Pharmacological attributes and nutritional benefits of tea tree oil International Journal of Biosciences | IJB |

Abstract

Tea tree oil is obtained from different Melaleuca species (Melaleuca quinquenervian, M. alterniolia, M. leucadendra) which accounts for 99% of commercial oil production. Melaleuca plant is indigenous to Australia. It is cultivated because of its great medicinal and economical properties. Oil is extracted mostly from leaves of Melaleuca plants by steam distillation. Melaleuca oil is mainly composed of terpene hydrocarbons including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and their associated alcohols. Tea tree oil (TTO) is well known for its disinfectant, antiseptic as well as its antimicrobial properties. That's why it is found to be most effective in treatment of skin infections. This oil also possesses nutritional properties but produce toxicity if taken in large amounts. This paper gives an overview of scientific literature available on nutritional and pharmacological properties of Tea tree oil.

Full text

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Sabir et al.
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REVIEW PAPER OPEN ACCESS
Pharmacological attributes and nutritional benefits of tea tree
oil
Sidra Sabir, Muhammad Arshad, Kulsoom Zahara, Shaista Tabassum, Sunbal Khalil
Chaudhari*
Department of Botany, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Key words: Melaleuca alterniolia, terpene hydrocarbons, disinfectant, antimicrobial properties.
http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/5.2.80-91
Article published on July 25, 2014
Abstract
Tea tree oil is obtained from different Melaleuca species (Melaleuca quinquenervian, M. alterniolia, M.
leucadendra) which accounts for 99% of commercial oil production. Melaleuca plant is indigenous to Australia.
It is cultivated because of its great medicinal and economical properties. Oil is extracted mostly from leaves of
Melaleuca plants by steam distillation. Melaleuca oil is mainly composed of terpene hydrocarbons including
monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and their associated alcohols. Tea tree oil (TTO) is well known for its
disinfectant, antiseptic as well as its antimicrobial properties. That’s why it is found to be most effective in
treatment of skin infections. This oil also possesses nutritional properties but produce toxicity if taken in large
amounts. This paper gives an overview of scientific literature available on nutritional and pharmacological
properties of Tea tree oil.
* Corresponding Author: Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari  khalilsunbal@yahoo.com
International Journal of Biosciences | IJB |
ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print) 2222-5234 (Online)
http://www.innspub.net
Vol. 5, No. 2, p. 80-91, 2014

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Introduction
Human diet consists of three macronutrients and
several micronutrients like vitamins, minerals,
antioxidants and various other beneficial
phytochemicals. These macronutrients such as
proteins, carbohydrates, and fats (lipids) are
important source of energy. Generally it is concept
that fat is an undesirable part of the diet but no
doubt it is an essential requirement of body .
However quantity and quality of fat consumed is
important.
The lipids have important physical, chemical, and
nutritional properties. These are superior to
carbohydrates and proteins because they produce
twice amount of energy as compared to same weight
of carbohydrates or proteins. The lipids should be
consumed in proper quantity recommended by
nutritionists. Trans acid consumption leads to the
problems of obesity and hypercholesterolemia
therefore to overcome this problem there is a need to
reduce Trans acids consumption in diet or replace
these with omega-3 acids.
Almost all vegetable oils are obtained from beans
or seeds of plants and these oils are extracted either
by pressing or with solvent extraction techniques.
Proportion of oils present in seeds varies among
different plants. According to USDA figures for
2008-09, world average oil yields are: soybean
(18%), rapeseed (39%), sunflower (41%), groundnut
(32%), coconut oil (62%), and 44% palm kernel
(Gunstone, 2011).
Melaleuca alternifolia occurs naturally in some areas
of Australia, on the north coast of New South Wales
(NSW) where it is restricted to the narrow plain
between the coast and the dividing range. The tree
occurs mainly in moist areas and swamps. The
Australian tea tree oil industry has flourished in last
50 years (Richard L devis). The volatile oil
constituents of M. alternifolia make it a valuable and
commercially important medicinal and aromatic
plant (Southwell and Lowe, 1999).Melaleuca
alternifolia, accounts 99% of world trade. Beside
Melaleuca alternifolia two other species of this genus,
Melaleuca linarifolia and Melaleuca dissitiflora, are
also exploited commercially but on a small scale. Due
to its medicinal as well as nutritional value tea tree oil
has been produced on a commercial scale. Australia
is one of the largest producers of tea tree oil (Shelton
et al., 2004).The present review gives the detailed
physico-chemical, nutritional and health benefit of
tea tree oil.
Botanical features of tea tree
Melaleucaalternifolia is indigenous to Australia,
where it is found growing from Queensland to north-
east New South Wales (Cribb, 1981; Penfold and
Morrison, 1950) at up to 300 m altitude, on the soil
with pH ranging from 4.5 to 7. Other varieties of tea
tree oil have been cultivated somewhere else, but
Melaleuca alternifolia is not produced outside
Australia.
Melaleuca alternifolia occurs naturally in a very
limited area of Australia, on the north coast of New
South Wales (NSW) where it is restricted to the
narrow plain between the coast and the dividing
range. The tree mainly occurs in moist areas and
swamps where it forms fairly dense stands that often
contain relatively few other species. This species
mostly prefer well-drained soil and suitable for light
(sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. It
cannot grow in the shade. This species is frost
sensitive and in warmer months leaves possess
highest oil content (Orwaet al., 2009).
Melaleuca alternifolia is a narrow-leaved tree, up to
7m tall. Bark is layered and papery. Entire plant is
glabrous. Leaves are 10-35 mm long and about 1 mm
wide. Leaves are often arranged scattered to whorled
on one branchlet. Petiole is 1 mm long. Leaves are
dotted with oil glands that can be seen by using lens.
The inflorescences are many-flowered spikes, 3-5 cm
long, with axes bearing short hairs. The white flowers
are solitary and petals are 2-3 mm long. Flowers are
scattered in an interrupted spike. Stamens are 30-6o
in number and more than 12 mm long united at their
bases to form 5 distinct bundles. Style is 3-4 mm long.

