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Antimicrobial activity and therapeutic potential of the genus Lippia sensu lato (Verbenaceae)

ABSTRACT

The growing number of infectious diseases combined with the continuous increase of antimicrobial resistance of certain microorganisms justify the constant search for new drugs. Given this situation, plants are a rich source of bioactive resources of pharmacological interest. The Verbenaceae family, especially the genus Lippia L., has representatives with potential already confirmed against various pathogens; the species of Lippia are widely used in folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiseptic, anti-hypertensive, anxiolytic, anti-leishmania, antiviral, and digestive properties, among other applications. This review gathers information about the antimicrobial potential of the main species of the genus Lippia, relating to the type of extract, its constituents, and the importance of this genus in the investigation of natural products and their phytochemical and biological characteristics.

Keywords:
antibiotics; antifungals; phytochemical composition; natural products; tribe Lantaneae

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