Targeting Dermatophyte Biofilms: Effects of Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri Essential Oil

The increasing prevalence of dermatophytosis and biofilm-associated infections highlights the need for new therapeutic approaches. This study evaluated the potential of Lavandula luisieri essential oil against clinically relevant dermatophytes. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was chemically characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antifungal activity was assessed through determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), while antibiofilm activity against Epidermophyton floccosum was evaluated by measuring biofilm biomass, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and cell viability. An ex vivo model of Trichophyton rubrum-induced skin infection was used to assess efficacy under tissue-relevant conditions. The essential oil was mainly composed of oxygenated monoterpenes, with trans-α-necrodyl acetate (19.1%), lavandulyl acetate (13.6%), camphor (8.8%), 1,8-cineole (6.1%), and trans-α-necrodol (5.3%)as major constituents. The oil exhibited antifungal activity against all tested dermatophytes (MIC: 12.5–100 μg/mL), induced hyphal morphological alterations, significantly inhibited E. floccosum biofilm formation, particularly ECM deposition, and reduced fungal dissemination in the ex vivo skin model. These findings support the antidermatophytic and antibiofilm potential of L. stoechas subsp. luisieri essential oil, although further studies are required.