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Fruit is many seeded, cup shaped and 2-3mm in
diameter. A hole of 1.5-2.5mm diameter is present
which enables the release and dispersal of seeds by
wind. Fruits are spaced sparsely along the branches.
Tea tree oil
Tea Tree oil is not extracted from the plant commonly
associated with tea as a beverage. So it is not related
to Tea Oil, which is extracted from the seed of the Tea
plant (Camellia sinensis). Instead, Tea tree oil is
obtained from the leaves of any species of Melaleuca
that conforms to the ISO standard.
Provenance and nomenclature
The provenance of TTO is not always clear from its
common name or those of its sources. A number of
synonyms, including “melaleuca oil” and “ti tree oil,”
are used for TTO, the latter being a Maori and
Samoan common name for plants in the Cordyline
(Weiss, 1997). Even the term “melaleuca oil” is
potentially confusing, as several chemically distinct
oils are distilled other Melaleuca species, such as
cajuput oil (also cajeput or cajaput) is obtained from
M. cajuputiand niaouli oil from M. quinquenervia
(often misidentified as M. viridiflora) the term has
been adopted by the Australian Therapeutic Goods
Administration as the official name for TTO. The use
of common plant names further confounds the issue.
In Australia, “tea trees” are also known as “paper bark
trees”. Collectively these terms are used to refer
species in the Melaleuca or Leptospermum genera.
For example, “swamp tea tree” and “paper bark tea
tree” are the common names for M. cajuputi while
common names for M. quinquenervia include
“broad-leaved tea tree” and “broad-leaved paper
bark” (Lassak and McCarthy, 1983). Many
ornamental species of Leptospermum are often
mistakenly identified as the source of TTO. In
addition to this, the essential oils kanuka and
manuka, derived from the New Zealand plants
Kunzeaericoides and Leptospermum scoparium,
respectively, are referred to as New Zealand TTOs
(Christoph et al., 2000) although these are very
different in composition from Australian TTO (Perry
et al., 1997).
Other names
Different names used for tea tree oil includes:
Australian Tea Tree Oil, Huile de Melaleuca, Huile de
Théier, Huile de Théier Australien, Huile Essentielle
de Théier, Aceite del Árbol de Té, , Melaleuca Oil, Oil
of Melaleuca, Oleum Melaleucae, Tea Tree, Tea Tree
Essential Oil.
Tea tree oil extraction method
There are various methods of essential oil extraction
such as distillation, CO2 supercritical extraction, and
solvent extraction.
Water extraction
In water extraction water act as a solvent and the
chopped plant matter is submerged directly in boiling
water so that carbohydrates, peptides, glycosides, and
tannins are extracted in it. Leaves and flowers are
usually steeped, and roots and barks are usually
decocted (simmered). Unfortunately, water extracts
have limited longevity because it is susceptible to
fermentation. The Bundjalung Aborigines, who live
North of New South Wales extract oil by crushing and
soaking the leaves of the Tea Tree in water to use in
compress or infusions.
Steam distillation
Today mostly essential oils are extracted by steam
distillation. It's the oldest method of essential oil
extraction, quite simple and the best method for
distilling leafy materials. Only minimum changes in
composition of essential oil occur by using this
method of extraction. Steam distillation is cheap and
non hazardous and can be easily recycled. So it is
used to collect crude TTO (35 – 45% of volume of
Terpinen-4-ol) (Carson et al., 2006).
TTO is extracted by steam distillation from the leaves
and terminal branches of Melaleuca tree. Dry
materials are obtained after 24 hours of drying, and
then determined the moisture of these materials
(representative sampling). Steam for distillation is
supplied from outside boiler of which capacity is 350
kg water per hour. The main device for this process is
distillation vessel of which dimensions are 1110 mm

