Lippia grata Essential Oil Acts Synergistically with Ampicillin Against Staphylococcus aureus and its Biofilm.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a global challenge as microorganisms evolve to withstand the effects of antibiotics. In addition, the improper use of antibiotics significantly contributes to the AMR acceleration. Essential oils have garnered attention for their antimicrobial potential. Indeed, essential oils extracted from plants contain compounds that exhibit antibacterial activity, including against resistant microorganisms. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil (EO) extracted from Lippia grata and its combination with ampicillin against Staphylococcus aureus strains (ATCC 25923, ATCC 700698, and JKD6008). The plant material (leaves) was gathered in Mossoro, RN, and the EO was obtained using the hydrodistillation method with the Clevenger apparatus. The antimicrobial activity of the EO was assessed through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Antibiofilm activity was evaluated by measuring biomass using crystal violet (CV) staining, viable cell counting, and analysis of preformed biofilms. In addition, the synergistic effects of the EO in combination with ampicillin were examined by scanning electron and confocal microscopy. The EO displayed a MIC value of 2.5 mg/mL against all tested S. aureus strains and an MBC only against S. aureus JKD6008 at 2.5 mg/mL. L. grata EO caused complete biofilm inhibition at concentrations ranging from 10 to 0.312 mg/mL against S. aureus ATCC 25923 and 10 to 1.25 mg/mL against S. aureus ATCC 700698 and S. aureus JKD6008. In the viable cell quantification assay, there was a reduction in CFU ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 logs. The combination of EO with ampicillin exhibited a synergistic effect against all strains. Moreover, the combination showed a significantly inhibiting biofilm formation and eradicating preformed biofilms. Furthermore, the EO and ampicillin (individually and in combination) altered the cellular morphology of S. aureus cells. Regarding the mechanism, the results revealed that L. grata EO increased membrane permeability and caused significant membrane damage. Concerning the synergy mechanism, the results revealed that the combination of EO and ampicillin increases membrane permeability and causes considerable membrane damage, further inhibiting bacteria synergistically. The findings obtained here suggest that L. grata EO in combination with ampicillin could be a viable treatment option against S. aureus infections, including MRSA strain.

Antifungal chemosensitization through induction of oxidative stress: A model for control of candidiasis based on the Lippia origanoides essential oil.

In this work, evaluated the antifungal chemosensitizing effect of the Lippia origanoides essential oil (EO) through the induction of oxidative stress. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. To evaluate the antifungal chemosensitizing effect through induction of oxidative stress, cultures of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ∆ycf1 were exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of the EO, and the expression of genes known, due be overexpressed in response to oxidative and mutagenic stress was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method. Carvacrol and thymol were identified as the main components. The EO was effective in preventing or reducing the growth of the microorganisms tested. The gene expression profiles showed that EO promoted changes in the patterns of expression of genes involved in oxidative and mutagenic stress resistance. The combined use of the L. origanoides EO with fluconazole has been tested on Candida yeasts and the strategy resulted in a synergistic enhancement of the antifungal action of the azolic chemical product. Indeed, in association with EO, the fluconazole MICs dropped. Thus, the combinatorial use of L. origanoides EO as a chemosensitizer agent should contribute to enhancing the efficiency of conventional antifungal drugs, reducing their negative side effects.

Insecticidal action, repellency, and toxicity mechanism of the essential oil of Lippia turbinata against the stored product pest Rhipibruchus picturatus (F.).

The use of essential oils (EOs) in the development of alternative management methods for bruchid control under storage conditions aroused great interest because they have proven to be effective, less toxic, and less persistent in the ecosystem than synthetic pesticides. In this sense, leaves of Lippia turbinata (Griseb.) Moldenke EO were studied in the present work. The monoterpene limonene and the monoterpenoid eucalyptol were its main constituents. EO showed a potent insecticidal activity, both in contact and fumigant conditions, against Rhipibruchus picturatus (F.) which is one of the main pests of Prosopis alba pods in stored conditions. Moreover, the EO produces repellency in these insects. Additionally, the toxicity mechanism of action was studied. In this regard, the EO inhibits the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in in vitro assays, alters the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, and produces an increase in the lipid peroxidation reactions. This is the first report of the use of the L. turbinata EO against R. picturatus insect pest. The data obtained demonstrate its potential for developing more efficient and natural storage pest control strategies.

Seasonal and Circadian Variation of Non-Volatile Metabolites in Lippia alba Leaves.

The present study describes the seasonal and circadian variations of the major compounds from Lippia alba leaves. SPSS was used to identify, quantify, and associate the variations in the secondary metabolites of this species through HPLC/DAD analysis of the leaves hydroethanolic extracts of six selected L. alba specimens. For the circadian study, the samples were collected at four different daily hours in each year's season. For the seasonal study, the samples were collected monthly from the same individuals for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019). These samples were analyzed and quantified using a validated HPLC method for flavonoids, iridoids, and phenyl ethanoid glycoside. Mussaenoside, acteoside, and tricin-7-O-diglucuronide showed a moderate positive correlation between their biosynthesis and the precipitation index, while epi-loganin had a moderate negative correlation. Acteoside showed a moderate positive correlation between the minimum registered temperature and its production. Compared with previous studies, a drastic reduction (about 95 %) in the production of tricin-7-O-diglucuronide compared with previous study and this difference could be attributed to the plant's aging. Thus, the data demonstrated that lower temperatures and high rainfall could favor the production of the major L. alba active compounds (acteoside and tricin-7-O-diglucuronide) and that older plants harm their production.

Wound Healing Effect of Lippia sidoides and Myracrodruon urundeuva Nanogel.

Wound healing is a natural regenerative response to tissue injury and the conventional treatments consists of the use wound dressings with local administration of medicines, but, in some cases, are only partially effective and limited by toxicity or ineffective anti-microbial protection. Medicinal plants such as Lippia sidoides and Myracrodruon urundeuva have shown interesting pharmacological activities, allied to this, the association of these medicinal plants and nanotechnology, could mean an advantage in relation to classical approach. This study investigated the effect of a nanogel loaded with Lippia sidoides essential oil and Myracrodruon urundeuva extract (NAA) in an excisional wound healing model in rats. Animals were anesthetized and skin wounds were made using a metal punch. The groups were treated with vehicle, NAA or collagenase gel, for 7, 14 or 21 days and then sacrificed for tissue analysis. NAA did not show acute dermal irritation, further significantly reduced (p<0.05) the final wound area, accelerated the wound contraction and organization of collagen in the group treated for 14 days. The data presented here demonstrate the therapeutic potential for the use of nanotechnology associated with medicinal plants and provides evidence that corroborate with the use of L. sidoides and M. urundeuva as healing medicinal plants.

Ippia Alba Essential Oil: A Promising Complementary Therapy for Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer remains a pressing global health issue, spurring exploration into innovative therapies. This review focuses on Lippia alba (Mill.) essential oil's potential as a complementary breast cancer treatment. With growing interest in natural approaches, Lippia alba shows promise in breast cancer management. The review will explore Lippia alba's multifaceted role in treatment, highlighting its anticancer effects on breast cancer cells, potential synergy with conventional treatments, safety profiles, and existing clinical evidence. It will also address knowledge gaps, stressing the need for further research to unlock Lippia alba's full therapeutic potential in breast cancer therapy. In a field craving novel therapies, this review offers a timely analysis. Despite the lack of existing reviews on this topic, Lippia alba's significance cannot be understated. As research progresses, this article will be a valuable resource for researchers and healthcare practitioners seeking to augment breast cancer management through complementary therapies.

In vitro Safety Assessment of Extracts and Compounds From Plants as Sunscreen Ingredients.

