Ajoene has broad-spectrum antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) properties. For example, Ajoene has been shown to have activity against the human dermatophyte "Trichophyton rubrum", the most common cause of tinea pedis, commonly known as Athlete's Foot. The specific mechanism of action is unclear, but is thought to be related to the inhibition of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in human dermatophytes. In a randomized study by Ledezma et al. (2000), 70 soldiers from the Venezuelan Armed Forces with KOH or culture proven tinea pedis interdigitalis were randomly distributed into 3 treatment groups: 0.6% ajoene, 1% ajoene, and 1% terbinafine (commercially available as Lamisil AT®) applied twice daily for 1 week. At the 60 day follow up, 72%, 100%, and 94% of the patients treated with 0.6% and 1% ajoene, and 1% terbinafine, respectively, had maintained culture-proven mycologic cure suggesting that short-term topical treatment with ajoene is at least as effective as topical terbinafine for treating tinea pedis.