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A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology
Abstract
Tea tree oil (TTO) is an essential oil, steam-distilled from the Australian native plant, Melaleuca alternifolia. It has a minimum content of terpinen-4-ol and a maximum content of 1, 8-cineole. Terpinen-4-ol is a major TTO component which exhibits strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Tea tree oil exerts antioxidant activity and has been reported to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections affecting skin and mucosa. Several studies have suggested the uses of TTO for the treatment of acne vulgaris, seborrheic dermatitis, and chronic gingivitis. It also accelerates the wound healing process and exhibits anti-skin cancer activity. This review opens up new horizons for dermatologists in the use of this herbal agent.
... It was originally exploited by aboriginal peoples of the Australian mainland as an antiseptic and herbal medicine to treat cough, cold or skin disease, and its medicinal properties were first reported in 1923 [2]. Several papers described its broadspectrum antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal and antiviral activities, and nowadays TTO is incorporated in different dermatological and oral hygiene products [1,4]. Clinical studies demonstrated its efficacy in the decolonization of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and in treating skin and mucosal infections, including acne, seborrheic dermatitis, cold sores, oral candidiasis and chronic gingivitis, representing an effective natural approach for the treatment of infectious diseases [2,[4][5][6]. ...
... Several papers described its broadspectrum antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal and antiviral activities, and nowadays TTO is incorporated in different dermatological and oral hygiene products [1,4]. Clinical studies demonstrated its efficacy in the decolonization of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and in treating skin and mucosal infections, including acne, seborrheic dermatitis, cold sores, oral candidiasis and chronic gingivitis, representing an effective natural approach for the treatment of infectious diseases [2,[4][5][6]. The possible use of TTO in handwash formulations for healthcare settings has also been suggested [7]. ...
... The possible use of TTO in handwash formulations for healthcare settings has also been suggested [7]. In addition to its antimicrobial properties, TTO can also accelerate the wound healing process and exhibits anti-inflammatory and antitumoral activities [4,8,9]. TTO contains about 100 different components, including aromatic terpene hydrocarbons, sesquiterpenes and their associated alcohols [10]. ...
Tea Tree Oil (TTO) is an essential oil obtained from the distillation of Melaleuca alternifolia leaves and branches. Due to its beneficial properties, TTO is widely used as an active ingredient in antimicrobial preparations for topical use or in cosmetic products and contains about 100 different compounds, with terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene and 1,8-cineole (or eucalyptol) being the molecules most responsible for its biological activities. In this work, the antimicrobial activity of whole TTO and these three major components was evaluated in vitro against fungi, bacteria and viruses. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out on a bacterial membrane model and a Coxsackievirus B4 viral capsid, to propose an atomistic explanation of their mechanism of action. The obtained results indicate that the strong antimicrobial activity of TTO is attributable to the induction of an altered membrane functionality, mediated by the incorporation of its components within the lipid bilayer, and to a possible ability of the compounds to bind and alter the structural properties of the viral capsid.
... The EOs isolated from M. alternifolia or their main constituents, such as terpinen-4-ol, have been demonstrated to be able to inhibit some pro-inflammatory cytokines by decreasing their expression in diverse cell lines, although very few have targeted skin inflammation. This can be observed in review articles in which the anti-inflammatory activity of TTO is reported but without references that support its application in dermatology [30,111,112]. ...
... The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of TTO have been described and are mainly due to terpinen-4-ol [111], being widely used and studied in the treatment of acne. However, this compound does not have excellent antiseborrheic and keratolytic properties, and it may therefore be necessary to associate it with other compounds that not only reinforce but also complement its activity in the treatment of acne, as described above. ...
Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory dermatological pathology that affects mostly young people. However, it can also appear in adulthood, mainly in women. It has a high psychosocial impact, not only at the time of active lesions but also due to the consequences of lesions such as scarring and hyperpigmentation. Several factors are involved in the physiopathology of acne and the constant search for active ingredients is a reality, namely phytotherapeutic ingredients. Tea tree oil is an essential oil extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betch) Cheel with known antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, making it a candidate for the treatment of acne. This review aims to describe the various properties of tea tree oil that make it a possible ingredient to use in the treatment of acne and to present several human studies that have evaluated the efficacy and safety of using tea tree oil in the treatment of acne. It can be concluded that tea tree oil has good antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that result in a decrease in the number of inflammatory lesions, mainly papules, and pustules. However, given the diversity of study designs, it is not possible to draw concrete conclusions on the efficacy and safety of this oil in the treatment of acne.
... As an AV therapy, of course, antibiotics are one of the regimens used, but the increasing resistance to them raises concerns about their use so various other alternatives have emerged, one of which is tea tree oil (Pazyar et al., 2012). The goal of conventional AV treatment is antimicrobial effects (benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics), anti-inflammatory effects (retinoids), normalization of follicular keratinization (retinoids), reduction of sebum secretion (retinoids), and keratolytic activity (salicylic acid). ...
... In AV treatment, it was found that this oil was found to be effective in the topical form of 5% in gel form against mild to moderate AV (Pazyar et al., 2012). In the study of Malhi et al. (2016), it was found that topical treatment with 5% tea tree oil for 12 weeks reduced AV lesions by 54%. ...
Acne vulgaris (AV) is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit that often occurs at the age of 15 to 40 years. Various factors can influence this disease such as abnormal keratinization, microbial colonization, increased sebum production and complex inflammatory mechanisms. Essential oils can be used as an alternative therapy for AV. Various kinds of essential oils which are natural aromatic compounds from herbal plants, have long been known to help cure AV. This is because of the various beneficial compounds contained in each essential oils. The effects are varied such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial which will affect the healing mechanism of AV. This literature review discusses the role of essential oils from kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), cinnamon (Cinnamomum), tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. and Cymbopogon flexuosus), oregano (Origanum vulgare) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) against AV treatment.
... It has been reported that TTO showed to be effective against bacterial, viral, and fungal organisms and it is also a powerful immunostimulant agent. It helps the skin to heal by encouraging the formation of scar tissue [13]. For instance, hydrogel containing TTO reduced skin damage induced by ultraviolet B exposure and the hydrogel reduced wound area compared to allantoin-loaded hydrogel, posing TTO as a possible candidate to control skin inflammation and wounds [14]. ...
... α-Bergamotene (18), another sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, constituted 5.3% and presented antibacterial activity [40]. Other prevalent sesquiterpene hydrocarbons included α-copaene (10,13,24), β-caryophyllene (16,17), and δ-cadinene (20,21), exhibiting anticancer and antioxidant effects [41]. On the other hand, alcohols were the second major class, owing to the enrichment of oil with erpinene-4-ol (12.06%), spathulenol (5.8%), trans-ascaridol glycol (4.66%), and α-terpineol (4.43%). ...
The GC-MS analysis of tea tree oil (TTO) revealed 38 volatile components with sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (43.56%) and alcohols (41.03%) as major detected classes. TTO efficacy is masked by its hydrophobicity; nanoencapsulation can address this drawback. The results showed that TTO-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN1), composed of glyceryl monostearate (2% w/w) and Poloxamer188 (5% w/w), was spherical in shape with a core-shell microstructure. TTO-SLN1 showed a high entrapment efficiency (96.26 ± 2.3%), small particle size (235.0 ± 20.4 nm), low polydispersity index (0.31 ± 0.01), and high negative Zeta potential (−32 mV). Moreover, it exhibited a faster active agent release (almost complete within 4 h) compared to other formulated TTO-SLNs as well as the plain oil. TTO-SLN1 was then incorporated into cellulose nanofibers gel, isolated from sugarcane bagasse, to form the ‘TTO-loaded nanolipogel’ which had a shear-thinning behavior. Second-degree thermal injuries were induced in Wistar rats, then the burned skin areas were treated daily for 7 days with the TTO-loaded nanolipogel compared to the unmedicated nanolipogel, the TTO-loaded conventional gel, and the normal saline (control). The measurement of burn contraction proved that TTO-loaded nanolipogel exhibited a significantly accelerated skin healing, this was confirmed by histopathological examination as well as quantitative assessment of inflammatory infiltrate. This study highlighted the success of the proposed nanotechnology approach in improving the efficacy of TTO used for the repair of skin damage induced by burns.
... Regarding NE-F8 group, the levels of both TNF-α and IL-17 were significantly decreased by 23 % and 29.3 %, respectively, while the level of IL-10 was significantly increased by 81 % when compared with positive control group (p ≤ 0.05) (Fig. 6). This was ascribed to the pronounced anti-inflammatory activities of the used bioactive ingredients; TTO and RL [64][65][66][67]. ...
... Maximum improvement was achieved by TSIIA-NE-F8 (1.9 fold increase in lung SDC-1 (Fig. 8 A), 53.7 % decrease in BALF SDC-1 (Fig. 8 B) and 68 % decrease MMP-9 (Fig. 8 C)). The effect of TSIIA, TTO and RL in inhibition of glycocalyx degradation could be explained by their pronounced anti-inflammatory [14,37,61,[64][65][66][67] and antioxidant [72][73][74] properties. It was found that inflammation can induce the formation and release of glycocalyx degradation enzymes especially MMP-9 [79] and also an incomplete glycocalyx can aggravate the pulmonary inflammatory reaction resulting in a vicious circle leading to continuous lung injury [80]. ...
Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more serious form; acute respiratory distress syndrome are major causes of COVID-19 related mortality. Finding new therapeutic targets for ALI is thus of great interest. This work aimed to prepare a biocompatible nanoformulation for effective pulmonary delivery of the herbal drug; tanshinone-IIA (TSIIA) for ALI management. A nanoemulsion (NE) formulation based on bioactive natural ingredients; rhamnolipid biosurfactant and tea-tree oil, was developed using a simple ultrasonication technique, optimized by varying oil concentration and surfactant:oil ratio. The selected TSIIA-NE formulation showed 105.7 nm diameter and a PDI ∼ 0.3. EE exceeded 98 % with biphasic sustained drug release and good stability over 3-months. In-vivo efficacy was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI model. TSIIA-NE (30 µg/kg) was administered once intratracheally 2 h after LPS instillation. Evaluation was performed 7days post-treatment. Pulmonary function assessment, inflammatory, oxidative stress and glycocalyx shedding markers analysis in addition to histopathological examination of lung tissue were performed. When compared to untreated rats, in-vivo efficacy study demonstrated 1.4 and 1.9-fold increases in tidal volume and minute respiratory volume, respectively, with 32 % drop in wet/dry lung weight ratio and improved levels of arterial blood gases. Lung histopathology and biochemical analysis of different biomarkers in tissue homogenate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid indicated that treatment may ameliorate LPS‐induced ALI symptoms thorough anti‐oxidative, anti‐inflammatory effects and inhibition of glycocalyx degradation. TSIIA-NE efficacy was superior to free medication and blank-NE. The enhanced efficacy of TSIIA bioactive nanoemulsion significantly suggests the pharmacotherapeutic potential of bioactive TSIIA-NE as a promising nanoplatform for ALI.
... Terpinen-4-ol, the majority component in tea-tree essential oil, can reduce the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-8, IL-10 and prostaglandin E2, suppress superoxide production by monocytes and demonstrates good activity against acne and other bacterial infections (56,57). Additionally, terpinen-4-ol modulates vasodilation and plasma extravasation (57). ...
... Terpinen-4-ol, the majority component in tea-tree essential oil, can reduce the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-8, IL-10 and prostaglandin E2, suppress superoxide production by monocytes and demonstrates good activity against acne and other bacterial infections (56,57). Additionally, terpinen-4-ol modulates vasodilation and plasma extravasation (57). In the aging process-especially photoaging -these cytokines are unbalanced, this way, the utilization of teatree essential oil as an antiaging active compound can be a good alternative since it may improve the skin renewal process. ...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the penetration depth, antioxidant capacity and the clinical efficacy of Melaleuca alternifolia pure essential oil and in a nanoemulsion to prevent skin photoaging. For this, 2% of pure essential oil or 2% of this essential oil in a nanoemulsion were vehiculated in a formulation. The skin penetration was evaluated using confocal Raman microspectroscopy. The radical protection factor was evaluated using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. For a clinical study, 40 male participants, aged 18–28 years, were enrolled, being divided into three groups: vehicle formulation, M. alternifolia pure essential oil and M. alternifolia Nanoemulsion. All the participants also received a sunscreen SPF 50 to use during the day. Before and after 90 days of study, skin hydrolipidics and morphological characteristics were performed by skin imaging and biophysical techniques. The nanoemulsion presented a lower antioxidant capacity and a higher penetration through the stratum corneum, reaching the viable epidermis, improving the stratum granulosum morphology. The groups presented an increase in the papillary depth, improving in the dermis echogenicity and the collagen fibers. Melaleuca alternifolia essential provides the potential to improve photoaged skin, being the application of nanoemulsion able to reach deeper skin layers.
