Tea Tree oil (TTO) is available in many brands by several famous companies with the promise that it cures most of the skin ailments like Acne and Psoriasis because of its antibacterial and antifungal activity. Australia is the biggest producer of TTO. It is claimed to be active against MRSA a deadly pathogen. Besides, it has been incorporated in products as antimicrobial laundry freshener, antidandruff shampoos, acne face wash, natural deodorant and household cleaners.
Our study on 550 strains of bacteria causing topical infections, Candida albicans for comparing TTO with 8 topical antibiotics (polymyxin B sulfate, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and novobiocin) revealed that gentamicin was the most effective antibiotic followed by chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin and polymyxin B inhibiting 87.1%, 84.8%, 76.8%, 75% and 72.8% strains, respectively. Tea tree oil (at 1 μL/ mL) could inhibit the growth of 20.5% strains. Only 10% of multiple drug resistant (MDR) were sensitive to TTO. Though TTO is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial active on 26 out of 44 genera of bacteria is a less promising antimicrobial than antibiotics on MDR strains. The TTO is to be said very effective against staphylococci but this study revealed that in vitro only 12% staphylococci were sensitive to TTO. It is claimed that 5% TTO formulations are highly effective, no doubt in vitro 5% TTO can kill many of the bacteria but when applied to skin and bacteria causing infection are hiding a little deeper in the skin and at that site how much concentration of TTO reaches and in that concentration, how toxic is TTO to host cells?
Article Comparative Antimicrobial Activity of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuc...
Its a very practical issue that you have raised! It is important to develop a suitable formulation (dosageform, here may be either a gel, cream or lotion) to get the therapeutic effect of the drug (TTO). Further to understand its availability at the site of action the following studies can be done
1. In vitro drug (TTO) release study employing franz diffusion cell (synthetic membrane).
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517302002387
2. Ex vivo drug (TTO) permeation study franz diffusion cell (using goat/human skin).
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365996016094
The above studies may be corelated with the concentration of drug penetrating the skin.
The toxic effect of the TTO in human skin cell lines may be checked. Regarding the safety issue, primary irritation index can be examined in rabbits.
Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/
may be useful
This is interesting research. To the best to my knowledge, tea tree has been extensively use to treat acne but it does not work for everyone. I am kedn to know the mechanism of action of this tea tree against the topical causal bacterial.
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