pyrithione

Pyrithione is an organosulfur compound commonly used as an antimicrobial agent for the treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. It acts primarily by disrupting microbial cell membrane integrity and inhibiting essential metabolic functions. Pyrithione is also a key ligand in zinc pyrithione (zinc chelate), which is widely used in medicated shampoos for its fungistatic and bacteriostatic properties. The mechanism involves acting as an ionophore to shuttle copper into fungal cells, leading to inhibition of iron-sulfur cluster-containing proteins and thus suppressing fungal metabolism and growth[2][6][8]. Pyrithione itself can collapse transmembrane proton gradients in fungi by acting as a protonophore[6]. It is available over-the-counter in various topical formulations.

Brand names

Biokera

Other names

pyrithionepyridinethione1-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinethione2-mercaptopyridine