... It was reported that lemongrass oil as an antifungal agent for skin diseases (cutaneous candidiasis and dermatomycosis) for its main component, citral [60] . Pazyar et al., 2013 reported tea tree oil is used in the treatment of onychomycosis and bacterial acne [61,62,63] . ...
... It was reported that lemongrass oil as an antifungal agent for skin diseases (cutaneous candidiasis and dermatomycosis) for its main component, citral [60] . Pazyar et al., 2013 reported tea tree oil is used in the treatment of onychomycosis and bacterial acne [61,62,63] . ...
Aloe vera Linne or aloe barbadensis Miller is a succulent from the Aloe family (400 different species), a tropical plant which is easily grown in hot and dry climates and widely distributed in Asia, Africa and other tropical areas. The use of aloe vera is being promoted for a large variety of conditions. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize all dermatology-oriented in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical trials on aloe vera preparations. Extensive literature search were carried out to identify all in vitro and in vivo studies as well as clinical trials on the subject. Data were extracted from these in a predefined standardized manner. Forty studies were located. The results suggest that oral administration of aloe vera in mice is effective on wound healing, can decrease the number and size of papillomas and reduce the incidence of tumors and leishmania parasitemia by >90% in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Topical application of aloe vera is not an effective prevention for radiation-induced injuries and has no sunburn or suntan protection. It can be effective for genital herpes, psoriasis, human papilloma virus, seborrheic dermatitis, aphthous stomatitis, xerosis, lichen planus, frostbite, burn, wound healing and inflammation. It can also be used as a biological vehicle and an anti-microbial and antifungal agent and also as a candidate for photodynamic therapy of some kinds of cancer. Even though there are some promising results with the use of aloe vera for diverse dermatologic conditions, clinical effectiveness of oral and topical aloe vera is not sufficiently and meticulously explored as yet.
Keywords aloe vera, varieties, economic value, by product and Pharmacological & Phytochemistry properties
... Ezgi Ersoy, PhD Biruni University, Faculty of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacognosy, Istanbul, Turkey ezgie@biruni.edu.tr Katiyar et al., 2007Sharangi, 2009Mahmood et al., 2010Namita et al., 2012Asadi et al., 2013Hajiaghaalipour et al., 2013Al-Talib et al., 2016Koach et al., 2019Kouhihabibidehkordi et al., 2021 Ezgi Ersoy, Riley, 1993Koh et al., 2002Pazyar et al., 2013Yadav et al., 2017Malhi et al., 2017 Nayak et al., 2010Rao et al., 2013Fiume et al., 2014Insanu et al., 2021Nadhila and Widyawati, 2021 ...
The history of phytotherapy begins with dermatological applications primarily. Archeological findings suggest that healers of their eras were mostly using plants to treat skin diseases, especially wounds at all types and stages. In today’s world, the popularity of phytotherapy for skin-related problems is still huge and increasing. Extensive research has been conducted to provide scientific evidence for traditional knowledge, and several medicinal plants have been found to be effective for different dermatological disorders. Among them, acne, atopic
dermatitis, psoriasis, hyperpigmentation, Alopecia areata, and skin wounds are the most common complaints. The focus of the present chapter is on the most commonly used medicinal plants in the treatment of these problems, with safety concerns related to phytotherapy applications in dermatology.
... For example, tea tree oil, an essential oil derived from the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifoliavia is traditionally used by the Bundjalung peoples who, in being connected to part of the mid-east coast of Australia, make tea for throat ailments. It has been a popular ingredient in a variety of household and cosmetic products due to its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, broad-spectrum antimicrobial, antiprotozoal activities, and antioxidant properties [76,77]. Today, tea tree oil is marketed as a remedy for various ailments over the counter in Australia, Europe, and North America. ...
The Australian rainforest is a rich source of medicinal plants that have evolved in the face of dramatic environmental challenges over a million years due to its prolonged geographical isolation from other continents. The rainforest consists of an inherent richness of plant secondary metabolites that are the most intense in the rainforest. The search for more potent and more bioavailable compounds from other plant sources is ongoing, and our short review will outline the pathways from the discovery of bioactive plants to the structural identification of active compounds, testing for potency, and then neuroprotection in a triculture system, and finally, the validation in an appropriate neuro-inflammatory mouse model, using some examples from our current research. We will focus on neuroinflammation as a potential treatment target for neurodegenerative diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s (PD), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) for these plant-derived, anti-inflammatory molecules and highlight cytokine suppressive anti-inflammatory drugs (CSAIDs) as a better alternative to conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat neuroinflammatory disorders.
... 164,172 The essential oil from Melaleuca alternifolia also depicts antioxidant properties probably efficacious in dermatitis and skin cancers. 165,173 Therapeutic benefits to skin diseases are suggested for Agrimoniae herba (Agrimonia eupatoria; in secondary inflammation and superficial lacerations), Echinacea purpurea (in modest perfunctory wounds and mild acne), Soiae oleum (Glycine max; in benign periodic eczema), Juglandis folium (Juglans regia; in minor skin irritation), Matricariae aetheroleum (in anus and genitals inflammation), Matricariae fos (Matricaria recrutita; in mild skin allergies and sunburns and superfcial wounds), Melaleuca spp (in insects bites, mild acne, prickling, lesser skin irritation), Meliloti herba (Melitotus ofcinalis; in minor skin inflammation), Origani dictamni herba and Origani majoranae herba (Origanum spp.; in petty skin irritation and inflammation). Several others phytochemicals are reported in literature with prospective effects on skin, such as anti-senescence property, 174 photoprotection, 175 wound recuperation, 176 and anti-infection. ...
Toxicity arising from environmental contaminants has attracted global interest in the last few decades, due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with them. Efforts have been made to combat the consequential outcomes of environmental toxicity in humans through traditional remediation techniques and therapeutic measures which have been hampered by one or more limitations. Consequently, this scenario has triggered interest in the medicinal properties of phytochemicals. Thus, this review gives a succinct and in-depth elucidation of the various environmental contaminants and their toxicity effects on humans. It delves into the various classes of phytochemicals and their intervention roles. The study adopted a desk review of existing literatures from scientific reports and peer reviewed articles through triangulation of data sources. "Phytochemicals" are group of secondary metabolites obtained from plants with medicinal properties. These groups of compounds are included but not limited to flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, cardenoloids, terpenoids, and phytosteroids. This review corroborates the prophylactic and therapeutics efficacy of these phytochemicals as anti-metastatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and live saving substances with empirical findings from several laboratory, clinical trials and epidemiologic studies. It conclude that given the wide range of medicinal properties of phytochemicals, there is an urgent need for its full optimization in the pharmaceutical industry and future studies should focus on identifying the bioactive molecules in these compounds and its effectiveness against mixer toxicity.
... TEA berfungsi sebagai alkaline agent (penyeimbang asam-basa) dan penetral pH yang merupakan cairan jernih kental berwarna kuning pucat dan sedikit berbau amoniak [27], sedangkan carbomer 940 berfungsi sebagai basis gel yang memiliki kemampuan non-toksik dan non-iritan dalam penggunaan. Sementara itu, gliserin memiliki kemampuan untuk mengurangi penguapan air selama penyimpanan dan penggunaan [28] dan natrium metabisulfit dapat berfungsi sebagai pengawet yang memiliki kemampuan sebagai antimikroba [27], sedangkan tea tree essential oil dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai antiinflamasi yang mampu mengatasi infeksi dan Yahya, An Investigation into the Effectiveness … BERKALA SAINSTEK 2023, 11(2): 121-128 mengandung antioksidan yang dapat meminimalisir terjadinya kanker kulit [25] dan [29]. ...
Green betel (Piper betle L.) leaf contains anti-thrush, anti-cough, astringent, and antiseptic chemicals such as saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and essential oils. Hand sanitizer can also be used as an antiseptic agent, which is a more practical option. The purpose of this study was to see how the composition of green betel leaf extract made by infusion affected its physical properties and bacterial inhibition. Hand sanitizer samples were made using different concentrations of green betel leaf extract (10 - 25 wt%) with and without the addition of tea tree essential oil. Sample testing included organoleptic tests, physical properties tests, and effectiveness tests on the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria. The results showed that the best composition was found to be at a concentration of 10 wt% green betel leaf extract without the addition of essential oil, with pH ranging from 5.2 to 5.8 and viscosities ranging from 1.32 to 1.99 cps, in the form of a watery gel and a clear yellow color. Meanwhile, hand sanitizer sensitivity testing revealed that none of the samples could inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria. This indicates that the concentration of green betel leaf extract in the sample is still insufficient to inhibit bacterial growth.
... Tea tree oil has been found to possess antioxidant properties, and it has been reported to have a wide-range of antimicrobial activity against various types of skin and mucosa infections such as bacteria, virus, fungus and protozoa (Pazyar 2012). Several studies have shown promising antibacterial effects of Melaleuca alternifolia or tea tree essential oil. ...
Cryogel, a porous polymer material that is frequently used in recent years, has been evaluated in conjunction with alternative treatment methods. Natural polymers are well known for their high biocompatibility, and as a result, there are many studies that focus on the relationship between structure and function in plant-based biopolymers. To this end, various dressing materials, including gelatin, alginate, chitosan, and inorganic materials, have been developed as biopolymers. In this study, gelatin-based cryogels containing three different concentrations of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree plant) oil (TTO-GCry) were synthesized under specified conditions, and characterization studies were carried out. Their antibacterial activity was evaluated using two bacterial strains (E. coli and S. aureus). The results showed that the antibacterial effectiveness of the developed cryogels on E. coli was between 21–50%, and on S. aureus was between 28–72%. Furthermore, viability analysis using human keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT) showed no toxic effects. The cryogel exhibited biocompatibility, indicating promise for use in skin injury and wound healing applications. This environmentally friendly cryogel, with a macroporous structure and composed of natural materials, holds potential for diverse functions, bringing novelty to the literature.
... For example, chamomile essential oil has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory agent and for the treatment of eczema and dermatitis [116]. As another example, the broadspectrum antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil protects against bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections of the skin [117]. There are many cases in the literature highlighting the beneficial effects that essential oils provide to the skin [118,119]. ...
There has been interest in the history of cosmetics for the last several decades. In part, this renewed curiosity is probably due to the revolutionizing natural movement in the cosmetic industry. In this article, we provide an overview of the historical aspects of the use of natural ingredients in cosmetics, which mostly come from botanical and mineral sources. We begin with an introduction to the art and science of cosmetics in the ancient world, which includes accounts of Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, and Roman cosmetics as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. These dermatological and cosmetic practices, which were advanced for the time, paved the way for the current revolution of natural ingredients in cosmetic products. Without providing a comprehensive historical account, we surveyed selected cultures during different periods of time to provide some perspective of our current understanding of natural ingredients in cosmetics. Attention is also given to the rich contributions of body art by tribal societies to our knowledge base, especially in the areas of dyes and pigments. Finally, we offer some perspective of natural ingredient cosmetics in the Information Age.
... The propidium iodide (PI) is increased and outflow of 280nm fascinating resources in all three suggested microorganisms that the decline in viability and decrease the respiration rate was accompanied by improved microorganism cell membrane permeability 12,31 . As a result, even negligible changes in the capacity of cell membrane structure can damage metabolism and show the way to cell death 32,34 . ...
