Positive Health Online

Abstract

CALCABRINI and co-workers, Laboratorio di Ultrastrutture, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy, have found that the main component of tea tree oil inhibits the growth of human skin cancer (melanoma) cells.

Background

In the search for novel therapeutic agents for treating skin cancer, tea tree oil was investigated for growth-inhibiting activity on human melanoma cells in vitro.

Methodology

Human melanoma cells and their drug-resistant counterparts were grown in the presence of tea tree oil at concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.3%.

Results

Both the complex oil of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and its main constituent, terpinen-4-ol, showed significant ability to induce programmed cell death (apoptosis) of melanoma cells. The effect was more evident in the drug-resistant variant of the cell line. Scanning electron microscopic analysis suggests that the effect is due to the interaction of the oily substances with the plasma membranes of cancer cells and subsequent reorganization of membrane lipids which overcomes the resistance to apoptosis.

Conclusion

It appears that tea tree oil could soon become a valuable treatment for skin cancer, particularly for drug-resistant varieties.

References

Calcabrini A, Stringaro A, Toccacieli L, Meschini S, Marra M, Colone M, Salvatore G, Mondello F, Arancia G, Molinari A. Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil inhibits the in vitro growth of human melanoma cells. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology 122 (2): 349-360, Feb 2004.

Comment

The above research regarding the treatment efficacy of herbal medicines and tea tree oil upon the immune system and upon cancer is a useful first step in the long process of identifying, researching and developing non-drug approaches to cancer prevention and treatment.