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in diameter, 1689 mm in height. The steam flow rate
is adjusted automatically by controller connected to
the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor. The
operation parameters of distillation vessel are 120 oC
and 2 bar in 3 hours. Mixture obtained from
condenser includes water and essential oil. In
seperator two liquid phases are observed because oil
and water have different specific gravity. The amount
of essential oil that dissolved in the distillate water is
small (negligible) and therefore recovery of essential
oil dissolved in the water is unnecessary.
Refinement of tea tree oil
After steam distillation TTO should be refined as the
commercial value of TTO is not high. It should be
refined to increase its commercial value and to meet
with tea tree oil standard. Vacuum distillation is
preferred for refinement of TTO as it decreases the
boiling point of TTO and as a consequence it limits
the degradation of heat sensitive volatiles.
Vacuum distillation
In this process first the crude tea tree oil obtained
from distillation process is supplied to the reboiler of
the vacuum distillation column and boiled by indirect
heating via thermal oil heater. To create low-pressure
in system a vacuum generator is connected to the top
of distillation tower. In order condense completely
essential oil entrained by the vacuum line liquid
Separator is set in front of the vacuum generator,
cooled by liquid nitrogen. at the top of the tower,
vapour was condensed and then brought to
condenser.
Physico-chemical properties
The European Inventory contains 3 Melaleuca-type
ingredients (INCI names): Melaleuca alternifolia
oil (antimicrobial), Melaleuca cajuputi extract
(tonic), Melaleuca leucadendron extract (tonic). Tea
Tree Oil is the essential oil obtained by steam
distillation of the leaves and small twigs of
Melaleuca alternifolia, Melaleuca linariifolia and
Melaleuca dissitiflora as well as other species of
Melaleuca provided that the oil obtained conforms to
the requirements given in the International
Standard. However, TTO oil is commercially
produced from M. alternifolia (Maiden and Betche)
Cheel.
The composition of tea tree oil sold is regulated by an
international standard for “Oil of Melaleuca—
terpinen-4-ol type,” which sets maxima and/or
minima for 14 components of the oil (ISO, 2004).
Particularly, the international standard for TTO does
not specify the species of Melaleuca from which the
TTO must be obtained. It sets out physical and
chemical criteria for the desired chemo type. Six
varieties, or chemo types, of M. alternifolia have been
described by standard and oil produced by each
chemo type is of distinct chemical composition. These
chemo types include a terpinen-4-ol chemo type, a
terpinolene chemo type, and four 1,8-cineole chemo
types (Homer et al., 2000). The terpinen-4-ol chemo
type typically contains 30-40% of terpinen- 4-ol
(Homer et al., 2000) and is the chemo type used in
commercial production of TTO.
TTO is composed of terpene hydrocarbons including
monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and their associated
alcohols. Terpenes are volatile, aromatic
hydrocarbons and considered as polymers of isoprene
with formula C5H8. Relative density of TTO is 0.885
to 0.906 (ISO 2004). It is only sparingly soluble in
water and is miscible with nonpolar solvents.
The major constituents of TTO includes Terpinen-4-
ol (max. 48%), γ-terpinene (max. 28%), 1,8-cineole
(eucalyptol, max. 15%), a- terpinene (max. 13%), p-
cymene (max. 8%), α-terpineol (max. 8%), α-pinene
(max. 6%) and terpinolene (max. 5%). When tea
tree oil is exposed to light, moisture and high
temperatures, its composition gets changed. The
levels of α-terpinene, γ-terpinene and terpinolene
decrease whereas the level of p-cymene increases up
to tenfold. Composition also changes in the presence
of atmospheric oxygen. Process of Oxidation occurs
which leads to the formation of peroxides such as
endoperoxides (ascaridole) and epoxides. The main
hydrolytic and oxidative degradation pathways are
shown in another oxidation product identified was 1,