This research aims to prepare microemulsion from Tea Tree and Rosemary essential oil to treat gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial infections. A phase titration has been used to make the proposed microemulsion, which contained 71% water, 23% of a 1:1 mixture of propylene glycol (surfactant), tween 80 (co-surfactant), and 6% of tea tree/rosemary essential oil. In Rosemary essential oil pale yellowish transparent microemulsion, droplet size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI) of 58.9, 883.6, and 0.678, respectively, showed a stable microemulsion. Tea tree oil loaded in a light, clear microemulsion with zeta potential, droplet size, and polydispersity index (PDI) values of 265.9, 746.8, and 0.987, respectively, indicated a stable microemulsion. The RMO/TTO micro emulsion's viscosity was 1.844/1.933 cps, and its pH ranged from 4.69 to 5.59. The formulation was determined to be a safe, reliable, and effective one in light and good in stability experiments. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans can all be treated using a microemulsion that contains 6% tea tree oil and rosemary oil by agar well diffusion method. Both the EOs-based microemulsion showed more zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans while Staphylococcus aureus is the less susceptible zone of inhibition. The microemulsion formulation's minimum inhibitory concentration was effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and E. coli on all physiological parameters. It can be concluded that TTO/RMO essential oil-loaded microemulsion is considered a promising substitute for the current gram-positive and gram-negative regimens.
... Our findings showed that the most common Candida species isolated from vaginal discharge were non-albicans there are C. glabrata (54.4%), followed by C. dubliniensis (36.3%), and C. parapsilosis (18.1%). A similar study by Nelson et al. reported that C. glabrata was the most common cause of VVC in pregnant women [16]. The shift towards C. non-albicans as the cause of VVC is concerning for pregnant women, as it has the potential to make VVC chronic, recurrent, and more resistant to antifungal drugs than C. albicans. ...
Introduction:
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in pregnancy frequently develops into recurrent infections. Clinical study suggests that conventional topical treatments for VVC are not always enough to eradicate Candida spp. from the vaginal microenvironment. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of tea tree oil (TTO) 5% and TTO 10% against Candida species causing VVC in pregnancy.
Methodology:
In vitro experimental study was conducted in the Mycology Laboratory at Dermatovenereology Outpatient Clinic Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya. Eighteen isolates of Candida species were isolated from the vaginal thrush of 15 pregnant women diagnosed with VVC from March to May 2021. Antifungal susceptibility of TTO 5% and TTO 10% was evaluated by the disc diffusion method, with the inhibitory zone diameter as the main outcome.
Results:
The mean inhibitory zone diameter of TTO 5%, TTO 10%, and nystatin against all Candida spp. was 7.26 mm, 8.64 mm, and 25.57 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean inhibitory zone diameter of TTO 5%, TTO 10%, and nystatin tend to be larger in C. albicans compared to the non-albicans, but the difference is not significant. Nystatin displayed the largest mean inhibitory zone diameters compared to TTO 5% and TTO 10% (p < 0.001) in all Candida species. Increased concentration from TTO 5% to TTO 10% resulted in a slight increment in the mean inhibitory zone diameters in all-Candida species (p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
Tea Tree Oil displayed antifungal activity against Candida species causing VVC in pregnancy. Further studies are required to investigate optimal TTO concentrations as a VVC treatment in pregnancy.
... This tea tree essential oil contains nearly 100 chemical compounds, most of which are monoterpenes and related to alcohol. These compounds were dominated by at least 30% by terpinene-4-ol compounds and a maximum of 15% from 1,8cineole compounds [32]. Terpinene-4-ol is the main active compound among the complex mixture of compounds in tea tree essential oil. ...
Melasma, known as a hyperpigmentation disorder, is more common in women of childbearing age with Fitzpatrick IV-VI skin types. Various factors of this disease, namely genetic factors, UV exposure, hormonal, thyroid disease, pregnancy, and drugs. The best treatment for melasma is with 2 – 4% hydroquinone, but because of the side effects, alternative treatments are mostly used for melasma. One of them is with essential oils. Essential oils have been investigated as depigmenting agents because of their anti-tyrosinase potential. In this literature, it is proven that the essential oils of sage (Salvia), hedgenettle / woundwort (Stachys), lavender (Lavandula), tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), cinnamon (Cinnamomum), mountain tea (Sideritis), pomelo (Citrus grandis ( L) Osbeck), and kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix DC) are effective against melasma. The purpose of this literature is to discuss the various effects of essential oils that can be used as depigmentation agents in the alternative treatment of melasma.
... Tea tree oil extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia is one of the most well-known essential oils that is often used to treat skin, respiratory, mouth, and vaginal infections, or used as an antiseptic and disinfectant [5]. The commercial tea tree oil has a minimum content of 30% terpinene-4-ol and a maximum 15% content of 1,8-cineole [6]. Terpinene-4-ol is a compound that has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity [7]. ...
The terpinene-4-ol contained in tea tree oil has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Lavender oil contains linalool which also has antibacterial properties. So, they can be anti-acne. Both oils are formulated as emulgel hand sanitizers because this form has a better-controlled drug release effect and stability. The emulgel contained tea tree oil at 5% combined with lavender oil at 0.5%, 1%, and 2%. The evaluation consisted of physical and chemical characteristics, irritation, and antibacterial activity on skin bacteria. The results showed that each organoleptic formula had white color and a distinctive aroma of both essential oils. The texture was soft, homogeneous, and oil-in-water emulsion type; the viscosity and pH were within the specification range. All the formulas met the dispersion requirements. For the irritation test result using HET CAM methods, the preparation caused mild irritation, and the value of the irritating score increased when lavender oil levels increased. In the antibacterial test for Cutibacterium acnes, the addition of lavender oil intensified the antibacterial activity of tea tree oil. On the other hand, an antibacterial test for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermis of lavender oil added to tea tree oil does not influence the antibacterial activity of tea tree oil in emulgel preparation. Keywords: emulgel of combination tea tree oil and lavender oil, characteristic, irritation effect, antibacterial property
... Besides that, this major component also exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, several studies suggested the use of this EO in acne vulgaris and seborrheic dermatitis and improvement of wound healing (Pazyar et al. 2013;Capetti et al. 2020). Considering its beneficial effects, Bassett et al. (1990) demonstrated a marked improvement in volunteers with acne vulgaris after tea tree oil at 5% topical application for 3 months, which was also observed in another study (Enshaieh et al. 2007). ...
The skin is constantly exposed to exogenous and endogenous factors that accelerate its deterioration and the loss of its physiological properties. Maintaining the skin healthy and good-looking became a requirement for our society. So, the development of bioactive cosmetic formulations to minimize aging signs as well as improve skin beauty and health has been widely explored. The actual demand of consumers for skincare products with demonstrated efficacy has pushed the cosmetic industry and researchers to work on the metabolites characterization and prove clinical evidence regarding the beneficial properties of their products. Among different ingredients, the natural secondary metabolites from plants (medicinal and aromatic plants) and macro- and microalgae have been demonstrated to provide several benefits for the skin, such as hydration, antiaging, and whitening effects. The most significant secondary metabolites are polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, lipids, amino acids, and polysaccharides. Herein we describe the potential of relevant plant and macro- and microalgae secondary metabolites for skincare, mainly focusing on their antiaging properties. In addition, growing trends are depicted in the field related to the use of natural skincare products based on nanotechnology and nutricosmetics that seem to boost antiaging product development.
... Also, it is used to treat various female genital infections and as an immunity booster and as an antiseptic. It has recently found its various applications is cosmetic and medicinal aromatherapy and is widely utilized around the globe and studied by the researchers (Koh et al., 2002;Pazyar et al., 2013). ...
Essential oils (EOs) are the complex mixture of diverse array of volatile phytoconstituents. These EOs are isolated from every plant part (flowers, leaves, buds, bark, stem, rhizome, and roots) but mainly concentrated in leaves and flowers of the plants. They are primarily produced by specific secretory tissues known as glandular trichomes along with other secretory structures. Different extraction techniques are used for the isolation of EOs, but hydrodistillation and steam distillation are the most employed techniques all around the world. Terpenoids, mainly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, and their oxygenated derivatives, are the key phytoconstituents present in the EOs. Pertaining to the presence of diverse array of bioactive phytoconstituents, EOs are used from the primeval time in different traditional medicinal and healing systems for the cure of variety of ailments. Further, EOs are well known for their variety of biological potential such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antifungal, antiparasitic, insecticidal, insect repellent, antiinflammatory, pain relievers, mode elevator, etc. Apart from these, now a days, EOs are widely used in various fields and industries like aromatherapy, cosmetics, perfume and fragrance, incense, food preservative, biopesticides, and insecticides industries. Owing to the widespread applications of EOs in day-to-day life, presently the EOs market is growing rapidly. Therefore, the present chapter aimed to discuss the importance of EOs in different fields and current trends in the utilization of EOs particularly in the field of aromatherapy, medicines, and food and nonfood industries.
... A study showed that tea tree oil used at a 10% concentration has e ects comparable with those of topical mupirocin against the bacterium S. aureus. 49 Antimicrobial activity against Cutibacterium acnes had a concentration-dependent e ect with microbial growth inhibitory activity in all assays at 2% v/v. 50 Essential oil of grapefruit rich in monoterpenes with the major component being d-limonene; it showed in vitro a strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Enterococus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudococcus sp., Salmonella thyphimurium, Shigella exneri, and Staphylococcus aureus, and a strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Penicillium sp. ...
Two recent trends that have developed simultaneously are a mistrust of health products by some of the population and the growing popularity of essential oils. The objective of this study was to analyze recipes with essential oils found on the internet and to assess their level of photoprotective efficacy. Therefore, we conducted a study of 140 recipes for personal care and hygiene products that incorporate one or more essential oils. This analysis revealed that numerous essential oils are called for in these recipes, derived from plants belonging to a wide diversity of botanical families. There was a significant difference (p=0.0026) in the number of essential oils listed in the recipes for facial care and body care recipes. There was also a statistically significant difference (p=2.54E-5) in the amount of essential oil to be added, expressed in drops, according to the type of product being made. A common characteristic of most of the recipes was the absence of any antimicrobial agents or antioxidants, which poses serious issues of preservation for the finished products. Recipes with essential oils pose many issues. The first issue lies in the quantities of the different raw materials to be incorporated; it influences the final essential oil concentration. The second issue concerns the adverse effects (photosensitization, for example) and contraindications (pregnant women, nursing women) of certain essential oils. Finally, it is not possible to carry out physicochemical testing raw materials and finish preparation.
... Tobacco mosaic suggested its efficacy on decreasing lesion numbers within 10 days after inoculation with an unknown mechanism (Bishop, 1995 (Southwell, 2006). Decreased amount of terpinene coincidently with increased cymene concentration indicates variation in oil composition (Pazyar et al., 2013). ...
Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel oil (Tea Tree Oil, TTO) is an essential oil appropriate for medicinal and cosmetic usage. Tea tree oil is composed of complex formulation with more than 100 components; however, the most pharmaceutically active one is terpinen-4-ol. TTO can be implemented for decolonization of multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, anti-tumor therapy and antifungal activity based on different doses and exposure-duration proportionate with the targeted species. Antioxidant activity is related to α-terpinene, α-terpinolene and γ-terpinene. Hypersensitivity may occur as mild dermatitis or being aggravated to hepatitis and central nervous system reactions due to chronic or acute poisoning. Acne treatment prognosis shows significant improvement after TTO application proceeding by Propionibacterium acnes colony destruction. Plus, TTO usage psoriasis is also possible. Further investigations have premised TTO’s insecticidal effects performed by anticholinesterase activity. Destructive ability of the oil on Pityrosporum ovale is also indisputable and including TTO as the active ingredient has been highly beneficial for curing scalp dandruff. Expeditious antiviral activity is also considered as the promising characteristic suggested for this oil. Still, little information is available about feasibility of in vivo utilization.
... Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) is a plant that grows in Australia and New Zealand and exhibits strong anti-in ammatory and antimicrobial properties with its terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole contents in its oil. Tea tree oil has been found to possess antioxidant properties, and it has been reported to have a wide-range of antimicrobial activity against various types of skin and mucosa infections such as bacteria, virus, fungus and protozoa [22]. Several studies have shown promising antibacterial effects of Melaleuca alternifolia or tea tree essential oil. ...
