IT IS A IMIDAZOLE ANTIFUNGAL. WHILE THE EXACT MECHANISM OF ACTION OF THIS CLASS OF ANTIFUNGALS IS NOT KNOWN, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THEY ACT PRIMARILY BY INHIBITING THE CYTOCHROME P450-DEPENDENT SYNTHESIS OF ERGOSTEROL. ERGOSTEROL IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE CELL MEMBRANE OF FUNGI, AND LACK OF THIS COMPONENT LEADS TO FUNGAL CELL INJURY PRIMARILY BY LEAKAGE OF KEY CONSTITUENTS IN THE CYTOPLASM FROM THE CELL.