• Update Date:2007-05-26

Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is an essential oil from the leaves of Melaleuca altemifolia, a tree native to Australia. Uses and Benefits: Tea tree oil is primarily used as a topical anti-infective. It is found in facial care products

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is an essential oil from the leaves of Melaleuca altemifolia, a tree native to Australia.

Uses and Benefits:

Tea tree oil is primarily used as a topical anti-infective. It is found in facial care products to treat or prevent acne, mouthwashes and toothpaste, and skin and nail care products to treat or prevent fungal infections.

Pharmacology:

Components of the essential oil are numerous; the primary antimicrobial constituents are terpinen-4-ol, 1-8-cineole, and alpha-terpineol. Antimicrobial activity has been demon rated in vitro against various aerobic (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Fscherichia coli, Propionibacterium acnes, Pseudomonas aerugiIlosa) and anaerobic bacteria. 1 In vitro antifungal activity is established for Candida, Trichophyton, and other species. Minimum Illhibitory concentrations (MICs) and/or microbicidal concentralions for most organisms range from 0.25% to 8%. S. aureus and lIlost gram-negative bacteria have much lower MICs (0.25-0.5%) lilan the common resident skin flora. s In addition, in vitro testing 1)( Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides, and other gram-positive .Inaerobic cocci commonly associated with bacterial vaginosis indicates MIC go of less than or equal to 0.5%.

Clinical Trials:

Fungal Infections-Uncontrolled trials and case series have ported benefits for various fungal skin and nail infections.7- g flowever, minimal benefits for tinea infections were demonstrated two double-blind, randomized, controlled trials. For the treatment of Tinea pedis, one trial compared topical tolnaftate 1%, tea oil1 0%, and placebo in 121 patients. Mycological cure was d(:monstrated in 85%, 30%, and 21 % of patients, respectively.ective therapy, defined as achievement of both mycological cure (negative culture results) and improvement by 2 points on a 0-4 numeric symptom scale, was demonstrated in 46%, 22%, and 9% of patients.

Adverse Effects:

Contact dermatitis from tea tree oil, tea troo oil products, and tea tree foliage is well documented. Reportnd adverse events of irritation from low-concentration products used in trials are

• Print
• Email To Friend
• Back