Cryogel, which is a frequently used polymer material in recent years, has begun to be evaluated together with alternative treatment methods. Especially, therapeutic effectiveness of cryogels has been gradually increased with the contribution of biocompatible materials and plant ingredients. Natural polymers are known for their high biocompatibility, so there are many studies focusing on the relationship between structure and function in plant-based biopolymers. As a result, various dressing materials including gelatin, alginate, chitosan (CS), inorganic materials have been developed as biopolymers. In this study, gelatin-based cryogels containing three different concentrations of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree plant) oil (TTO-GCry) were synthesized under the specified conditions and characterization studies were carried out Their antibacterial activity was evaluated by using two bacterial strains ( E.coli and S. aureus ). As a result of the evaluation, the antibacterial effectiveness of the developed cryogels on E. coli was between 21–50%, and on S. aureus it was between 28–72%. It can be stated that an increase in the amount of tea tree oil within the cryogel leads to an increase in its antibacterial effectiveness. This cryogel, which has antimicrobial properties, is composed of natural materials and has an environmentally-friendly structure. Its macroporous structure allows it to be used for multifunctional purposes, especially as a hemostatic agent in emergency situations and as a wound dressing material in wound healing.
... They can lead to a few adverse effects like local skin sensitization and irritation or incidences of bacterial resistance. 19,20 It is essential to co-administer AZA and TTO for reducing the risk of dose-responsive adverse effects and achieving synergistic effects. Bisht et al 13 combined AZA and TTO for co-delivery in the form of a microemulsion (ME) system with hydrogel. ...
Skin infections are common diseases for which patients seek inpatient and outpatient medical care. Globally, an increasing number of people are affected by skin infections that could lead to physical and psychological damage. Skin infections always have a broad spectrum of clinical presentations that require physicians to make an aggressive and accurate diagnosis for prescribing the proper symptomatic antimicrobials. In most instances, the treatment for skin infections mainly includes oral or topical anti-infective drugs. However, some of the classical anti-infective drugs have limitations, such as poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and poor targeting efficiency, which can lead to poor efficacy, adverse effects, and drug resistance. Therefore, research priorities should focus on the development of more effective drug delivery systems with new materials. Hydrogels are a highly multifunctional class of medical materials with potential applications in dermatology. Several hydrogel dressings with anti-infective functions have been formulated and demonstrated to improve the efficacy and tolerance of oral or topical classical anti-infective drugs to a certain degree. In this study, the medical applications of hydrogels for the treatment of various skin infections are systematically reviewed to provide an important theoretical reference for future research studies on the treatment options for skin infections.
... serta bersifat anti-inflamasi. Beberapa penelitian menyatakan bahwa TTO bisa digunakan untuk pengobatan akne vulgaris, dermatitis seboroik, dan gingivitis kronis [5]. TTO gel bersifat hidrofobik sehingga dibutuhkan suatu sistem penghantaran sehingga bisa menembus lapisan stratum korneum. ...
Tea tree oil (TTO) merupakan minyak esensial yang berasal dari Melaleuca alternifolia mengandung terpinen-4-ol. TTO memiliki aktivitas sebagai antimikroba. TTO gel bersifat hidrofobik sehingga membutuhkan sistem penghantaran untuk bisa berpenetrasi melewati stratum korneum. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk membuat nanoemulgel TTO, menggunakan Carbopol 940 dan Tween 80 digunakan sebagai surfaktan. Optimasi dan formulasi pada rancangan full factorial design adalah konsentrasi gelling agent Carbopol 940 (X1) dan konsentrasi emulgator tween 80 (X2). Optimasi formula ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan hasil optimal pada variabel tergantung (Y) yaitu ukuran partikel (Y1), daya sebar (Y2), dan zeta potensial (Y3). Ukuran partikel dari nanoemulgel TTO memiliki rentang 363,5± 0.13 sampai 813,5 ± 0,5 nm, daya sebar memiliki rentang 5,8 ± 0,4 sampai 7,2 ± 0,2 cm, dan zeta potensial memiliki rentang nilai 20,9 ± 0,8 sampai 57,5 ± 0,6 mV. Variabel bebas memiliki nilai signifikan terhadap ukuran partikel dengan nilai p < 0,05, namun memiliki efek tidak signifikan terhadap daya sebar dan Zeta potensial, dengan nilai p > 0,05
... Este óleo essencial foi descoberto na Austrália, mas agora está disponível em todo o mundo para a comercialização (Carson et al., 2006). Os principais usos do OM são como antissépticos, antioxidantes e anti-inflamatórios (Pazyar et al., 2013;Yasin et al., 2021). Em formulações dermatológicas, os estudos têm sugerido o uso do OM para o tratamento de acne vulgar, dermatite seborreica e gengivite crônica. ...
Produtos destinados à assepsia de cães portadores de conjuntivite são utilizados na limpeza periorbitária para retirar secreção e excesso de lágrima. Habitualmente, utilizam-se produtos quimicamente modificados, buscando evitar irritação local ou rejeição dos animais à sua utilização. Um dos fatores limitantes é o odor, em face desse sentido ser muito aguçado em cães. Produtos de componentes naturais têm mais facilidade de aceitação pelos animais e devem ter ação antisséptica ampla, evitando irritação dos olhos além de reduzir proliferação microbiana e de ectoparasitas. Determinamos a tolerância de cães domésticos a uma solução de goma guar em óleo de melaleuca, compostos com ampla utilização em humanos e animais, com segurança documentada. Aplicamos solução de goma guar com melaleuca à 1% (Eyepet®) em 30 animais selecionados aleatoriamente, com supervisão de seus tutores. Todos os animais tiveram ótima tolerabilidade, sem qualquer sinal de irritação local ou toxicidade sistêmica. Ainda que o senso comum indicasse que a solução de goma guar-melaleuca seria bem tolerada, nossos resultados são relevantes por confirmar a segurança do uso dessa solução para a assepsia periorbitária de cães.
... Australian tea tree oil (TTO) has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal activity (including yeast) (13) . TTO has anti-parasitic activity when applied on the skin and mucous membranes (14) . Studies have confirmed that the main criteria for TTO are that Terpinen-4-ol should be at least 30%. ...
It was recorded that Terpinen-4-ol has an anti-parasitic properties, so it will be noteworthy to intensify the studies about this compound.
This study aims to test the effectiveness of terpinen-4-ol on amastigote forms of Leishmania parasite in macrophages.
This effect was studied by adding increasing concentrations of Terpinen-4-ol to culture wells containing mouse macrophages that were previously incubated with the promastigote forms of the parasites for 24 hours .Then, they were incubated for another 24 hours with increasing concentrations of Terpinen-4-ol. After, Parasites were enumerated into macrophages in wells either treated with Terpinen-4-ol or in control wells.
Treatment with Terpinen-4-ol at concentrations (0.01%, 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.1%) (v/v) decreased the viability of the amastigote forms inside macrophages (24.02%, 32.74%, 66.72%, 100%) respectively, compared to control wells (water only).
This study demonstrated an activity of Terpinen-4-ol against amastigote forms of Leishmania tropica in vitro with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC50) value was 0.0416% (v/v).
... Tea tree oil, green tee derivates, and resveratrol are some of the most common natural products used for acne displaying anti-inflammatory and sebo-suppressive properties. 67,68 The clinical guidelines for the treatment of acne in 2016 classified complementary and alternative therapies (tea tree oil, herbal, and biofeedback) as Grade B with level of evidence of II. 9 Diet and probiotics have also gained attention for acne treatment. 9,69,70 A Cochrane review concluded that a low glycaemic load diet, although only supported by small trials with low-quality evidence, had positive results in the treatment of acne. ...
Acne vulgaris is the most common skin condition affecting the American population. The present review evaluates the topical and systemic therapies available in the USA for the management of acne reporting their relevance, efficacy, tolerability, and safety. This review also discusses alternative treatments such as light therapy, diet, and probiotics. Further research on acne therapy is needed given the high prevalence, and thus, the immense economic burden that the condition poses in our society.
... Terpinenes (e.g., γand α-terpinene) also showed excellent antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antimicrobial effects [69]. Most importantly, terpinenes have been recently recognized as promising therapeutic agents suppressing microbial burden in skin injuries and dermatological disorders [70,71] via inhibition in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other mediators in injured tissues [72]. ...
Throughout history, honey has been used to treat various diseases. The present work examined and assessed the in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of Moroccan thyme honey and its association with essential oils from three selected plants: Origanum vulgare L.; Mentha spicata L.; Eucalyptus globulus L. The chemical composition of the essential oils was studied, and preliminary toxicity, in vitro anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial tests were conducted. Then the anti-inflammatory effect was determined by applying carrageenan and an experimental trauma-induced paw edema test in rats. The essential oils were rich in phytochemicals and showed significant antibacterial activity against four selected ATCC bacterial strains. The results revealed the significant anti-inflammatory potential of honey and mixtures with essential oils and indicated higher efficiency of mixtures compared to honey alone. It can be concluded that the mixtures of honey and essential oils have advantageous anti-inflammatory effects and may be used for treating different types of inflammation in humans after certain clinical trials.
... Many studies have addressed the benefits of TTO as an antioxidant agent. Compounds such as TTO with high radical-scavenging capacity have been expressed to facilitate wound healing (Comino-Sanz et al., 2021;Kim et al., 2004;Pazyar et al., 2013). In this regard, DPPH radical scavenging test was employed to examine the antioxidant activity of PS, PS/TTO 6 %, PS/ TTO 12 %, and PS/TTO 20 % samples. ...
A set of poly (ε-caprolactone)/soy protein isolate (PCL/SPI) mats with different ratios of PCL to SPI was fabricated using the electrospinning method. The mat with PCL to SPI ratio of 95:5 (PS 95:5) had the narrowest nanofibers, the highest percentage of porosity, the lowest swelling ratio, the least vapor transmission, and the slowest degradation rate among the prepared mats. The hemolysis assay indicated that all mats can be considered biocompatible biomaterials. In continue, three different weight ratios of tea tree oil (TTO) were loaded into the PS 95:5 mat. The release profiles illustrated that higher amounts of TTO could be released in an acidic environment. The antioxidant activity of the mats increased by the increase in their TTO content. The cell viability test, cell adhesion images, and live/dead assay of TTO-loaded mats affirmed that all fabricated mats were biocompatible. The scratch wound assay expressed that TTO accelerates the rate of wound closure. The TTO-loaded mats illustrated antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The obtained outcomes revealed that TTO-loaded PCL/SPI mats can be considered promising potential wound dressings.
... Also, it is used to treat various female genital infections and as an immunity booster and as an antiseptic. It has recently found its various applications is cosmetic and medicinal aromatherapy and is widely utilized around the globe and studied by the researchers (Koh et al., 2002;Pazyar et al., 2013). ...
There are numerous foods and herbal plants that boost the immune system. They stimulate the activity of cells responsible for fighting infections. In fact, over centuries, people have relied on herbs and other plants for treating medical conditions and boosting immunity. Considering the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, natural immune boosters are being sought after in the current war against this viral infection. Most likely, immune-boosting plants help human health by tackling viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells in the form of prevention, to support and strengthen the body’s natural immune system. In this chapter, we review several terrestrial species and plants from various sources including China, India, Europe, and Africa, which have long folklore use, and we provide information on the chemistry and biological activity where available.KeywordsFolklore medicines from Africa and ChinaImmune boost plantsElderberry (Sambucus nigra)Echinacea spp.
Astragalus
Ganoderma lucidum
India—Astavarga plants
... Sunflower oil is one of the essential oils and thought to have no effect on wound healing. 1 ml of the prepared solution was applied to each rat in the diabetic and non-diabetic tea tree oil groups with dressing. This ratio was preferred because no skin irritation was observed when using 5% diluted tea tree oil in the literature 22 . ...
... Hence tea tree oil has been proposed for the treatment of a wide range of skin diseases, such as small superficial wounds, insect bites, acne, eczma, burns, demodicosis and warts [1,17,18]. It is also used in cosmetics, aromatherapy, and the treatment of respiratory and infectious diseases [18]. ...
Essential oil distilled from Melaleuca alternifolia leaves, commonly known as tea tree oil, is well known for its biological activity, principally its antimicrobial properties. However, many samples are adulterated with other, cheaper essential oils such as eucalyptus oil. Current methods of detecting such adulteration are costly and time-consuming, making them unsuitable for rapid authentication screening. This study investigated the use of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for detecting and quantifying the level of eucalyptus oil adulteration in spiked samples of pure Australian tea tree oil. To confirm the authenticity of the tea tree oil samples, GC-MS analysis was used to profile 37 of the main volatile constituents present, demonstrating that the samples conformed to ISO specifications. Three chemometric regression techniques (PLSR, PCR and SVR) were trialled on the MIR spectra, along with a variety of pre-processing techniques. The best-performing full-wavelength PLSR model showed excellent prediction of eucalyptus oil content, with an R²CV of 0.999 and RMSECV of 1.08% v/v. The RMSECV could be further improved to 0.82% v/v through a moving window wavenumber optimisation process. The results suggest that MIR spectroscopy combined with PLSR can be used to predict eucalyptus oil adulteration in Australian tea tree oil samples with a high level of accuracy.
... Estas moléculas são frágeis e voláteis, portanto a superexposição à luz, temperatura e oxigênio podem degradar esses óleos, levando à perda de suas propriedades terapêuticas. A sua composição química depende de diversos fatores como clima, estação do ano, período da colheita e técnica de extração utilizada e são moléculas bastante diversificadas, compostas por terpenos, sesquiterpenos, álcoois, cetonas, aldeídos, ácidos entre outros [6][7][8][9] antifúngica e pode ser empregado no tratamento de infecções e inflamações cutâneas [10] . O principal componente do OEM é o terpinen-4-ol, da classe dos terpenos, sendo o marcador deste óleo, responsável por suas propriedades medicinais. ...
Fitocosméticos são cosméticos que contêm substâncias de origem vegetal como seu princípio ativo, como o óleo essencial de Melaleuca (OEM). A incorporação de óleos essenciais em formas farmacêuticas é um desafio farmacotécnico devido à sua volatilidade, oxidação e estabilidade. Tem-se por objetivo desenvolver e avaliar aspectos físico-químicos e microbiológicos de formulações fitocosméticas (emulsão óleo/água e oleogel) de uso tópico contendo OEM. A composição do OEM foi caracterizada através de Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada à Espectrometria de Massas (GC-MS) do OEM puro e extraído das formulações após testes de estabilidade. As formulações desenvolvidas foram submetidas a testes físico-químicos, de estabilidade e microbiológicos. A emulsão apresentou sinais de instabilidade e variação de pH significativas após submissão aos testes de estabilidade por ciclo gela-degela (p=0,003) e acelerada (TEA) (p=0,02), separando de fases ao final do estudo. O oleogel não apresentou variações significativas em suas características organolépticas e pH (p>0,05). Ambas atenderam aos critérios de aprovação para avaliação microbiológica. Obteve-se teor superior a 30% do marcador do OEM, terpinen-4-ol, conforme a ISO-4730, para a amostra do OEM puro e, após, extraído das formulações submetidas aos TEA. Conclui-se que foi possível desenvolver formulações fitocosméticas minimalistas de uso tópico utilizando componentes de fonte natural ou orgânica certificada.
... While several systematic reviews [34,35] and narrative reviews [21,[36][37][38][39] have explored the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral activities of TTO, few have comprehensively investigated its antiparasitic activity. One narrative review [29] summarised the studies evaluating TTO against Demodex mites and five [28,30,[40][41][42] systematically reviewed clinical studies assessing TTO and other anti-Demodex agents. ...
Ectoparasites are pathogens that can infect the skin and cause immense pain, discomfort, and disease. They are typically managed with insecticides. However, the fast-emerging antimicrobial resistance and the slow rate of development of new bio-actives combined with environmental and health concerns over the continued use of neurotoxic insecticides warrant newer and alternative methods of control. Tea tree oil (TTO), as an alternative agent, has shown remarkable promise against ectoparasites in recent studies. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to assess preclinical and clinical studies exploring the antiparasitic activity of TTO and its components against clinically significant ectoparasites, such as Demodex mites, scabies mites, house dust mites, lice, fleas, chiggers, and bed bugs. We systematically searched databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), Embase (Scopus), CENTRAL, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS in any language from inception to April 04, 2022. Studies exploring the therapeutic activity of TTO and its components against the ectoparasites were eligible. We used the ToxRTool (Toxicological data reliability assessment) tool, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools, and the Jadad scale to assess the methodological qualities of preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) studies, non-randomised controlled trials (including cohort, case series, and case studies), and randomised controlled trials, respectively. Of 497 identified records, 71 studies were included in this systematic review, and most (66%) had high methodological quality. The findings of this review revealed the promising efficacy of TTO and its components against ectoparasites of medical importance. Most importantly, the compelling in vitro activity of TTO against ectoparasites noted in this review seems to have translated well into the clinical environment. The promising outcomes observed in clinical studies provide enough evidence to justify the use of TTO in the pharmacotherapy of ectoparasitic infections.
Objective: The effects of topical tea tree oil (TTO) on the healing of pressure ulcers (PUs) in an animal model was evaluated.
Method: To induce PUs, ischaemia-reperfusion cycles were performed by the external application of magnetic plates, with an ischaemic period of eight hours and a reperfusion period of 16 hours. Male and female Wistar rats were divided into three equally sized groups (n=20): one group received topical glycerin twice daily, another group received topical 10% (volume/volume (v/v)) TTO in glycerin twice daily; and the remaining group was untreated. The animals were assessed after one, four, seven and 14 cycles of ischaemia-reperfusion by thermal camera imaging, and then euthanised and sampled to investigate the degree of inflammation, collagen synthesis and apoptosis in the PUs.
Results: Although topical glycerin alone suppressed local inflammation and apoptosis, this suppressive effect was accentuated at all timepoints by the application of topical TTO + glycerin. Similarly, an increase in collagen synthesis was observed in the glycerin group and this was accentuated by TTO at all timepoints. Parallel to the histological findings, the local temperature had decreased significantly on days 4 and 7 for both treatment groups (glycerin and TTO+glycerin).
Conclusion: In this study, treatment with 10% (v/v) TTO in glycerin effectively suppressed skin inflammation and apoptosis, while it increased collagen synthesis during PU formation.
Objective: The effects of topical tea tree oil (TTO) on the healing of pressure ulcers (PUs) in an animal model was evaluated.
Method: To induce PUs, ischaemia-reperfusion cycles were performed by the external application of magnetic plates, with an ischaemic period of eight hours and a reperfusion period of 16 hours. Male and female Wistar rats were divided into three equally sized groups (n=20): one group received topical glycerin twice daily, another group received topical 10% (volume/volume (v/v)) TTO in glycerin twice daily; and the remaining group was untreated. The animals were assessed after one, four, seven and 14 cycles of ischaemia-reperfusion by thermal camera imaging, and then euthanised and sampled to investigate the degree of inflammation, collagen synthesis and apoptosis in the PUs.
Results: Although topical glycerin alone suppressed local inflammation and apoptosis, this suppressive effect was accentuated at all timepoints by the application of topical TTO + glycerin. Similarly, an increase in collagen synthesis was observed in the glycerin group and this was accentuated by TTO at all timepoints. Parallel to the histological findings, the local temperature had decreased significantly on days 4 and 7 for both treatment groups (glycerin and TTO+glycerin).
Conclusion: In this study, treatment with 10% (v/v) TTO in glycerin effectively suppressed skin inflammation and apoptosis, while it increased collagen synthesis during PU formation.
In this study, antibacterial and antioxidant molecules-rich Melaleuca alternifolia oil (tea tree oil (TTO)) loaded chitosan (CS) based nanoemulsions (NEMs) were prepared and encapsulated by sodium alginate (SA) microsphere for antibacterial wound dressing. CS-TTO NEMs were prepared by oil-in-water emulsion technique, and the nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) confirmed that the CS-TTO NEMs had an average particle size of 89.5 nm. Further, the SA-CS-TTO microsphere was confirmed through SEM analysis with an average particle size of 0.76 ± 0.10 µm. The existence of TTO in CS NEMs and SA encapsulation was evidenced through FTIR analysis. The XRD spectrum proved the load of TTO and SA encapsulation with CS significantly decreased the crystalline properties of the CS-TTO and SA-CS-TTO microsphere. The stability of TTO was increased by the copolymer complex, as confirmed through thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, TTO was released from the CS–SA complex in a sustained manner and significantly inhibited the bacterial pathogens observed under confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In addition, CS-TTO (100 µg/mL) showed antioxidant potential (>80%), thereby increasing the DPPH and ABTS free radicals scavenging ability of SA-CS-TTO microspheres. Moreover, CS and SA-CS-TTO microsphere exhibited negligible cytotoxicity and augmented the NIH3T3 cell proliferation confirmed in the in vitro scratch assay. This study concluded that the SA-CS-TTO microsphere could be an antibacterial and antioxidant wound dressing.
The leaves of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) plant are the major source of tea tree essential oil extracted via steam distillation. The use of this oil is quite common in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, agrofood, and nonfood industries. The use of essential oils has upshot due to increased demand of natural alternatives to chemically synthesized pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The aromatic oil of tea tree contains more than 100 different phytochemicals majorly the monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and their related alcohols. Terpinen-4-ol has been recognized as a major compound responsible for broad antimicrobial and antiinflammatory activities. Apart from its beneficial effects and natural origin, tea tree oil is subjected to safety concerns like allergic reactions upon topical applications and toxic effects when ingested. In this context, this chapter discusses various aspects of tea tree oil including its phytochemistry, extraction methods, applications, and safety concerns.
Essential oils consist of oxygenated structures of secondary metabolites of aromatic plants with anti-psoriatic activities. Tea tree oil (TTO) is an essential oil with good anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties, exhibiting reduced levels of IL-1, IL-8, and PGE 2. Thymoquinone (TMQ) is popular herb in traditional medicine with known therapeutic benefits in several diseases and ailments. The ternary phase diagram was prepared with the weight ratio of Smix (Tween® 80:Labrasol®): oil:water ratio for o/w emulsion preparation. The globule size was 16.54 ± 0.13 nm, and PDI around 0.22 ± 0.01 of the TTO-TMQ emulsion and found thermodynamically stable. The percentage drug content was found in the range of 98.97 ± 0.62 to 99.45 ± 0.17% with uniformity of the ThymoGel using Carbopol®. The extensive physicochemical properties were studied using different analytical techniques, and in vitro drug release was performed using Franz-diffusion apparatus. Anti-psoriatic activity of the formulations was studied using Imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation model in male Balb/c mice and parameters like PASI score, ear thickness, and spleen to body weight index were determined as well as histological staining, ELISA, skin compliance, and safety evaluation of TTO were performed. The combination of essential oils with TMQ shows synergistic activity and efficiently reduces the psoriasis disease condition.Graphical Abstract
Pure Australian tea tree oil is a high-value commodity; however, cheaper tea tree oils are often adulterated with other substances such as eucalyptus oil. Detection of adulteration typically requires time-consuming analysis with expensive equipment. Consequently, rapid methods of screening for adulteration would be beneficial for the industry. This study examined whether the rapid, non-destructive and low-cost methods of ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy could be used to detect adulteration of tea tree oil with eucalyptus oil. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy showed moderate accuracy for predicting adulterant concentration (root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) of 6.8% v/v). Moving window analysis was used to reduce the model wavelength range to just 55 nm, without a loss in predictive accuracy. Fluorescence spectroscopy also performed well, with an RMSECV of 2.9% v/v. Consequently, these techniques may be suitable for rapidly and cheaply screening tea tree oil samples for gross adulteration.
