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Tea tree oil

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This article is about essential oil isolated from the leaves of the tea tree,Melaleuca alternifolia.For the sweet seasoning oil pressed fromCamelliaseeds,C. sinensisorC. oleifera,seetea seed oil.
Origin of thisessential oil,the tea tree,Melaleuca alternifolia
Tea tree plantation,Coraki, New South Wales

Tea tree oil,also known asmelaleuca oil,is anessential oilwith a fresh,camphoraceousodorand a colour that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colourless and clear.[1][2]It is derived from theleavesof the tea tree,Melaleuca alternifolia,native to southeastQueenslandand the northeast coast ofNew South Wales,Australia. The oil comprises many constituent chemicals, and its composition changes if it is exposed to air andoxidizes.Commercial use of tea tree oil began in the 1920s, pioneered by the entrepreneurArthur Penfold.

There is little evidence for the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treatingmite-infectedcrusting of eyelids,[3]although some claims of efficacy exist.[4][5]Intraditional medicine,it may be appliedtopicallyin low concentrations for skin diseases, although there is little evidence for efficacy.[2][6][7][8]

Tea tree oil is neither apatentedproduct nor anapproved drugin the United States,[2][8]although it is approved as a complementary medicine foraromatherapyin Australia.[9]It ispoisonousif consumed by mouth and is unsafe for children.[10]

Uses[edit]

Although tea tree oil is claimed to be useful for treatingdandruff,acne,lice,herpes,insect bites,scabies,and skinfungalorbacterialinfections,[8][11]insufficient evidence exists to support any of these claims due to the limited quality of research.[2][7][12]A 2015Cochranereview of acne complementary therapies found a single low-quality trial showing benefit on skin lesions compared toplacebo.[13]

According to theCommittee on Herbal Medicinal Products(CHMP) of theEuropean Medicines Agency,traditional usage suggests that tea tree oil is a possible treatment for "small, superficial wounds, insect bites, and small boils" and that it may reduce itching in minor cases of athlete's foot. The CHMP states that tea tree oil products should not be used on people under 12 years of age.[14]

Tea tree oil is not recommended for treatingnail fungusbecause it is yet to be proven effective,[15]It is not recommended for treating head lice in children because its effectiveness and safety have not been established and it could cause skin irritation orallergic reactions.[16][17]As of 2020,there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of 5-50% tea tree oil as an effective treatment fordemodexmite infestations, although products claiming efficacy exist.[18]

Toxicity[edit]

Tea tree oil is highly toxic when ingested orally.[2][7][19][12]It may cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, blood-cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children.[12]It should not be used in or around the mouth.[2][7][10]

Application of tea tree oil to the skin can cause an allergic reaction,[2]the potential for which increases as the oil ages and its chemical composition changes.[20]Adverse effects include skin irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, systemiccontact dermatitis,linear immunoglobulin A disease,erythema multiforme-like reactions, and systemichypersensitivityreactions.[11][21]Allergic reactions may be due to the various oxidation products that are formed by exposure of the oil to light and air.[21][22]Consequently, oxidized tea tree oil should not be used.[23]

In Australia, tea tree oil is one of the manyessential oilscausing poisoning, mostly of children. From 2014 to 2018, 749 cases were reported in New South Wales, accounting for 17% of essential oil poisoning incidents.[24]

Hormonal effects[edit]

Tea tree oil potentially poses a risk for causingabnormal breast enlargementin men[25][26]and prepubertal children.[27][28]A 2018 study by theNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciencesfound four of the constituent chemicals (eucalyptol,4-terpineol,dipentene,andAlpha -terpineol) areendocrine disruptors,raising concerns of potentialenvironmental healthimpact from the oil.[29]

In animals[edit]

In dogs and cats, death[30][31]or transient signs of toxicity (lasting two to three days), such as lethargy, weakness, incoordination, and muscle tremors, have been reported after external application at high doses.[32]