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2, 4-trihydroxymenthane. Percentage of p-cymene
increases with oxidation and its measurement gives
a good indication of the oxidative degradation of
Tea Tree Oil.
Along with the increase in the concentration of p-
cymene, concentration of the oxidation product
1,2,4-trihydroxymenthane which is a supposed skin
sensitizer, also increase. Tea tree oil also contain a
potential carcinogen methyleugenol (Khalil et al.,
2004). Methyleugenol may be present in lower
amounts (below 0.1%) according to (Carson and
Riley, 1993). Methyleugenol is not classified as
carcinogenic in the EU. According to US Annual
Report on Carcinogen, Methyleugenol is classified as
"Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”.
According to US State of California EPA
Methyleugenol is classified as “Chemical known by
the State to cause cancer When exposed to air and
heat”. According to the Code of Practice and the
Guidance document introduced by the Australian
Tea Tree Oil Association, safe processing and storage
may be achieved by controlling the p-cymene
content. TTO should be stored in dark, cool, dry
conditions, preferably in a vessel that contains little
air.
Table 1. Taxonomy of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel.
Class
Equisetopsida
Subclass
Magnoliidae
Superorder
Rosanae
Order
Myrtales
Family
Myrtaceae
Genus
Melaleuca
Nutritional properties and health benefits of tea tree
antimicrobial properties
Tea tree oil show strong antimicrobial activity it
inhibited the growth in vitro of Escherichia coli,
vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium,
Staphylococcus aureus, metacillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus, and a variety of Streptomyces
species (MIC 0.04–0.50%) (Buck et al., 1994; Caboiet
al., 2002; Caelliet al., 2000; Calde- e-Cheet al., 2004;
Carson et al.,2001). It also inhibited the growth in
vitro of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton
rubrum, Microsporum canis, Malassezia furfur,
Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans,
Pityrospermum ovale and Trichosporon cutaneum
(MIC 1.1–2.2mg/ml) (Carson et al., 1995; Carson et
al., 1996; Carson et al., 2002; Carson and Riley,
1993). The chemical constituents of the tea tree oil
such as, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, a-terpineol, a-
terpinene, terpinolene and 1,8-cineole, inhibited the
growth of various microorganisms, including
Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and
Staphylococcus aureus(MIC 0.06–0.50% v/v)
(Caboiet al., 2002).
Balsamic properties
Tea tree oil generally boost health due to its balsamic
properties. It increases the absorption of nutrients
and also provide protection from certain diseases.
Cicatrisant properties
Due to its Cicatrisant property tea tree oil quickly
heals wounds and also protects them from infections.
It also helps to diminish the scar marks left by
eruptions, boils, pox, and acne.
Expectorant properties
It provides relief from cough and cold, congestion,
bronchitis and other troubles associated with colds by
rubbing tea tree oil on the chest.
Insecticidal properties
Tea tree oil is an efficient insect killer. It does not
allow parasites and other insects like mosquitoes,
fleas, lice, or flies to come near someone who has
rubbed some of this oil on their body.
Antiseptic
Tea tree oil is an excellent antiseptic so it can be a
wise preventative choice in case of wounds It can be
applied on the wounds, boils, sores, cuts, skin
eruptions, insect bites and stings, to protect them
from infections.
Stimulant
Tea tree oil has stimulating effect on hormone

