Title:	Multifunctional activity of Lippia gracilis Schauer essential oil against skin infections.
Authors:	SOARES, I. L. SÁ, K. CANUTO, K. M. BANDEIRA, M. A. SALGUEIRO, L. ZUZARTE, M.
Affiliation:	IGOR LIMA SOARES, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ; KELLEN SÁ, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ; KIRLEY MARQUES CANUTO, CNPAT; MARY ANNE BANDEIRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ; LÍGIA SALGUEIRO, UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA; MÓNICA ZUZARTE, UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA.
Date Issued:	2026
Citation:	Plants, v. 15, n. 11, 1681, 2026.
Description:	This study evaluates the antifungal activity of Lippia gracilis Schauer essential oil traditionally used in northeastern Brazil for the treatment of skin disorders. The essential oil isolated from fresh leaves collected in Ceará, Brazil, was chemically characterized by GC–MS, showing a thymol-dominant profile (37.52%), accompanied by p-cymene (12.13%), γ-terpinene (9.29%), and gurjunene (10.95%). Antifungal assays revealed significant activity against several dermatophyte species with MIC and MFC values ranging from 50 to 100 μg/mL. Biofilm assays against Epidermophyton floccosum demonstrated strong inhibitory effects by disrupting biofilm formation, altering fungal morphology, and promoting in vitro skin cells migration, while also showing effective preventive effects in an ex vitro nail infection model. These findings support the potential of L. gracilis essential oil as a multifunctional natural antifungal agent for the management of refractory dermatophytosis and onychomycosis, and provide scientific validation for its traditional use in skin infection treatment.
Thesagro:	Caju Anacardium Occidentale Adubação Foliar Nutrição Vegetal Fotossíntese Castanha de Caju
NAL Thesaurus:	Foliar application Plant nutrition Gas exchange Stomatal conductance Crop yield Cashew nuts
Keywords:	Cajueiro-anão ‘BRS 226 Adubação foliar complementar Índice relativo de clorofila (SPAD) Desempenho fisiológico Produtividade de castanha de caju ‘BRS 226’ dwarf cashew Complementary foliar fertilization Physiological performance Cashew nut yield
ISSN:	2223-7747
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111681
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPAT)