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Tea tree oil

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Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is a pale yellow color to nearly colorless and clear essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor.[1] It is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to Southeast Queensland and the Northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree oil should not be confused with tea oil, the sweet seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis (beverage tea), or the tea oil plant Camellia oleifera.

History and extraction

The indigenous Bundjalung people of eastern Australia use “tea trees” as a traditional medicine by inhaling the oils from the crushed leaves to treat coughs and colds. They also sprinkle leaves on wounds, after which a poultice is applied. In addition, tea tree leaves are soaked to make an infusion to treat sore throats or skin ailments.[2][3]

Use of the oil itself, as opposed to the unextracted plant material, did not become common practice until researcher Arthur Penfold published the first reports of its antimicrobial activity in a series of papers in the 1920s and 1930s. In evaluating the antimicrobial activity of M. alternifolia, tea tree oil was rated as 11 times more active than phenol.[4]

Tea tree plantation, Coraki.

The commercial tea tree oil industry was born after the medicinal properties of the oil were first reported by Penfold in the 1920s. It was produced from natural bush stands of M. alternifolia that produced oil with the appropriate chemotype. The plant material was hand cut and often distilled on the spot in makeshift, mobile, wood-fired bush stills.

Production ebbed after World War II, as demand for the oil declined, presumably due to the development of effective antibiotics and the waning image of natural products. Interest in the oil was rekindled in the 1970s as part of the general renaissance of interest in natural products. Commercial plantations were established in the 1970s and 1980s, which led to mechanization and large-scale production of a consistent essential oil product.[5]

Although tea tree oil normally is extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia commercially, it can also be extracted from Melaleuca dissitiflora and Melaleuca linariifolia.

Composition

Tea tree oil is defined by international standard ISO 4730 (2004) ("Oil of Melaleuca, Terpinen-4-ol type"), which specifies levels of 15 components which are needed to define the oil as "tea tree oil."

Terpinen-4-ol
Tea trea (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil in a clear glass vial

Among over 98 compounds contained in the oil, terpinen-4-ol is responsible for most of the antimicrobial activity.[6]

Tea tree oil composition,
as per ISO 4730 (2004)
Component Concentration
terpinen-4-ol 30–48%
γ-terpinene 10–28%
α-terpinene 5–13%
1,8-Cineole 0–15%
α-terpinolene 1.5–5%
α-terpineol 1.5–8%
α-pinene 1–6%
p-cymene 0.5–8%

Medical use

On humans

Tea tree oil has been scientifically investigated only recently. Some sources suggest beneficial medical properties when applied topically, including antiviral,[7] antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. The antiseptic properties can help in the fight against skin blemishes (acne).[8] It also has beneficial cosmetic properties.[9]

Tea tree oil is less successful for anti-microbial application in the nose.[10] Also, there is clinical evidence that topical dermatological preparations containing tea tree oil may be more effective than conventional antibiotics in preventing transmission of CA-MRSA.[11] It is also effective against canker sores, scientifically known as aphthous ulcers[citation needed].

Recent studies support a role for the topical application of tea tree oil in skin care and for the treatment of various diseases and conditions. Tea tree oil appears to be effective against bacteria, viruses[citation needed], fungal infections such as athlete's foot,[12] mites such as scabies[citation needed], and lice such as head lice. A 2008 study of in vitro toxicity showed a tea tree oil preparation was more effective against head lice than permethrin, a popular pharmaceutical remedy.[13]

Tea tree oil is possibly effective against acne.[12] In the treatment of moderate common acne, topical application of 5% tea tree oil has shown an effect comparable to 5% benzoyl peroxide. Albeit with slower onset of action, patients who use tea tree oil experience fewer side effects than those that use benzoyl peroxide treatments.[14]

Tea tree oil is a known antifungal agent, effective in vitro against multiple dermatophytes found on the skin.[15] Shampoo with 5% tea tree oil has been shown to be an effective treatment for dandruff due to its ability to treat Malassezia furfur, the most common cause of the condition.[16]

One clinical study found that 100% tea tree oil administered topically, combined with debridement, was comparable to clotrimazole in effectiveness against onychomycosis, the most frequent cause of nail disease.[17] It was not as effective at lower concentrations.[12]

The effectiveness of topical tea tree oil preparations for the treatment of the yeast infection Candidiasis is supported by its ability to kill Candida in vitro.[18]

There is some very limited research that has shown that tea tree oil may have in vitro antiviral activity against the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, some strains of Herpes Simplex, and some bacteriophage viruses. [19]

One study has shown a 5% tea tree oil solution to be more effective than commercial medications against the scabies mite in an in vitro situation.[20]

In aquarium fish

Diluted solutions of tea tree oil are often used as a remedy to treat bacterial and fungal infections in aquarium fish. Common brand names are Melafix and Bettafix. Melafix is a stronger concentration and Bettafix is a lower concentration that makes it harder to overdose smaller fish, especially bettas. It is most commonly used to promote fin and tissue regrowth, but is also effective in treating other conditions, such as fin rot or velvet. The remedy is used mostly on betta fish,[21] but can also be used with other aquarium fish, other than goldfish.

Safety

According to the American Cancer Society: "Tea tree oil is toxic when swallowed. It has been reported to cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children."[22]

Some people can experience allergic contact dermatitis as a reaction to dermal contact with tea tree oil. Allergic reactions may be due to the various oxidation products that are formed by exposure of the oil to light and/or air.[23][24]

In dogs and cats, death [25][26] or transient signs of toxicity (lasting 2 to 3 days), such as depression, weakness, incoordination and muscle tremors, have been reported after external application at high doses.[27]

One reported case of transient gynecomastia in a boy who was using a hair styling gel containing both lavender and tea tree oil suggests that tea tree oil may possess endocrine disrupting activity capable of leading to gynecomastia. Gynaecomastia resolved within a few months of stopping the product, and the Antiandrogen effects of lavender and tea tree oil were confirmed using human breast cancer cell lines.[28][29]

If used in concentrations below 4% or particularly below 0.25%, tea tree oil may fail to kill bacteria and create selection pressure, which may result in them becoming less sensitive to tea tree oil and even some antibiotics in vitro.[30]

Undiluted tea tree oil can cause some hearing loss when used in the ears of non-human animals; however, a 2% concentration has not been shown to have any lasting effect. It is not known whether the same is true for humans.[12]

According to study from University of Western Australia, tea tree oil does not cause anti-biotic resistance in humans contrary to previous reports. Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

See also

References

  1. ^ "Directory of Essential Oils for Aromatherapy: Tea-Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)". Holistics Online.
  2. ^ Shemesh, A.; Mayo, W. L. (1991). "Australian tea tree oil: a natural antiseptic and fungicidal agent". Aust. J. Pharm. 72: 802–803.
  3. ^ Low, T. 1990. Bush medicine. Harper Collins Publishers, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
  4. ^ Penfold, A. R.; Grant, R. (1925). "The germicidal values of some Australian essential oils and their pure constituents, together with those for some essential oil isolates, and synthetics. Part III". J. R. Soc. New South Wales. 59: 346–349.
  5. ^ Johns, M. R.; Johns, J. E.; Rudolph, V. (1992). "Steam distillation of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 58 (1): 49–53. doi:10.1002/jsfa.2740580109.
  6. ^ Hart, P.H.; Brand, C.; Carson, C.F.; Riley, T.V.; Prager, R.H.; Finlay-Jones, J.J. (2000). "Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil), suppresses inflammatory mediator production by activated human monocytes". Inflammation Research. 49 (11): 619–26. doi:10.1007/s000110050639. PMID 11131302.
  7. ^ Schnitzler, P; Schön, K; Reichling, J (2001). "Antiviral activity of Australian tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil against herpes simplex virus in cell culture". Die Pharmazie. 56 (4): 343–7. PMID 11338678.
  8. ^ http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/make-natural-moisturizers-2969.html
  9. ^ Aburjai, Talal; Natsheh, Feda M. (2003). "Plants used in cosmetics". Phytotherapy Research. 17 (9): 987–1000. doi:10.1002/ptr.1363. PMID 14595575.
  10. ^ Journal of Hospital Infection (2004; 56:283–286), cited in Beauchamp, Kimberly (2004), Tea Tree Oil and Staph[unreliable medical source?]
  11. ^ Bearden, D. T.; Allen, G. P.; Christensen, J. M. (2008). "Comparative in vitro activities of topical wound care products against community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus". Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 62 (4): 769–72. doi:10.1093/jac/dkn272. PMC 2721705. PMID 18593725.
  12. ^ a b c d "Tea tree oil". Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine from the National Institutes of Health. 27 July 2012.
  13. ^ Heukelbach, J.; Canyon, D. V.; Oliveira, F. A.; Muller, R.; Speare, R. (2008). "In vitroefficacy of over-the-counter botanical pediculicides against the head lousePediculus humanusvarcapitisbased on a stringent standard for mortality assessment". Medical and Veterinary Entomology. 22 (3): 264–72. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00738.x. PMID 18816275.
  14. ^ Bassett, IB; Pannowitz, DL; Barnetson, RS (1990). "A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne". The Medical journal of Australia. 153 (8): 455–8. PMID 2145499.
  15. ^ Nenoff, P; Haustein, UF; Brandt, W (1996). "Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) against pathogenic fungi in vitro". Skin pharmacology : the official journal of the Skin Pharmacology Society. 9 (6): 388–94. doi:10.1159/000211450. PMID 9055360.
  16. ^ Satchell, A; Saurajen, A; Bell, C; Barnetson, RS (2002). "Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 47 (6): 852–5. doi:10.1067/mjd.2002.122734. PMID 12451368.
  17. ^ Buck, DS; Nidorf, DM; Addino, JG (1994). "Comparison of two topical preparations for the treatment of onychomycosis: Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and clotrimazole". The Journal of family practice. 38 (6): 601–5. PMID 8195735.
  18. ^ Hammer, K.; Carson, CF; Riley, TV (1998). "In-vitro activity of essential oils, in particular Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and tea tree oil products, against Candida spp". Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 42 (5): 591–5. doi:10.1093/jac/42.5.591. PMID 9848442.
  19. ^ Bishop, C. D. (1995). "Antiviral activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden and Betche) Cheel (Tea Tree) against Tobacco Mosaic Virus". Journal of Essential Oil Research. 7 (6): 641–4.
  20. ^ Walton, S. F.; McKinnon, M; Pizzutto, S; Dougall, A; Williams, E; Currie, BJ (2004). "Acaricidal Activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: In Vitro Sensitivity of Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis to Terpinen-4-ol". Archives of Dermatology. 140 (5): 563–6. doi:10.1001/archderm.140.5.563. PMID 15148100.
  21. ^ Reynolds, Max (15 April 2010), ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOSITIONS AND APPLICATIONS THEREFORE (Patent # US 2010/0092398 A1), United States Patent Application Publication
  22. ^ "Tea Tree Oil". American Cancer Society. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  23. ^ Hammer, K; Carson, C; Riley, T; Nielsen, J (2006). "A review of the toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil". Food and Chemical Toxicology. 44 (5): 616–25. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2005.09.001. PMID 16243420.
  24. ^ Aberer, W (2008 Jan). "Contact allergy and medicinal herbs". Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG. 6 (1): 15–24. PMID 17919303. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "Tea Tree Oil and Dogs, Tea Tree Oil and Cats". Petpoisonhelpline.com. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  26. ^ "Tea Tree Oil Toxicity". Veterinarywatch. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  27. ^ Villar, D (1994 Apr). "Toxicity of melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats". Veterinary and human toxicology. 36 (2): 139–42. PMID 8197716. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Niewoehner, CB (2008 Mar 29). "Gynaecomastia and breast cancer in men". BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 336 (7646): 709–13. PMID 18369226. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Henley, DV (2010 Jul-Sep). "Physiological effects and mechanisms of action of endocrine disrupting chemicals that alter estrogen signaling". Hormones (Athens, Greece). 9 (3): 191–205. PMID 20688617. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ McMahon, M. Ann S.; Blair, Ian S.; Moore, John E.; McDowell, David A. (2006). "Habituation to sub-lethal concentrations of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is associated with reduced susceptibility to antibiotics in human pathogens". Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 59 (1): 125–7. doi:10.1093/jac/dkl443. PMID 17071952.
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