membranes as other polyene antibiotics are known to do. Natamycin is also used in the food industry as a preservative.
Natamycin (more commonly known as pimaricin) belongs to the polyene macrolide group of antifungal antibiotics. It was derived from Streptomyces natalensis or S. chattanoogensis. In therapeutic use, it is prescribed for a variety of fungal infections, mainly topically, but some ophthalmic applications as well. In addition to therapeutic and food use, pimaricin has applications including use as an agricultural chemical and wood preservative.
In the dry state, pimaricin is very stable, as long as it is protected from light and heat, and stability is maintained for a minimum of 1 to 2 years. As long as aqueous suspensions are stored in a cooland dark place, they can be kept for at least six months. Once placed on the surface of the cheese (pimaricin does not penetrate the surface of cheese as do sorbic acid salts), the antimycotic decomposes in about six weeks.
Pimafucine,Beytout,France,1964
Pimaricin is a preservative for use as a coating on the surface of italian cheeses to prevent the growth of mold or yeast. It is tasteless, odorless, colorless, and does not penetrate the cheese. It is very active against virtually all molds and yeasts, but does not affect bacteria, thus not affecting the ripening and flavor improvement process of cheese. It can be applied as a dip, spray, or by other methods such as incorporation into the cheese coatings. It is used at levels ranging from 300 to 2,000 ppm.
Pimaricin is a macrocyclic tetraene originally isolated from Streptomyces natalensis in 1957. Pimaricin exhibits broad spectrum antifungal activity against yeast and filamentous fungi by binding specifically to ergosterol to block fungal growth. Unlike the related polyenes, nystatin and filipin, pimaricin does not change the permeability of the plasma membrane. Pimaricin is used in the food industry for surface treatment of cheeses as a mould inhibitor.
Polyene antifungal antibiotic
Natamycin (l), from Streptomyces nataIensis and Streptomyces chat tanoogensis,
is used for the control of diseases of bulbs.
The Fermentation Process: The process by which this antifungal substance is
produced is an aerobic fermentation of an aqueous nutrient medium The Fermentation Process: The process by which this antifungal substance is
produced is an aerobic fermentation of an aqueous nutrient medium.
In more detail the nutrient medium used may contain sources of carbon such
as starch, hydrolyzed starch, sugars such as lactose, maltose, dextrose,
sucrose, or sugar sources such as molasses; alcohols, such as glycerol and
mannitol; organic acids, such as citric acid and acetic acid; and various
natural products which may contain other nutrient materials in addition to
carbonaceous substances.
Nitrogen sources include proteins, such as casein, zein, lactalbumin; protein
hydrolyzates such proteoses, peptones, peptides, and commercially available
materials, such as N-Z Amine which is understood to be a casein hydrolyzate;
also corn steep liquor, soybean meal, gluten, cottonseed meal, fish meal,
meat extracts, stick liquor, liver cake, yeast extracts and distillers' solubles;
amino acids, urea, ammonium and nitrate salts. Such inorganic elements as
sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium; and chlorides, sulfates,
phosphates and combinations of these anions and cations in the form of
mineral salts may be advantageously used in the fermentation.
The so-called trace elements, such as boron, cobalt, iron, copper, zinc,
manganese, chromium, molybdenum and still others may also be used to
advantage. Generally, these trace elements occur in sufficient quantities in the
carbonaceous and nitrogenous constituents of the medium, particularly if
derived from natural sources, or in the tap water, and the addition of further
quantities of these trace elements may consequently be unnecessary.
The fermentation liquor is aerated in the customary manner by forcing sterile
air through the fermenting mixture usually at the rate of about 1 volume of
air per volume of fermentation medium per minute. To minimize
contamination with foreign microorganisms, the fermentation vessels should
be closed and a pressure of 2 to 15 pounds above atmospheric pressure
maintained in the vessel. In addition to the agitation provided by aeration,
mechanical agitation is generally desirable. Antifoaming agents, such as 1%
octadecanol in lard oil, may be added from time to time as required to
prevent excessive foaming. Fermentation is conducted at a temperature
preferably on the order of 26°C to 30°C but may be as low as 17°C or as high
as 42°C.
The time required for maximum production of the antifungal substance will
vary considerably depending upon other conditions of the fermentation.