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secretions, blood circulation, and most importantly,
on the immune system. It act as a protective shield
against many different types of infections.
Sudorific properties
Tea tree essential oil promotes sweating and the
removal of toxins likes uric acid. Furthermore it help
to remove excess water and salts from the body, and
clean the pores. It also prevents the occurrence of
acne.
Prevention from Vaginitis and cervicitis
According to a study 40% emulsified solution of TTO
in 13% isopropyl alcohol is effective in the treatment
of 130 women with cervicitis or vaginitis due to
Trichomonas vaginalisor vaginitis due to Candida
albicans. Intravaginal application of tampons
saturated with a 20% emulsified solution healed
cervicitis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis after four
weekly treatments. In patients with vaginitis due to
Trichomona svaginalis, intravaginal application of a
1% emulsified solution using a saturated tampon, as
well as vaginal douching, resulted in clinical cures
and restoration of the cervix (Pena, 1962). According
to another study without controls, 28 women
suffering with vaginitis due to Candida albicans were
treated with vaginal pessaries (containing 0.2 g
essential oil) every night for 90 days. After 30 days of
treatment, 21 were free of Candida albican and 24
patients were free of symptoms such as leukorrhoea
and burning sensation, and (Belaiche, 1988).
Table 2. Main constituents of Tea Tree Oil (From ISO 4730-2004).
Constituent
Minimum (%)
Maximum (%)
Terpinolene
1.5
5
1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol)
Trace
15
α-Terpinene
5
13
γ-Terpinene
10
28
p-Cymene
0.5
8
Terpinen-4-ol
30
48
α-Terpineol
1.5
8
Limonene
0.5
1.5
Sabinene
Trace
3.5
Aromadendrene
Trace
3
δ-Cadinene
Trace
3
Globulol
Trace
1
Viridiflorol
Trace
1
α-Pinene
1
6
Ledene (syn. viridiflorene)
Trace
3
Anti Acne properties
By the topical application of a gel containing either
5% essential oil or 5% benzoyl peroxide in the
treatment of mild to moderate acne in 119 patients.
The results demonstrated that both preparations
significantly reduced the number of inflamed and
non-inflamed lesions after 3 months of daily
treatment (P < 0.001), although the onset of action of
the gel containing the essential oil was slower than
that of the gel containing benzoyl peroxide. Patients
treated with the oil-containing gel reported fewer
side-effects than those treated with the benzoyl
peroxide-containing gel. So essential oil was more
effective as compared to benzoyl peroxide (Bassett et
al., 1990).
Prevention from Cystitis
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

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assessed the efficacy of the essential oil in the
treatment of 26 women with chronic idiopathic
colibacilli cystitis. Patients were treated with 8 mg
essential oil, in an enteric capsule form, orally three
times daily for 6 months. After treatment, 54% of the
essential oil-treated groups were free of symptoms,
compared with only 15% in the placebo group.
However, approximately 50% of the asymptomatic
patients still showed evidence of colibacilli and
leukocytes in their urine (Belaiche, 1988).
Fig. 1. The vacuum distillation system.
Antiviral activity
An in vitro study has celebrated the activity of tea tree
oil against herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2.it
in some viruses and it provide protection against
them by rupturing their cyst (Schnitzler et al 2001)..
It cures different viral infections like the common
cold, influenza, mumps, measles, and pox.
Anti-Dandruff activity
Tea tree oil is very effective against dandruff.
According to a study conducted by a single-blind,
parallel-group, the shampoo containing tea tree oil
(5%) was proved effective in 126 patients with mild to
moderate dandruff over 4 weeks (Satchell et al
2002b).
MRSA infection prevention
Various studies indicate that tea tree oil is effective in
removing MRSA on the skin(Thompson et al 2008).A
formulation of5% tea tree oil body wash and 4% tea
tree oil nasal ointment was found to be better than
the standard 2% mupirocin nasal ointment and.
Triclosan body wash usually used for the suppression
of MRSA (Caelli et al 2000).
Gingivitis
As chlorhexidine, Tea tree oil is effective against
gingivitis which is caused by bacteria Streptococcus
mutans (Groppo et al 2002). A more recent study
evaluated the effects of tea tree oil gel (2.5%) and
chlorhexidine gel (0.2%) in 49 patients with severe
chronic gingivitis (Soukoulis & Hirsch 2004).
Other uses
Cold sores
Tea tree oil exhibits antiviral activity therefore its
preparations are used in the treatment of herpes
simplex.
Head lice eradication
Topical application of tea tree oil is effective against
head lice (Veal, 1996). Compounds responsible for
this activity include Phenols, phenolic ethers, ketones
and oxides. Tea tree oil is also found to be effective
against both head lice and dust mites (Williamson et
al 2007).
Dermatitis
Tea tree oil is effective against dermatitis in dogs. A
cream containing 10% Tea tree oil is effective to treat
chronic dermatitis, allergic dermatitis, inter digital
pyoderma, acral lick dermatitis and skinfold
pyoderma in dogs. (Fitziet al 2002).
Wart eradication
A study reported that daily topical application of tea
tree oil for 12 days successfully eradicated warts on
the hand of a paediatric patient (Millar & Moore
2008).
Dosage range
Tea tree oil is used in various forms, such as gels,
creams, ointments, oral rinses, soaps, shampoos and
paints. Different concentrations of tea tree oil are
used to treat different diseases such as: bactericidal
concentrations are generally 0.25%, for acne 5%
essential oil in cream or gel, for Vaginitis, tampons
saturated in a 1% emulsified solution containing 0.2

