Interactions between components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia.
AIMS: This study compared the antimicrobial activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil with that of some of its components, both individually and in two-component combinations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Minimum inhibitory concentration and time-kill assays revealed that terpinen-4-ol, the principal active component of tea tree oil, was more active on its own than when present in tea tree oil. Combinations of terpinen-4-ol and either gamma-terpinene or p-cymene produced similar activities to tea tree oil. Concentration-dependent reductions in terpinen-4-ol activity and solubility also occurred in the presence of gamma-terpinene. CONCLUSION: Non-oxygenated terpenes in tea tree oil appear to reduce terpinen-4-ol efficacy by lowering its aqueous solubility. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These findings explain why tea tree oil can be less active in vitro than terpinen-4-ol alone and further suggest that the presence of a non-aqueous phase in tea tree oil formulations may limit the microbial availability of its active components.[1]References
- Interactions between components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia. Cox, S.D., Mann, C.M., Markham, J.L. J. Appl. Microbiol. (2001) [Pubmed]
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