Eucalyptol is a major volatile constituent among well-known wound healing medicinal plants. The current study evaluated eucalyptol wound healing activity in the rat’s third-degree skin-burn model. The parameters, i.e., skin-healing, oxidative/antioxidant markers, pro-/anti-inflammatory markers, were evaluated after 1- and 2-weeks of treatment regimens with 5% eucalyptol ointment. Eucalyptol-loaded ointment base of 5% w/w strength was formulated using fusion method and physically evaluated for consistency, stability, and homogeneity. A 25-rats were divided randomly into intact, negative control (untreated), silver sulfadiazine (SS, positive control), 1-week, and 2-weeks treated eucalyptol groups. Using an aluminum cylinder (120°C, 10 second duration), 3rd-degree skin burns were created on the rat’s dorsum. Skin biopsies were collected at the end of the experiment for biochemical and histological investigations. Compared to the negative group; time-dependent wound size reduction and decreased edema were observed in eucalyptol-treated animals. Histopathological examinations demonstrated epidermis integrity, decreased neutrophil, and increased capillaries number in the 2-weeks and SS groups, compared to the negative and 1-week treated eucalyptol groups. Compared to the untreated animals, the 1- and 2-weeks eucalyptol treated groups’ demonstrated significantly increased antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD, p=0.002 and p=0.003, respectively) and reduced lipid peroxide (LP, p=0.005 and p=0.0006, respectively). However, a significant increment of catalase (CAT, p=0.0009) was found only in the 2-weeks of eucalyptol group at a level of 2.42 ± 0.39 ng/g compared to 1.14 ± 0.04 ng/g in the untreated animals. Also, significant reductions in the cytokines, IL-1b, IL-6, and TNF-α (p < 0.05); and increase in the pro-angiogenic marker, IL-10, were detected in the 2-weeks (p=0.001) and SS (p=0.002) treated animals compared to the negative and 1-week eucalyptol treated groups. The study concluded that eucalyptol induced significant duration-based wound healing properties attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
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The present investigation aimed to determine the oxidative potential, sun protection factor value, and half-maximal inhibitory concentration of rosemary essential oil and tea tree essential oil. These two essential oils have gained popularity as active ingredients in many cosmetic preparations due to their antioxidant activity, whether used individually or in combination. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy is used to identify the presence of different phytochemical constituents in essential oils. The GC-MS (Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy) chemical analysis of tea tree oil revealed 34 and rosemary oil revealed 35 volatile chemical components with sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, monoterpenes (42.77%), and alcohols (41.01%) as major detected classes. The 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide-free scavenging activity techniques were used to investigate the antioxidant capacity of these oils. It was found that both tea tree and rosemary oil have the potential to slow down skin aging through their anti-oxidative properties using the approach of free radical scavenging activity. The UV spectroscopy method was used to determine the sun protection factor, and the sun protection values of rosemary and tea tree oil were found to be 8.45 and 6.85, respectively. Rosemary oil was an extremely promising tea tree essential oil for anti-aging and sunburn prevention. The study's findings indicated that rosemary and tea tree essential oil can both offer a synergistic sun protection factor effect, antioxidant property, and anti-aging or extra activity of cosmetic preparations.
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of tea tree essential oil (TTO) supplementation in low fish meal diet on growth, lipid metabolism, anti-oxidant capacity and immunity of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Five low fish meal (175 g kg⁻¹) diets with grade levels of TTO (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 g kg⁻¹) were formulated to feed largemouth bass (initial weight: 15.06 ± 0.05 g) for 56 days. The results indicated that supplementation of dietary 1 g kg⁻¹ TTO could significantly improve the weight gain rate, specific growth rate and protein deposition ratio, and decrease the feed conversion rate. The activities of gastric lipase and intestinal trypsin were enhanced by dietary TTO. The width of the intestinal villus was significantly elevated with dietary TTO level. In lipid metabolism parameters, the whole-body crude lipid content was increased and the liver crude lipid content was decreased in TTO treatment groups. The expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase beta was downregulated, and the mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha and carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1 were upregulated in the liver by the addition of TTO. The contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly decreased, and the content of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased in serum by dietary TTO. In anti-oxidative parameters, catalase activities in the liver and superoxide dismutase activities in the liver, intestine and serum were elevated with dietary TTO level. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl contents in the liver, intestine and serum showed the opposite trend. The nf-e2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways in the liver and intestine were triggered by dietary TTO supplementation. In the immune indices, the contents of total protein and albumin were improved, and the contents of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase were declined in TTO treatment groups. However, hepatocyte swelling and nuclear migration were found in the liver sections of all groups. After Aeromonas hydrophila administration, the toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling pathway was activated in the head-kidney, liver and intestine, and the expression levels of interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor beta 1 were increased in the head-kidney, spleen, liver and intestine by dietary TTO. In conclusion, dietary TTO in low fish meal diet could improve growth, anti-oxidant capacity and immunity, and reduce lipid deposition in the liver and serum of largemouth bass. The optimal level of TTO in low fish meal diet of largemouth bass ranged from 1.33 to 1.34 g kg⁻¹.
The purpose of this study was to formulate tee tree oil nanoliposomes (TTONL) and evaluate its characterization and antibacterial activity. TTONL was prepared by thin film hydration and sonication technique, and the preparation conditions were optimized by Box-behnken response surface method. The characterization (morphology, size, zeta potential and stability) and antibacterial activity of TTONL against Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro and in vivo were evaluated. The optimal preparation conditions for TTONL: lecithin to cholesterol mass ratio of 3.7:1, TTO concentration of 0.5 %, and pH of the hydration medium of 7.4, which resulted in a TTONL encapsulation rate of 80.31 ± 0.56 %. TTONL was nearly spherical in shape and uniform in size, and the average particle size was 227.8 ± 25.3 nm with negative charge. The specific disappearance of the TTO peak in the infrared spectrum suggested the successful preparation of TTONL, which showed high stability at 4 °C within 35 d. The result of MIC test found that the nanoliposomes improved antibacterial activity of TTO against various E. coli strains. TTONL exposure in vitro caused different degrees of structural damage to the E. coli. TTONL by oral administration alleviated the clinical symptoms and intestinal lesion of chickens induced with E. coli challenge. Furthermore, TTONL treatment remarkably lowered the mRNA expression of NLRP3 and NF-κB (p65) in the duodenum and cecum of E. coli-infected chickens. In conclusion, the prepared TTONL had good stability and slow-release property with dose-dependent inhibition and killing effects on different strains of E. coli, and exerted a preventive role against chicken colibacillosis through inhibition.
Aim
The aim of the present investigation entails the development and evaluation of topical nanoemulgel formulation of tazarotene for effective treatment of excision wounds
Background
Tazarotene (TZR) is a retinoid derivative marketed for the treatment of acne and psoriasis and the recent investigations indicate its excellent wound healing potential. Despite having magnificent wound healing potential, it suffers from pharmacokinetic limitations of low aqueous solubility and local bioavailability. Conventional marketed formulations of TZR have been reported to cause significant skin irritation and redness after its topical application. Keeping this in view, present investigation was designed to develop nanoemulsion based gel with intention to resolve the above mentioned pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic issues.
Objective
The goal of the study was to develop a stable and effective tazarotene-loaded nanoemulgel for treating excision wounds which can also overcome the issues associated with the native drug.
Methods
Various oils, surfactants and co-surfactants were selected on the basis of their solubilisation potential for tazarotene. Pseudoternary phase plots were constructed to obtain stable nanoemulsion region for various proportions of oil, surfactant: co-surfactant (Smix) and water and determine optimized concentration ranges for robust formulation of tazarotene. Various characterization parameters were studied to investigate the optimized formulation having desired attributes of nanoemulsion. Reducing power assay and phamacodymanic studies were conducted to determine the wound healing potential of developed nanoemulgel.
Results
TZR loaded nanoemulsion was successfully developed with nano-sized globules using tea tree oil with Tween 20 as surfactant and PEG 400 as co-surfactant. Prepared nanoemulsions were thermodynamically stable and were further gellified using Carbopol 940 as biodegradable gelling polymer. Prepared gels showed good spreadability, drug permeation and stability. In vivo investigations demonstrated that optimized formulation successfully masked the irritant nature of tazarotene. Moreover, the pharmacodynamic evaluation of developed nanoemulsion gel revealed its significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory properties in addition to its markable wound contraction as compared to control.
Conclusion
The results demonstrated potential of developed nanoemulgel over marketed formulation to overcome the drawbacks like redness and erythema. It also showed significant healing efficacy over other
The use of cosmetic products during pregnancy is one of the times when there is a considerable risk of side effects. The American Food and Drug Administration has classified many pharmacological drugs used in cosmetic applications as category C since their safety profile during pregnancy has not been sufficiently investigated. It should not be suggested to pregnant women or nursing mothers until the safety of all cosmetic agents has been established. To prove the safety of cosmetic applications, further randomized controlled studies are needed. Furthermore, it is critical for female health care providers to be knowledgeable about the use of cosmetic items and applications during pregnancy, to keep up with current research, and to educate pregnant women.
There are many different types of pediculicides available OTC in Australia. In this study we compare the efficacy and safety of three topical pediculicides: a pediculicide containing melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) and lavender oil (TTO/LO); a head lice "suffocation" product; and a product containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (P/PB).
This study was a randomised, assessor-blind, comparative, parallel study of 123 subjects with live head lice. The head lice products were applied according to the manufacturer's instructions (the TTO/LO product and the "suffocation" product were applied three times at weekly intervals according to manufacturers instructions (on Day 0, Day 7 and Day 14) and the P/PB product was applied twice according to manufacturers instructions (on Day 0 and Day 7)). The presence or absence of live lice one day following the last treatment was determined.
The percentage of subjects who were louse-free one day after the last treatment with the product containing tea tree oil and lavender oil (41/42; 97.6%) and the head lice "suffocation" product (40/41, 97.6%) was significantly higher compared to the percentage of subjects who were louse-free one day after the last treatment with the product containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (10/40, 25.0%; adj. p < 0.0001).
The high efficacy of the TTO/LO product and the head lice "suffocation" product offers an alternative to the pyrethrins-based product.
The study was entered into the Australian/New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry, ACTRN12610000179033.
Systemic toxicity coupled with long treatment regimes of approved topical chemotherapeutic agents such as imiquimod and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are limiting. There is now more focus on the potential use of topical terpene agents as skin cancer treatments. Here, we show for the first time that topical Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil (TTO), abundant in terpenes, has in vivo antitumour activity.
Topical TTO formulations applied to immunocompetent tumour-bearing mice were assessed for antitumour efficacy by monitoring tumour growth and by histological analysis following treatment.
Four, daily, topical treatments of 10% TTO/DMSO regressed subcutaneous AE17 mesotheliomas in mice for a period of 10 days and significantly retarded the growth of subcutaneous B16-F10 melanomas. The antitumour effect of topical 10% TTO/DMSO was accompanied by skin irritation similar to other topical chemotherapeutic agents, but unlike other approved topical agents, quickly and completely resolved. Furthermore, we show that topical 10% TTO/DMSO caused an influx of neutrophils and other immune effector cells in the treated area, with no evidence of systemic toxicity.
TTO combined with an effective carrier significantly inhibited the growth of aggressive, subcutaneous, chemo-resistant tumours in immunocompetent mice. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of topical TTO as an alternative topical antitumour treatment.
In this study we present new data from experiments focused on the antitumor activity of tea tree oil (TTO), an essential oil distilled from Melaleuca alternifolia. TTO proved to be capable of inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells and of overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR), as we reported in our previous study. Moreover, the survival role of the MDR-marker P-glycoprotein appears to be involved in the mechanism of invasion of melanoma cells. The results reported herein indicate that TTO and its main active component, terpinen-4-ol, can also interfere with the migration and invasion processes of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant melanoma cells.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential to summarize evidence relating to efficacy and safety of health care interventions accurately and reliably. The clarity and transparency of these reports, however, is not optimal. Poor reporting of systematic reviews diminishes their value to clinicians, policy makers, and other users.
Since the development of the QUOROM (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analysis) Statement—a reporting guideline published in 1999—there have been several conceptual, methodological, and practical advances regarding the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Also, reviews of published systematic reviews have found that key information about these studies is often poorly reported. Realizing these issues, an international group that included experienced authors and methodologists developed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) as an evolution of the original QUOROM guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of evaluations of health care interventions.
