Antifungal activity of Anacardium occidentale against clinical strains of Sporothrix brasiliensis

Aim To investigate the antifungal activity of Anacardium occidentale leaf extract can fight Sporothrix brasiliensis, a fungus that cause sporotrichosis.Material and methods We tested the extract against 20 fungal samples obtained from humans. We also evaluated whether the extract could reduce the growth of fungal communities called biofilms and examined changes in fungal cells after treatment.Results and conclusion The extract, rich in gallic acid, rutin, and ellagic acid, was able to stop fungal growth at low concentrations and reduced mature biofilms by up to 68%. Microscopy showed damage and changes in the structure of treated fungal cells. The extract caused little damage to red blood cells, suggesting low toxicity under the conditions tested. These findings suggest that cashew leaf extract may be a promising source of new treatments for sporotrichosis caused by S. brasiliensis.