This work investigated the safety of extracts obtained from plants growing in Colombia, which have previously shown UV-filter/antigenotoxic properties. The compounds in plant extracts obtained by the supercritical fluid (CO2) extraction method were identified using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. Cytotoxicity measured as cytotoxic concentration 50% (CC50) and genotoxicity of the plant extracts and some compounds were studied in human fibroblasts using the trypan blue exclusion assay and the Comet assay, respectively. The extracts from Pipper eriopodon and Salvia aratocensis species and the compound trans-ß-caryophyllene were clearly cytotoxic to human fibroblasts. Conversely, Achyrocline satureioides, Chromolaena pellia, and Lippia origanoides extracts were relatively less cytotoxic with CC50 values of 173, 184, and 89 µg/mL, respectively. The C. pellia and L. origanoides extracts produced some degree of DNA breaks at cytotoxic concentrations. The cytotoxicity of the studied compounds was as follows, with lower CC50 values representing the most cytotoxic compounds: resveratrol (91 µM) > pinocembrin (144 µM) > quercetin (222 µM) > titanium dioxide (704 µM). Quercetin was unique among the compounds assayed in being genotoxic to human fibroblasts. Our work indicates that phytochemicals can be cytotoxic and genotoxic, demonstrating the need to establish safe concentrations of these extracts for their potential use in cosmetics.

Nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with essential oils: a strategy against SARS-CoV-2.

This work aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Lippia sidoides and Syzygium aromaticum essential oils (EOs) encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors through virucidal activity assessment. We developed anionic and cationic NLCs loaded with the EOs and assessed their physicochemical properties and SARS-CoV-2 virucidal activity, focusing on the effects of EO type and the NLCs composition. The NLCs exhibited particle sizes of 141.30 to 160.53 nm for anionic and 109.30 to 138.60 nm for cationic types, with PDIs between 0.16 and 0.25. High zeta potentials (>29.0 in modulus) indicated stable formulations. The NLCs effectively encapsulated the EOs, achieving encapsulation efficiencies between 84.6 to 100% w/w of marker compound. The EOs-loaded NLCs reduced the SARS-CoV-2 virion count, exceeding 2 logs over the control. NLCs loaded with Lippia sidoides and Syzygium aromaticum EOs represent an innovative strategy for combating SARS-CoV-2.

Antioxidant Properties of Lippia alba Essential Oil: A Potential Treatment for Oxidative Stress-Related Conditions in Plants and Cancer Cells.

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton and P. Wilson is used in folk medicine of Central and South America for its biological activities: i.e., antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Based on ethnopharmacological information and the increasing interest in this species, this work aimed to test a possible wide use of its essential oil (EO) in pharmaceutical and horticultural applications. Therefore, we focused the attention on the antioxidant activity of the oil as a possible tool to overcome the oxidative stress in both applications. For this purpose, we have chosen three aggressive breast cancer cell lines and two horticultural species (Solanum lycopersicum L. and Phaseolus acutifolius L.) that are very sensitive to salt stress. We determined the antioxidant activity of L. alba EO through the quantification of phenols and flavonoids. Regarding tomato and bean plants under salt stress, L. alba EO was used for the first time as a seed priming agent to enhance plant salt tolerance. In this case, the seed treatment enhanced the content of phenolic compounds, reduced power and scavenger activity, and decreased membrane lipid peroxidation, thus mitigating the oxidative stress induced by salt. While in breast cancer cells the EO treatment showed different responses according to the cell lines, i.e., in SUM149 and MDA-MB-231 the EO decreased proliferation and increased antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation, showing high cytotoxic effects associated with the release of lactate dehydrogenase, vice versa no effect was observed in MDA-MB-468. Such antioxidant activity opens a new perspective about this essential oil as a possible tool to counteract proliferation in some cancer cell lines and in horticulture as a seed priming agent to protect from oxidative damage in crops sensitive to salinity.

Dietary supplementation with Lippia sidoides essential oil improves organ integrity but the specific activity of antioxidant enzymes is dose-dependent in Danio rerio.

The nutritional quality of food can affect the health of animals. This study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with Lippia sidoides essential oil (LSEO) on the physiology of Danio rerio. Four hundred fourty-eight fish were divided into 28 tanks and subjected to different dietary treatments: a control group with no supplementation, a group with grain alcohol supplementation and five groups with LSEO at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00% and 1.25%. After 15 days, histological and enzymatic analyses were conducted. The 0.25% LSEO group exhibited lower glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity compared to the 1.00% group. Additionally, fish in the 0.25% LSEO group showed improved liver, kidney and splenic integrity indices. These findings support the inclusion of 0.25% LSEO in the diet of D. rerio, suggesting potential benefits for fish physiology and encouraging further research on phytotherapeutics in fish diets.

Comparative analysis indicates a simple protocol for DNA extraction of the aromatic plant Lippia alba.

An efficient method of genomic DNA extraction that provides high quality and yield is a crucial pre-requisite and limiting factor in plant genetic analysis. However, pure genomic DNA can be challenging to obtain from some plant species due to their sugar and secondary metabolite contents. Lippia alba is an important aromatic and medicinal plant, chemically characterized by the presence of tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and essential oils, which interfere with the extraction of pure genomic DNA. In this scenario, optimizing the extraction methods and minimizing the effects of these compounds are necessary. This study compares six plant DNA extraction protocols based on the CTAB method. The quality and quantity of DNA samples obtained were determined by physical appearance by electrophoresis in agarose gels and spectrophotometry. The results highlight the difficulty in obtaining pure and clear bands for all tested methods, except for the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based protocol created by our team, which was the better option for obtaining high-quality genomic DNA of L. alba. We conclude that adding PVP-40 into DNA extraction buffers can optimize the DNA extraction of L. alba and indicate this protocol for DNA extraction from other aromatic plants.

In vitro anthelmintic activity of Lippia alba essential oil chemotypes against Haemonchus contortus.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the essential oils of Lippia alba chemotypes carvone and citral on H. contortus. Chemical characterization was performed by means of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The anthelmintic effects of the essential oils were assessed through the egg hatch test (EHT) and the adult worm motility test (AWMT) using a multidrug-resistant H. contortus Kokstad isolate. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of eggs and adults of H. contortus and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of adults were performed after treatment with oils for qualitative observations of their effects. The carvone chemotype of L. alba (LaCV) presented 70% carvone, and the citral chemotype of L. alba (LaCT) presented 29.4% geranial and 20.4% neral, respectively. In the EHT, the EC50 values of LaCV and LaCT were 0.2 and 0.3 mg/mL, respectively. In AWMT, after 12 h of exposure to 2 mg/mL LaCV and 2 mg/mL LaCT, 100% of adult nematodes were immobile. CLSM showed changes in larval motility inside the egg caused by LaCV, while LaCT promoted changes in larval formation. In adults exposed to both chemotypes, alterations in the anterior portion of the oesophagus were observed. In SEM, morphological changes were observed in the buccal capsule and in the medial portion of H. contortus adults. It is concluded that the two essential oils of L. alba, the chemotypes carvone and citral, caused morphological changes and inhibited the hatching of eggs and the motility of adult H. contortus nematodes.

Efficacy of essential oils of Egletes viscosa and Lippia schaueriana on the reproductive biology of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato engorged females.

The study analyzed the chemical composition and the acaricide effect of Egletes viscosa Less (macela-da-terra) and Lippia schaueriana Mart. (lipia-da-serra) essential oils (EOs) on Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l. (Acari: Ixodidae) engorged females. The chemical analysis (GC-MS and GC-FID) identified 27 components in E. viscosa EO and 18 in L. schaueriana EO, which comprise more than 98% of its constituents. The effects of the oils on the reproductive biology of R. sanguineus ticks were assessed by adult immersion test. Both EOs significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the egg production index when the females were exposed to 25 and 50 mg/mL, also affecting the egg viability. During the laying process, the eggs produced by the females exposed to the EO showed several morphological alterations such as dehydrated, darkened, and disaggregated, and these alterations were more severe as the concentrations increased. The mortality percentages were 58.9%, 70.8% and 92.7% when the ticks were exposed to 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/mL of E. viscosa oil, respectively. In the same concentrations, the efficacy of L. schaueriana was 39.3%, 53.4%, and 84.6%. Therefore, it can be concluded that the essential oils of E. viscosa and L. schaueriana have acaricidal effect in females of R. sanguineus s.l ticks.

Chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils from Lippia alba and Lippia origanoides.

There is an increasing interest in essential oils extracted from Verbenaceae plant species as potential sources of biologically active compounds that could provide a starting point for designing novel phyto-pharmaceuticals in aquaculture. The present study was aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, acute toxicity and antimicrobial effects against Vibrio parahaemolyticus of essential oils extracted from Lippia alba and L. origanoides. Approximately 23 components were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection in each species' essential oil. The most predominant compounds were geranial (23.0%), limonene (17.0%) and neral (15.5%) in L. alba, and thymol (47.2%), p-cymene (16.0%) and E-caryophyllene (11.3%) in L. origanoides. The essential oils have antibacterial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus presenting Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values between 156-625 µg mL-1. The essential oils also show antioxidant potential estimated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays, presenting IC50 of 60.16 mg mL-1 and 0.22 mg mL-1 for L. alba and L. origanoides EO, respectively. Both oils were classified as toxic to Artemia salina nauplii. Therefore, these essential oils may be useful for controlling pathogenic bacteria important to the aquaculture industry.

Assessment of the in Vitro Antimelanoma Potential of Lippia microphylla Cham (Verbenaceae) Essential Oil.

Essential oils stand out among natural products for their complex composition, frequently described in the literature with a range of biological effects. This study evaluated the cytotoxic activity against several human cancer cell lines of essential oils extracted from the leaves of Lippia microphylla (EO-LM) Cham. (Verbenaceae). The melanoma cell line SK-MEL-28 was the most sensitive to the EO-LM, presenting an IC50 of 33.38±1.16 µg/mL. Afterward, the effects of EO-LM on the cell cycle, induction of apoptosis, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. We stated a significant increase in the sub-G1 population, indicating apoptosis, later confirmed by an increase of SK-MEL-28 cells labeled with Annexin V-FITC and by the formation of apoptotic bodies and membrane blebs, observed by confocal microscopy. Additionally, EO-LM reduced the production of ROS, indicating antioxidant activity. Therefore, EO-LM exhibits anti-melanoma activity in vitro, suggesting its potential as an anticancer agent.

Chemical Composition, Anthelmintic Activity, and Mechanism of Action of Lippia dominguensis Mold. Essential Oil on Haemonchus contortus.

Gastrointestinal nematode parasitism is a major burden to small ruminant production globally, compounded by increasing anthelmintic resistance. Previous studies have identified essential oils (EOs) from the Lippia genus with antiprotozoal and anthelmintic effects. Lippia dominguensis Moldenke (Ld), an endemic specie from the Dominican Republic, has similar popular uses, however, is chemically and pharmacologically yet uncharacterized. Here, we investigated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of LdEO and its ultrastructural effects on eggs and adult nematodes of Haemonchus contortus multidrug-resistant isolated. The GC/MS analysis showed linalool (33.85 %), 1,8-cineole (30.88 %), and δ-terpineol (10.61 %) as the main EO constituents. The LdEO showed an IC50 =0.523 mg/mL in the egg hatch test, and the motility in the adult worm motility test was 95.8 % at 1 mg/mL. The confocal scanning laser microscopy of eggs indicated permeabilization or disruption of egg cell membranes as the possible mechanism of action of LdEO. The scanning electron microscopy of adult worms showed wrinkling, undulations, and cuticular disruptions. The LdEO displayed significant in vitro anthelmintic activity on eggs and adult worms of H. contortus. Additionally, the LdEO showed low oral toxicity in mice at 2,000 mg/kg. Thus, additional in vivo studies are justified to determine its anthelmintic efficacy in small ruminants.

Inhibition of α-Glycosidase by Lippia dulcis Trevir. (Verbenaceae) Preparations, Quantification of Verbascoside, and Study of Its Molecular Docking.