The PRISMA Statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. The checklist includes items deemed essential for transparent reporting of a systematic review. In this Explanation and Elaboration document, we explain the meaning and rationale for each checklist item. For each item, we include an example of good reporting and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies and methodological literature. The PRISMA Statement, this document, and the associated Web site (http://www.prisma-statement.org/) should be helpful resources to improve reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Over the past ten years MRSA has become endemic in hospitals and is associated with increased healthcare costs. Critically ill patients are most at risk, in part because of the number of invasive therapies that they require in the intensive care unit (ICU). Washing with 5% tea tree oil (TTO) has been shown to be effective in removing MRSA on the skin. However, to date, no trials have evaluated the potential of TTO body wash to prevent MRSA colonization or infection. In addition, detecting MRSA by usual culture methods is slow. A faster method using a PCR assay has been developed in the laboratory, but requires evaluation in a large number of patients.
This study protocol describes the design of a multicentre, phase II/III prospective open-label randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate whether a concentration of 5% TTO is effective in preventing MRSA colonization in comparison with a standard body wash (Johnsons Baby Softwash) in the ICU. In addition we will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of TTO body wash and assess the effectiveness of the PCR assay in detecting MRSA in critically ill patients. On admission to intensive care, swabs from the nose and groin will be taken to screen for MRSA as per current practice. Patients will be randomly assigned to be washed with the standard body wash or TTO body wash. On discharge from the unit, swabs will be taken again to identify whether there is a difference in MRSA colonization between the two groups.
If TTO body wash is found to be effective, widespread implementation of such a simple colonization prevention tool has the potential to impact on patient outcomes, healthcare resource use and patient confidence both nationally and internationally.
The prevalence of onychomycosis, the most frequent cause of nail disease, ranges from 2% to 13%. Standard treatments include debridement, topical medications, and systemic therapies. This study assesses the efficacy and tolerability of topical application of 1% clotrimazole solution compared with that of 100% Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil for the treatment of toenail onychomycosis.
A double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial was performed at two primary care health and residency training centers and one private podiatrist's office. The participants included 117 patients with distal subungual onychomycosis proven by culture. Patients received twice-daily application of either 1% clotrimazole (CL) solution or 100% tea tree (TT) oil for 6 months. Debridement and clinical assessment were performed at 0, 1, 3, and 6 months. Cultures were obtained at 0 and 6 months. Each patient's subjective assessment was also obtained 3 months after the conclusion of therapy.
The baseline characteristics of the treatment groups did not differ significantly. After 6 months of therapy, the two treatment groups were comparable based on culture cure (CL = 11%, TT = 18%) and clinical assessment documenting partial or full resolution (CL = 61%, TT = 60%). Three months later, about one half of each group reported continued improvement or resolution (CL = 55%; TT = 56%).
All current therapies have high recurrence rates. Oral therapy has the added disadvantages of high cost and potentially serious adverse effects. Topical therapy, including the two preparations presented in this paper, provide improvement in nail appearance and symptomatology. The use of a topical preparation in conjunction with debridement is an appropriate initial treatment strategy.
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The in-vitro activity of a range of essential oils, including tea tree oil, against the yeast candida was examined. Of the 24 essential oils tested by the agar dilution method against Candida albicans ATCC 10231, three did not inhibit C. albicans at the highest concentration tested, which was 2.0% (v/v) oil. Sandalwood oil had the lowest MIC, inhibiting C. albicans at 0.06%. Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil was investigated for activity against 81 C. albicans isolates and 33 non-albicans Candida isolates. By the broth microdilution method, the minimum concentration of oil inhibiting 90% of isolates for both C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species was 0.25% (v/v). The minimum concentration of oil killing 90% of isolates was 0.25% for C. albicans and 0.5% for non-albicans Candida species. Fifty-seven Candida isolates were tested for sensitivity to tea tree oil by the agar dilution method; the minimum concentration of oil inhibiting 90% of isolates was 0.5%. Tests on three intra-vaginal tea tree oil products showed these products to have MICs and minimum fungicidal concentrations comparable to those of non-formulated tea tree oil, indicating that the tea tree oil contained in these products has retained its anticandidal activity. These data indicate that some essential oils are active against Candida spp., suggesting that they may be useful in the topical treatment of superficial candida infections.
Resistance of Sarcoptes scabiei to various topical therapies has been described, but clinical assessment of treatment failure is problematic and in-vitro
assays are generally not available. We describe a simple in-vitro analysis used to evaluate the relative efficacy of a range
of topical, oral, and herbal treatments available in Australia for the treatment of scabies. S. scabiei var. hominis mites were collected from skin scrapings obtained from 7 crusted scabies patients over a period of 2 years (1997 and 1998).
Larvae, nymphal instars, and adult mites were tested within 3 h of collection and continuously exposed to selected commercially
available treatment products until death, with the elapsed time recorded. Neem was the only product to show little acaricidal
activity. Survival curves indicated that, of the other agents, 5% permethrin (Lyclear) had the slowest killing time, with
35% of mites still alive after 3 h, and 4% still alive after 18–22 h of constant exposure. In contrast, no mites were alive
after 3 h exposure to 25% benzyl benzoate (Ascabiol), 1 % lindane (Quellada), 5% tea tree oil and 100–8000 ng/g of ivermectin
(Equimec). Despite the slower killing time with 5% permethrin, there was no evidence of any mite tolerance in vivo or treatment failure in any patients or contact cases.
To compare the acaricidal activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil (TTO) and some of its individual active components on the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis.
In vitro acaricide sensitivity assessment.
The Menzies School of Health Research laboratory, located near the Infectious Diseases Ward of the Royal Darwin Hospital, Australia, where patients are admitted and treated for crusted scabies.
Scabies mites (S scabiei var hominis) were collected from a 20-year-old Aboriginal woman admitted to the Royal Darwin Hospital with crusted scabies. Interventions Within 3 hours of collection, scabies mites were placed in continuous direct contact with the TTO products and control acaricides and were observed at regular intervals.
Percentage of mites dead at regular observation intervals between 5 minutes and 24 hours during continuous exposure to the TTO products and acaricides.
The 5% TTO and active component terpinen-4-ol were highly effective in reducing mite survival times. Statistically significant differences in mite survival curves were observed for 5% TTO, 2.1% terpinen-4-ol, 5% permethrin, and ivermectin (100 microg/g of Emulsifying Ointment British Pharmacopoeia 88). In vivo effectiveness was also observed.
Documentation of resistance against antiectoparasitic compounds is increasing. Reported S scabiei treatment failures with lindane, crotamiton, and benzyl benzoate, as well as likely emerging resistance to 5% permethrin and oral ivermectin, are of concern and advocate for the identification and development of novel acaricidal drugs. Tea tree oil is a membrane-active biocide extracted from the tree M alternifolia. It is a principal antimicrobial in a wide range of pharmaceuticals sold in Australia, with the main active component being oxygenated terpenoids. The results suggest that TTO has a potential role as a new topical acaricide and confirm terpinen-4-ol as the primary active component.
To compare the in vitro killing effect of different agents on Demodex and to report the in vivo killing effect of tea tree oil (TTO) on ocular Demodex.
Survival time of Demodex was measured under the microscope. Sampling and counting of Demodex was performed by a modified method.
Demodex folliculorum survived for more than 150 minutes in 10% povidone-iodine, 75% alcohol, 50% baby shampoo, and 4% pilocarpine. However, the survival time was significantly shortened to within 15 minutes in 100% alcohol, 100% TTO, 100% caraway oil, or 100% dill weed oil. TTO's in vitro killing effect was dose dependent. Lid scrub with 50% TTO, but not with 50% baby shampoo, can further stimulate Demodex to move out to the skin. The Demodex count did not reach zero in any of the seven patients receiving daily lid scrub with baby shampoo for 40-350 days. In contrast, the Demodex count dropped to zero in seven of nine patients receiving TTO scrub in 4 weeks without recurrence.
Demodex is resistant to a wide range of antiseptic solutions. Weekly lid scrub with 50% TTO and daily lid scrub with tea tree shampoo is effective in eradicating ocular Demodex.
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Complementary and alternative medicines such as tea tree (melaleuca) oil have become increasingly popular in recent decades. This essential oil has been used for almost 100 years in Australia but is now available worldwide both as neat oil and as an active component in an array of products. The primary uses of tea tree oil have historically capitalized on the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions of the oil. This review summarizes recent developments in our understanding of the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the oil and its components, as well as clinical efficacy. Specific mechanisms of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action are reviewed, and the toxicity of the oil is briefly discussed.
Recent investigations on the antifungal properties of essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (Tea Tree Oil, TTO) have been performed with reference to the treatment of vaginal candidiasis. However, there is a lack of in vivo data supporting in vitro results, especially regarding the antifungal properties of TTO constituents. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the in vitro and the in vivo anti-Candida activity of two critical bioactive constituents of TTO, terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole.
Oophorectomized, pseudoestrus rats under estrogen treatment were used for experimental vaginal infection with azole (fluconazole, itraconazole) -susceptible or -resistant strains of C. albicans. All these strains were preliminarily tested for in vitro susceptibility to TTO, terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole for their antifungal properties, using a modification of the CLSI (formerly NCCLS) reference M27-A2 broth micro-dilution method.
In vitro minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) values were 0.06% (volume/volume) for terpinen-4-ol and 4% (volume/volume) for 1,8-cineole, regardless of susceptibility or resistance of the strains to fluconazole and itraconazole. Fungicidal concentrations of terpinen-4-ol were equivalent to the candidastatic activity. In the rat vaginal infection model, terpinen-4-ol was as active as TTO in accelerating clearance from the vagina of all Candida strains examined.
Our data suggest that terpinen-4-ol is a likely mediator of the in vitro and in vivo activity of TTO. This is the first in vivo demonstration that terpinen-4-ol could control C. albicans vaginal infections. The purified compound holds promise for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis, and particularly the azole-resistant forms.
Eumycetoma caused by Madurella mycetomatis is treated with surgery and high doses of itraconazole and ketoconazole. These agents are toxic, and new therapies are required.
MICs were determined for artemisinin and tea tree oil, two natural herbal compounds.
Artemisinin was not active against M. mycetomatis, but tea tree oil did inhibit its growth. Since tea tree oil's prime component easily penetrates the skin, tea tree oil could be a useful agent in the treatment of eumycetoma.
Tea tree oil is active in vitro against M. mycetomatis.
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Using a series of efflux mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the MexAB-OprM pump was identified as contributing to this organism's tolerance to the antimicrobial agent tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil and its monoterpene components terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-cineole, and alpha-terpineol. These data show that a multidrug efflux system of P. aeruginosa can extrude monoterpenes and related alcohols.
Psoriasis is a clinical skin disease that is characterized by erythematous scaling plaques and involves the extensor site of the extremities, the scalp and other surfaces of the skin. Tea tree oil (TTO) is considered an essential oil, obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and terminal branchlets of Melaleuca alternifolia. Notably,terpinen-4-ol, the major TTO constituent, has been found to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. It is suggested that terpinen-4-ol may be a novel potential agent against psoriasis. This article draws attention to the antipsoriatic effect of TTO and provides a theoretical molecular approach.
The composition and yield of oil in 615 trees representing the natural populations of Melaleuca alternifolia, or tea tree, was investigated. A sixth distinct oil chemotype was identified. Of the six chemotypes, one chemotype is dominated by terpinen-4-ol, one by 1,8-cineole, one by terpinolene and the remaining three chemotypes are all dominated by 1,8-cineole and differ in either terpinen-4-ol or terpinolene content. Whilst most chemotypes are present throughout the distribution range, a definite correspondence of oil types with geographic location was found. Terpinen-4-ol types predominate in and around the Bungawalbin basin in the Casino area of northern New South Wales (NSW), high 1,8-cineole types predominate toward the southern end of the distribution around Grafton and terpinolene types predominate in southern Queensland. Preliminary formulae have been developed to allow comparisons of oil data obtained by steam distillation with a static headspace gas chromatography method.
Synopsis The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of commercial essential oils: lavender, tea tree and lemon, antimicrobials in washing liquid and O/W soft body balm. The inhibition efficacy of essential oils in washing liquid (1% alone or in mixtures), in soft body balm (0.5% alone), as well as combined with the synthetic preservative DMDM hydantoin and 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate mixture (0.1 and 0.3%), was tested against S. aureus ATCC 6538, P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Candida sp. ŁOCK 0008 and A. niger ATCC 16404 in compliance with the European Pharmacopoeia standards. The components of the system preserving soft body balm were supplemented with a solubilizer. Washing liquids containing only essential oils met Criterion A E.P. only for S. aureus, Candida sp. and A. niger. In soft body balm formulations, oils at a concentration of 0.5% did not reveal any preserving activity. The introduction of a solubilizer to a system containing 0.5% tea tree oil led to a substantial increase in the bacteriostatic activity of the formulation, but did not significantly affect its fungistatic properties. A combination of 0.5% tea tree oil, 5% solubilizer and 0.3% synthetic preservative ensured the microbiological stability of soft body balm in accordance with Criterion A E.P.
