The Essential Properties: Tea Tree
by the Doctor Matteo Politi
Phytochemical profile
Tea tree essential oil is a clear, colorless to pale yellow, mobile liquid that has a terpenic, coniferous, mentholated-camphoraceous odor.
The essential oil yield from tea tree terminal branched leaves generally ranges from 1.0% to 1.8%.
The main country producing this oil is Australia; smaller quantities come from China, South Africa and Vietnam.
The chemical composition can be extremely variable, depending on parameters such as biomass used (from wild or cultivated trees; leaves only or leaves plus terminal twigs), chemotype and production method (industrial distillation or in analytical laboratory equipment).
However, there are international reference standards (ISO 4730:2004) which concern the chemical composition, indicating the following chemical substances within certain limits of maximum permitted concentration, and in particular: terpinen-4-ol (48.0%), 𝛾-terpinene (28,0%), 1,8-cineole (15,0%), 𝛼-terpinene (13.0%), 𝛼-terpineol (8,0%) and p-cymene (8,0%).1
Pharmacological activity
The essential oil of Tea Tree It is an increasingly popular ingredient in a variety of household and cosmetic products, including shampoos, massage oils, skin and nail creams, and laundry detergents.
Known for its potential antiseptic properties2, has been shown to be active against a variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses and mites.3
By virtue of these properties it finds numerous applications in specific formulations especially in the dermatological field.4 Anecdotal evidence from nearly 80 years of use suggests that the oil is relatively safe to use and that adverse events are minor and occasional.5,6
Hand sanitizer
A comparative study found similar efficacy between a sanitizing soap prepared with 0.3% tea tree essential oil versus the same formulation containing 0.5% triclosan (synthetic antimicrobial).7
Acne Treatment
Several studies have shown that applying products containing tea tree essential oil reduces the number of lesions in subjects with mild to moderate acne.
Comparative studies have shown that products based on this essential oil were better than placebo and were equivalent to comparators that included benzoyl peroxide 5% and topical erythromycin 2%.8
Cold sore treatment
Tea tree essential oil can be considered an economical, useful and well-acceptable alternative for patients, which may induce less resistance to systemic and synthetic antiviral agents.9
Wound Treatment
One study demonstrated a reduction in wound healing time in 9 out of 10 participants treated with tea tree essential oil.10
Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Beche) Cheel
- Angiosperms
- Myrtaceae
- Melaleuca
Source of botanical nomenclature
Bibliography
1. de Groot AC, Schmidt E. Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition. Contact Dermatitis. 2016;75:129–143. doi:10.1111/cod.12591
2. Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley T V. Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: A review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006;19(1):50–62. doi:10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006
3. Larson D, Jacob SE. Tea tree oil. Dermatitis. 2012;23(1):48-49. doi:10.1097/DER.0b013e31823e202d
4. Pazyar N, Yaghoobi R, Bagherani N, Kazerouni A. A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology. Int J Dermatol. 2013;52:784–790. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05654.x
5. Hammer KA, Carson C F, Riley T V., Nielsen JB. A review of the toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006;44:616–625. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2005.09.001
6. Carson CF, Riley T V. Safety, efficacy and provenance of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil. Contact Dermatitis. 2001;45:65–67. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0536.2001.045002065.x
7. Gnatta JR, Pinto FMG, Bruna CQ de M, Souza RQ de, Graziano KU, Silva MJP da. Comparison of hand hygiene antimicrobial efficacy: Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil versus triclosan. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2013;21(6):1212-1219. doi:10.1590/0104-1169.2957.2356
8. Hammer KA. Treatment of acne with tea tree oil (melaleuca) products: A review of efficacy, tolerability and potential modes of action. Int J Antimicrobial Agents. 2015;45:106–110. doi:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2014.10.011
9. Carson CF, Ashton L, Dry L, Smith DW, Riley T V. Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil gel (6%) for the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2001;48(3):450–451. doi:10.1093/jac/48.3.450
10. Chin KB, Cordell B. The effect of tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia) on wound healing using a dressing model. J Altern Complement Med. 2013;19(12):942–945. doi:10.1089/acm.2012.0787