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Research: BRAND and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 76
Abstract
BRAND and colleagues, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, investigated the effects of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil (TTO) on production of oxygen-derived free radicals by human white blood cells in vitro.
Background
Methodology
The investigators studied the effects of TTO on superoxide production by neutrophils and monocytes stimulated with N- formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA).
Results
The water-soluble fraction of TTO had no significant effect on agonist-stimulated superoxide production by neutrophils, but significantly suppressed agonist-stimulated superoxide production by monocytes in a dose-dependent manner. This suppression was not due to cell death. The water-soluble components of TTO were chemically identified as terpinen-4-ol, alpha-terpineol and 1,8-cineole . Terpinen-4-ol significantly suppressed fMLP- and LPS- but not PMA-stimulated superoxide production. Alpha-terpineol significantly suppressed fMLP-, LPS- and PMA-stimulated superoxide production. 1.8-cineole had no effect .
Conclusion
Water-soluble components of TTO suppress superoxide production by monocytes but not neutrophils. The findings suggest potential for selective regulation of immune cell types by TTO during inflammation .
References
Brand C et al. The water-soluble components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) suppress the production of superoxide by human monocytes, but not neutrophils, activated in vitro. Inflammation Research 50 (4): 213-9. Apr 2001.
Comment
The result that tea tree oil selectively regulates certain immune cells during inflammation is the sort of evidence which builds up a picture of how and why essential oils such as tea tree are such powerful antibacterial and antifungal agents. This evidence may become very precious as standard antibiotic drugs lose their effectiveness against antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