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g essential oil are used. For Onychomycosis 100%
essential oil applied twice a day.
Toxicity
Topical use is safe and that adverse events are minor,
self-limiting, and infrequent. The oral and dermal
toxicities of TTO are summarized briefy below.
Fig. 2. Chemical structures of some main
constituents of tea tree oil.
Dermal Toxicity
TTO can cause both irritant and allergic reactions.
Since irritant reactions may frequently be avoided
through the use of lower concentrations of the
irritant, this bolsters the case for discolor- aging the
use of neat oil and promoting the use of well-
formulated products. Allergic reactions have been
reported a range of components have been suggested
as responsible, the most definitive work indicates that
they are caused mainly by oxidation products
that occur in aged or improperly stored oil. There
is little scientific support for the notion that 1, 8-
cineole is the major irritant in TTO.
Oral toxicity
TTO can be toxic if ingested, as evidenced by studies
with animals and from cases of human poisoning.
Incidences of oral poisoning in children (DelBeccaro,
1995; Jacobs et al., 1994; Morris et al., 2003) and
adults (Elliott, 1993; Seawright, 1993) have been
reported. In all cases, patients responded to
supportive care and recovered without apparent
sequelae. No human deaths due to TTO have been
reported in the literature.
Adverse reactions
Allergic contact dermatitis after external application
and ingestion of TTO has been reported (Buck et al.,
1994; Apted, 1991; Groot et al., 1992; Knight and
Hausen, 1994; Selvaaget al., 1994; Valket al., 1994).
No adverse reactions were reported in two patch tests
using preparations containing up to 5% essential oil
(Groot, 1996; Bhushan and Beck, 1997). Accidental
ingestion of 10 ml essential oil caused confusion,
disorientation and loss of coordination in a 23-
month-old child (Jacobs and Hornfeldt, 1994).
Ingestion of 2.5 ml essential oil by a 60-year-old man
resulted in a severe rash and a general feeling of
malaise (Elliott, 1993). Induction of a comatose state
lasting 12 hours, followed by 36 hours of a semi-
conscious state accompanied by hallucinations, was
reported in one patient after ingestion of
approximately half a cup (120 ml) of the essential oil.
Abdominal pain and diarrhea lasting up to 6 weeks
were also reported (Seawright, 1993).
Conclusions
The tree oil is extracted from leaves of Melaluca tree.
This oil is extracted by water distillation as well as
steam distillation but steam distillation is cheap and
non hazardous method for extraction of TTO. The
refinement of oil is done by vacuum distillation
process; this method is preferred because it does not
allow the heat sensitive volatiles in TTO to degarade.
Chemically TTO is composed of terpene hydrocarbons
(monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes), these are volatile
aromatic hydrocarbons. TTO is more soluble in
nonpolar solvents as compared to water. TTO has
tremendous medicinal value because of its
antimicrobial, antiviral, balsamic, cicatrisant,
expectorant, insecticidal, antiseptic, stimulant and
sudorific properties. It is proved to be effective in
treatment of vaginitis, cervicitis, cystitis MRSA
infection, dandruff, gingivitis, cold sores, head lice
eradication, dermatitis and wart eradication. TTO has
also remarkable role in aromatherapy.
It is used in various formulations like gels, creams,
ointments, shampoos, paints and soups. No doubt the
TTO has its nutritional value but its oral intake in

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excess quantity is proved to toxic and can cause
diarrhea and abdominal pain. Tea tree oil plays
important role in curing skin infections but in some
cases it may cause allergic reactions. Utilization of
TTO as stimulant can boost up immune system and
gives tremendous result in combating various
diseases. Number of medicinal as well as other uses
throws light on the importance of Tea tree oil but still
there is need of comprehensive research for exploring
it’s all other beneficial aspects including its
nutritional properties.
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