Tea tree oil (TTO) (Melaleuca alternifolia) has been used recently as an effective topical application for the treatment of skin infections due to a variety of aetiological microbial agents, including mainly bacterial infections. We detail the first report in the peer-reviewed literature of the successful treatment with TTO of a paediatric patient with warts on her right middle finger. TTO was applied topically once daily to the lesions for 12 days, with a successful outcome, including complete re-epithelization of the infected areas. The case highlights the potential use of TTO in the treatment of common warts due to human papilloma virus.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common papulosquamous disorder of the skin, affecting 3% to 5% of the population. Dandruff, a less severe form of seborrheic dermatitis, affects a greater proportion of the population. The exact pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, however colonization of the lipophilic yeast, Malasezzia furfur, and an inflammatory reaction to this yeast each seem to play a role in disease etiology. Therefore, treatment for seborrheic dermatitis is aimed at yeast elimination and inflammation control. Several treatment modalities are available for seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff including shampoos, which contain both active ingredients related to antimycotic or anti-inflammatory effects and also surfactant ingredients that allow these shampoos to replace regular shampoos in affected patients. The literature regarding the treatment of therapeutic shampoos is reviewed, and treatment strategies for managing seborrheic dermatitis with therapeutic shampoos are provided.
Tea-tree oil (an essential oil of the Australian native tree Melaleuca alternifolia) has long been regarded as a useful topical antiseptic agent in Australia and has been shown to have a variety of antimicrobial activities; however, only anecdotal evidence exists for its efficacy in the treatment of various skin conditions. We have performed a single-blind, randomised clinical trial on 124 patients to evaluate the efficacy and skin tolerance of 5% tea-tree oil gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne when compared with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion. The results of this study showed that both 5% tea-tree oil and 5% benzoyl peroxide had a significant effect in ameliorating the patients' acne by reducing the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions (open and closed comedones), although the onset of action in the case of tea-tree oil was slower. Encouragingly, fewer side effects were experienced by patients treated with tea-tree oil.
The prevalence of onychomycosis, a superficial fungal infection that destroys the entire nail unit, is rising, with no satisfactory cure. The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to examine the clinical efficacy and tolerability of 2% butenafine hydrochloride and 5% Melaleuca alternifolia oil incorporated in a cream to manage toenail onychomycosis in a cohort. Sixty outpatients (39 M, 21 F) aged 18-80 years (mean 29.6) with 6-36 months duration of disease were randomized to two groups (40 and 20), active and placebo. After 16 weeks, 80% of patients using medicated cream were cured, as opposed to none in the placebo group. Four patients in the active treatment group experienced subjective mild inflammation without discontinuing treatment. During follow-up, no relapse occurred in cured patients and no improvement was seen in medication-resistant and placebo participants.
A study was undertaken to investigate the cooling and healing effect of different modalities: Melaleuca Alternifolia Hydrogel (Levtrade International (Pty) Ltd.) was compared with tap water as a coolant following application onto a fresh deep partial thickness hot water burn in a porcine model. Four identical circular scalds were created on the backs of 10 pigs. One wound was not treated and served as a control. The other 3 wounds were either cooled with tap water (15 degrees C) or had Melaleuca Hydrogel dressing applied immediately, or after a 30 min delay. Intradermal temperatures were monitored in all wounds: preburn, during the burn and at regular intervals for 1 h. The wounds were biopsied for histological assessment. These samples were repeated at 24 h and 3 weeks. The mean decrease in final temperature at 1 h was in comparison to the preburn temperature; control +0.44 degrees C (i.e. a temperature increase); water -7.82 degrees C; Melaleuca Hydrogel -3.87 degrees C; Melaleuca Hydrogel after 30 min delay -2.67 degrees C. Clinical and histological assessment at 21 days indicated more rapid healing in both the Melaleuca Hydrogel and water-cooled burns compared with the untreated controls. Effective cooling of the burn wound and an increased rate of wound healing was achieved by both repeated tap water compresses and by immediate or delayed application of Melaleuca Hydrogel. Cooling is an effective means to reduce tissue damage and increase wound healing.
The effect of different essential oils as well as of isolated mono- and sesquiterpenes on the viability of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei, promastigotes of Leishmania major and human HL-60 cells was evaluated using the Almar Blue assay. Of the 12 essential oils and 8 terpenes investigated, only three essential oils, Melissa officinalis (balmmint) oil, Thymus vulgaris (thyme) oil, and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil were about 50-fold and 80-fold more toxic to bloodstream forms of T. brucei than to HL-60 cells, respectively. Terpinen-4-ol, the main compound of the Australian tea tree oil, was even 1000-fold more toxic to trypanosomes than to the human cells. On the other hand, none of the essential oils and terpenes tested were more toxic to promastigotes of L. major than to HL-60 cells.
Phenolics antioxidant phytochemicals have been recently implicated for the lower rates of cardiac disease mortality among people consuming a Mediterranean diet. Essential oils are natural products extracted from vegetable materials, which can be used as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidants, and anti-carcinogenic agents or to preserve and give specific flavors to foods. The activities of 23 selected essential oils in inhibiting the copper-catalyzed oxidation of human-low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were determined in vitro. LDL oxidation was inhibited between 6, 2, and 83% by 2 microM (GAE) total phenolics. The relative inhibition of LDL oxidation was used to categorize the essential oils into four groups below 2% when they contained methylchavicol, anethol, p-cymen, apiole, cinnamic ether; 6-10% if they possessed a majority of carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, or vanillin; 10-50% for moderate amounts of thymol, carvacrol, cuminol, or eugenol; and 50-100% when eugenol is the major component. Total phenol content of essential oils gave a correlation with LDL antioxidant activity of r = 0.75. The Activity of each phenolics compound could play a role in protecting LDL against oxidation if the substance is absorbed by the body.
The antiviral effect of Australian tea tree oil (TTO) and eucalyptus oil (EUO) against herpes simplex virus was examined. Cytotoxicity of TTO and EUO was evaluated in a standard neutral red dye uptake assay. Toxicity of TTO and EUO was moderate for RC-37 cells and approached 50% (TC50) at concentrations of 0.006% and 0.03%, respectively. Antiviral activity of TTO and EUO against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was tested in vitro on RC-37 cells using a plaque reduction assay. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of TTO for herpes simplex virus plaque formation was 0.0009% and 0.0008% and the IC50 of EUO was determined at 0.009% and 0.008% for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Australian tea tree oil exhibited high levels of virucidal activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in viral suspension tests. At noncytotoxic concentrations of TTO plaque formation was reduced by 98.2% and 93.0% for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Noncytotoxic concentrations of EUO reduced virus titers by 57.9% for HSV-1 and 75.4% for HSV-2. Virus titers were reduced significantly with TTO, whereas EUO exhibited distinct but less antiviral activity. In order to determine the mode of antiviral action of both essential oils, either cells were pretreated before viral infection or viruses were incubated with TTO or EUO before infection, during adsorption or after penetration into the host cells. Plaque formation was clearly reduced, when herpes simplex virus was pretreated with the essential oils prior to adsorption. These results indicate that TTO and EUO affect the virus before or during adsorption, but not after penetration into the host cell. Thus TTO and EUO are capable to exert a direct antiviral effect on HSV. Although the active antiherpes components of Australian tea tree and eucalyptus oil are not yet known, their possible application as antiviral agents in recurrent herpes infection is promising.
Plants are of relevance to dermatology for both their adverse and beneficial effects on skin and skin disorders respectively. Virtually all cultures worldwide have relied historically, or continue to rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. Approximately one-third of all traditional medicines are for treatment of wounds or skin disorders, compared to only 1-3% of modern drugs. The use of such medicinal plant extracts for the treatment of skin disorders arguably has been based largely on historical/anecdotal evidence, since there has been relatively little data available in the scientific literature, particularly with regard to the efficacy of plant extracts in controlled clinical trials. In this article therefore, adverse and beneficial aspects of medicinal plants relating to skin and skin disorders have been reviewed, based on recently available information from the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Beneficial aspects of medicinal plants on skin include: healing of wounds and burn injuries (especially Aloe vera); antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and acaricidal activity against skin infections such as acne, herpes and scabies (especially tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil); activity against inflammatory/immune disorders affecting skin (e.g. psoriasis); and anti-tumour promoting activity against skin cancer (identified using chemically-induced two-stage carcinogenesis in mice). Adverse effects of plants on skin reviewed include: irritant contact dermatitis caused mechanically (spines, irritant hairs) or by irritant chemicals in plant sap (especially members of the Ranunculaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Compositae plant families); phytophotodermatitis resulting from skin contamination by plants containing furocoumarins, and subsequent exposure to UV light (notably members of the Umbelliferae and Rutaceae plant families); and immediate (type I) or delayed hypersensitivity contact reactions mediated by the immune system in individuals sensitized to plants or plant products (e.g. peanut allergy, poison ivy (Toxicodendron) poisoning).
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To examine the effect of topically applied tea tree oil (TTO) on histamine-induced oedema in the ears of mice.
For BALB/c mice, 10 microl undiluted TTO applied immediately after, but not 30 min before intradermal injection of 600 microg histamine in 10 microl, significantly suppressed oedema development. TTO applied after histamine injection also suppressed histamine-induced oedema in C57/BL6 mice. TTO applied immediately after intradermal injection of compound 48/80 (200 microg in 10 microl saline) also significantly reduced ear swelling. TTO suppressed histamine-induced oedema to the same extent in capsaicin-treated (neuropeptide-depleted) and control mice which suggests that TTO does not inhibit histamine-induced oedema by regulating the activity of peripheral sensory neurons. Terpinen-4-ol, the major water-soluble component of TTO, was equivalent in potency to TTO in the suppression of histamine-induced ear swelling.
Topical application of TTO, and in particular terpinen-4-ol, may be effective in controlling histamine-induced oedema often associated with Type I allergic immediate hypersensitivities.
Tea tree oil has been shown to have activity against dermatophytes in vitro. We have conducted a randomized, controlled, double-blinded study to determine the efficacy and safety of 25% and 50% tea tree oil in the treatment of interdigital tinea pedis. One hundred and fifty-eight patients with tinea pedis clinically and microscopy suggestive of a dermatophyte infection were randomized to receive either placebo, 25% or 50% tea tree oil solution. Patients applied the solution twice daily to affected areas for 4 weeks and were reviewed after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. There was a marked clinical response seen in 68% of the 50% tea tree oil group and 72% of the 25% tea tree oil group, compared to 39% in the placebo group. Mycological cure was assessed by culture of skin scrapings taken at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. The mycological cure rate was 64% in the 50% tea tree oil group, compared to 31% in the placebo group. Four (3.8%) patients applying tea tree oil developed moderate to severe dermatitis that improved quickly on stopping the study medication.
Dandruff appears to be related to the yeast Pityrosporum ovale. Tea tree oil has antifungal properties with activity against P ovale and may be useful in the treatment of dandruff.
We conducted a randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of 5% tea tree oil and placebo in patients with mild to moderate dandruff.
One hundred twenty-six male and female patients, aged 14 years and older, were randomly assigned to receive either 5% tea tree oil shampoo or placebo, which was used daily for 4 weeks. The dandruff was scored on a quadrant-area-severity scale and by patient self-assessment scores of scaliness, itchiness, and greasiness.
The 5% tea tree oil shampoo group showed a 41% improvement in the quadrant-area-severity score compared with 11% in the placebo group (P <.001). Statistically significant improvements were also observed in the total area of involvement score, the total severity score, and the itchiness and greasiness components of the patients' self-assessments. The scaliness component of patient self-assessment improved but was not statistically significant. There were no adverse effects.
Five percent tea tree oil appears to effective and well tolerated in the treatment of dandruff.