Generally, about 48 hours is required before appreciable quantities of the
antifungal substance are detected in the medium. The production of the
antifungal substance increases with time, and the fermentation may run as
long as 120 hours. The hydrogen ion conditions normally vary from about pH
6 to pH 8.0, although deviations from these values are permissible, according
to British Patent 846,933. The reader is referred to the patents cited for detals
of pimaricin purification.
Antibacterial (ophthalmic)
Natamycin, also known as pimaracin, belongs to the polyene family of antibiotics; (a group of antifungal agents which target and bind to eukaryotic sterols and specifically ergosterol), and it is a secondary metabolite of Streptomyces natalensis . Very low levels (10–20 ppm) are needed to inhibit almost all yeasts and molds, while no amount of natamycin is sufficient to inhibit most bacteria, as they lack the sterol targeted by natamycin (some gram-positive types may be susceptible). Thus, natamycin may be used to retard the growth of fungi in meat products to which fermentative cultures are added, and is typically applied as a surface treatment (i.e., dip or spray). Resistant organisms are not typically encountered even though natamycin has been used as a food preservative for more than three decades. Unlike most bacteriocins, natamycin is toxic to eukaryotes. Acceptable daily intake of natamycin for humans is 0–0.3 mg/kg of body weight.
The spectrum of Natamycin's activity is somewhat narrower than that of amphotericin and nystatin,
but at the same time, it is less toxic. It exhibits especially pronounced activity against a few
strains of Fusarium and Cefalosporium. Natamycin is a drug for treating superficial fungal infections, and it is used only for ophthalmologic purposes. Synonyms of this drug are
pimafucin, pimaricin, tennecetin, and others.
Natamycin (pimaricin; Natacyn) is a polyene antibiotic obtainedfrom cultures of Streptomyces natalensis.The natamycin structure consists of a 26-membered lactonering containing a tetraene chromophore, an α,β-unsaturatedlactone carbonyl group, three hydroxyl groups, a carboxyl group, a trans epoxide, and a glycosidically joined mycosamine.Like the other polyene antibiotics, natamycin isamphoteric.The smaller polyenes are fungistatic and fungicidal within thesame concentration range.Natamycin possesses in vitro activity against severalyeasts and filamentous fungi, including Candida,Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, Penicillium, and Fusariumspp. The drug is supplied as a 5% ophthalmic suspension intendedfor the treatment of fungal conjunctivitis, blepharitis,and keratitis.
The LC-MS-MS methods allowed Natamycin (Nat) quantification as low as 2.0ng/ml (R>0.99), respectively, for up to 90mins after a single administration of Nat to the eye.
After a single topical instillation, Nat reached the highest concentration in cornea at 10mins (Cmax:299.3ng/g). Nat was detected at all selected time points in the aqueous humor, and the highest was 27.03ng/ml at 30mins. The repeated dosing group, the concentrations in cornea and aqueous humor for Nat were 10569ng/g and 54.4ng/ml, respectively.
Side effects that you should report to doctor as soon as possible:
allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue
changes in vision
eye pain
severe burning, stinging, or swelling of the eyelids
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention:
blurred vision for a few moments after application
temporary redness or stinging for a few moments after application
temporary watering of eyes
Poison by intravenous,
intramuscular, subcutaneous, and
intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by
ingestion. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx. Used as an
antibacterial agent.
Natamycin, a mixture of stereoisomeric 22-[(3-amino-3,6-dideoxy-β-Dmannopyranosyl)oxy]-1,3,26-trihydroxy-12-methyl-10-oxo-6,11,28-trioxatricyclo[22.3.1.0.5,7]-octacosa-8,14,16,18,20,penten-25-carboxylic acid (35.1.3), like amphotericin
and nystatin, is a polyene antibiotic that is isolated from the products of the vital activity of
the actinomycete Streptomyces natalensis.
Veterinary Drugs and Treatments
Natamycin is a semisynthetic polyene antibiotic. Natamycin is
poorly water-soluble and will not penetrate the intact corneal epithelium.
Natamycin is the only antifungal agent approved for use
on the eye and the only commercially available eye drug for treatment
of fungal keratitis.
NADPH-oxidase | Antifection
1) te Welscher?et al. (2008), Natamycin blocks fungal growth by binding specifically to ergosterol without permeabilizing the membrane; J. Biol. Chem.,?283?6393
2) te Welscheri?et al. (2012),?Polyene antibiotic that inhibits membrane transport proteins; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.,?109?11156
3) te Welscher?et al. (2010),?Natamycin inhibits vacuole fusion at the priming phase via a specific interaction with ergosterol; Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.,?54?2618