This study aimed to quantify verbascoside (VEB), perform molecular docking studies of VEB with the α-glucosidase (GL) of Bacillus stearothermophilus, and evaluate the inhibition of the enzyme by L. dulcis preparations. The substrate concentration and presence of reduced glutathione were evaluated for their effect on the in vitro inhibition of the GL enzyme. Assays were also performed in the presence and absence of simulated gastric fluid. The antidiabetic fractions 2 and 3 were the most inhibited GL, but their activity were significantly decreased in the presence of gastric fluid. Chromatographic analyses confirmed the predominant presence of VEB in the samples. The samples had VEB concentrations between 49.9 and 243.5 mg/g. Simulation of the molecular docking of VEB were consistent with its GL-inhibitory activity. It can conclude that the crude ethanol extract and fractions show inhibitory activity against the GL enzyme.

Antiproliferative Effect of Essential Oil Obtained from Oregano (Lippia palmeri S. Watson) Leaves Grown in Hydroponics and LED Light.

Nowadays, light-emitting diodes (LED) provide an alternative source to sunlight with specific intensity and wavelength that promotes plant growth. The features offered by LED could also stimulate the production of secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical interest. This work analyzed the cultivation of oregano (Lippia palmeri S. Watson) in a floating root hydroponic system supplemented by full-spectrum LED artificial light. Growth indicators like height, diameter, number of shoots, and leaf length and width were measured. The essential oil (EO) composition from the leaves of wild and hydroponic conditions found thymol (41.8 %) as the main product for the former and carvacrol (47 %) in hydroponics. The antiproliferative activity of EOs on human colorectal cancer HCT-15 shows that 6.4 µg/ml for hydroponic and 7.4 µg/ml for the wild plant reduce more than 50 % the cell viability. Overall, this study indicates that hydroponic conditions and full spectrum LED modifies the composition of the EO of L. palmeri on compared with the wild plant, which effectively induces cell growth inhibition in human colorectal cancer.

Dendritogenic Potential of the Ethanol Extract from Lippia alba Leaves in Rat Cortical Neurons.

A reduced dendritic complexity, especially in regions such as the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, has been linked to the pathophysiology of some neuropsychiatric disorders, in which synaptic plasticity and functions such as emotional and cognitive processing are compromised. For this reason, the identification of new therapeutic strategies would be enriched by the search for metabolites that promote structural plasticity. The present study evaluated the dendritogenic potential of the ethanol extract of Lippia alba, an aromatic plant rich in flavonoids and terpenes, which has been widely used in traditional medicine for its presumed analgesic, anxiolytic, and antidepressant potential. An in vitro model of rat cortical neurons was used to determine the kinetics of the plant's effect at different time intervals. Changes in morphological parameters of the neurons were determined, as well as the dendritic complexity, by Sholl analysis. The extract promotes the outgrowth of dendritic branching in a rapid and sustained fashion, without being cytotoxic to the cells. We found that this effect could be mediated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, which is involved in mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, differentiation, and survival. The evidence presented in this study provides a basis for further research that, through in vivo models, can delve into the plant's therapeutic potential.

Application of MaxEnt modeling to evaluate the climate change effects on the geographic distribution of Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng in Africa.

Lippia javanica is a typical indigenous plant species mostly found in the higher elevation or mountainous regions in southern, central, and eastern Africa. The ongoing utilization of the species for ethnobotanical applications and traditional uses, coupled with the changing climate, increases the risk of a potential reduction in its geographic distribution range in the region. Herein, we utilized the MaxEnt species distribution modelling to build the L. javanica distribution models in tropical and subtropical African regions for current and future climates. The MaxEnt models were calibrated and fitted using 286 occurrence records and six environmental variables. Temperatures, including temperature seasonality [Bio 4] and the maximum temperature of the warmest month [Bio 5], were observed to be the most significant determinants of L. javanica's distribution. The current projected range for L. javanica was estimated to be 2,118,457 km2. Future model predictions indicated that L. javanica may increase its geographic distribution in western areas of the continent and regions around the equator; however, much of the geographic range in southern Africa may shift southwards, causing the species to lose portions of the northern limits of the habitat range. These current findings can help increase the conservation of L. javanica and other species and combat localized species loss induced by climate change and human pressure. We also emphasize the importance of more investigations and enhanced surveillance of traditionally used plant species in regions that are acutely susceptible to climate change.