As a test oftoxicityby oral intake, themedian lethal dose(LD50) in rats is 1.9–2.4 ml/kg.[33]

Composition and characteristics[edit]

Tea tree oil composition,
as per ISO 4730 (2017)[1]
Component Concentration
terpinen-4-ol 35.0–48.0%
γ-terpinene 14–28%
α-terpinene 6.0–12.0%
1,8-cineole traces–10.0%
terpinolene 1.5–5.0%
α-terpineol 2.0–5.0%
α-pinene 1.0–4.0%
p-cymene 0.5–8.0%
sabinene traces–3.5%
limonene 0.5–1.5%
aromadendrene 0.2–3.0%
ledene 0.1–3.0%
globulol traces–1.0%
viridiflorol traces–1.0%

Tea tree oil is defined by the International StandardISO4730 ( "Oil ofMelaleuca,terpinen-4-oltype "), containing terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene,and α-terpinene as about 70% to 90% of whole oil, whilep-cymene,terpinolene, α-terpineol, andα-pinenecollectively account for some 15% of the oil (table).[1][6][8]The oil has been described as colorless to pale yellow[1][2]having a fresh,camphor-like smell.[34]

Tea tree oil products contain variousphytochemicals,among whichterpinen-4-olis the major component.[1][2][6]Adverse reactions diminish with lowereucalyptolcontent.[11]

History and extraction[edit]

The name "tea tree" is used for several plants, mostly fromAustraliaandNew Zealand,from the familyMyrtaceaerelated to themyrtle.The use of the name probably originated fromCaptain James Cook's description of one of these shrubs that he used to make aninfusionto drink in place oftea.[35]

The commercial tea tree oil industry originated in the 1920s when Australian chemistArthur Penfoldinvestigated the business potential of a number of native extracted oils; he reported that tea tree oil had promise, as it exhibitedantisepticproperties.[33]

Tea tree oil was firstextractedfromMelaleuca alternifoliain Australia, and this species remains the most important commercially. In the 1970s and 1980s, commercial plantations began to produce large quantities of tea tree oil fromM. alternifolia.Many of these plantations are located in New South Wales.[33]Since the 1970s and 80s, the industry has expanded to include several other species for their extracted oil:Melaleuca armillarisandMelaleuca styphelioidesin Tunisia and Egypt;Melaleuca leucadendrain Egypt, Malaysia, and Vietnam;Melaleuca acuminatain Tunisia;Melaleuca ericifoliain Egypt; andMelaleuca quinquenerviain the United States (considered an invasive species in Florida[36]).

Similar oils can also be produced by water distillation fromMelaleuca linariifoliaandMelaleuca dissitiflora.[37]Whereas the availability andnonproprietarynature of tea tree oil would make it – if proved effective – particularly well-suited to a disease such as scabies that affects poor people disproportionately, those same characteristics diminish corporate interest in its development and validation.[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  2. ^abcdefghi"Tea tree oil".Drugs. 13 February 2023.Retrieved4 May2023.
  3. ^Savla K, Le JT, Pucker AD (June 2020)."Tea tree oil for demodex blepharitis".Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(Systematic review).6(6): CD013333.doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013333.pub2.PMC7388771.PMID32589270.
  4. ^Navel, Valentin; Mulliez, Aurélien; Benoist d’Azy, Cédric; et al. (2019-10-01)."Efficacy of treatments for demodex blepharitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis".The Ocular Surface.17(4): 655–669.doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2019.06.004.ISSN1542-0124.
  5. ^Koo, Hyun; Kim, Tae Hyung; Kim, Kyoung Woo; Wee, Sung Wook; Chun, Yeoun Sook; Kim, Jae Chan (2012-12-01)."Ocular Surface Discomfort and Demodex: Effect of Tea Tree Oil Eyelid Scrub in Demodex Blepharitis".Journal of Korean Medical Science.27(12): 1574–1579.doi:10.3346/jkms.2012.27.12.1574.ISSN1011-8934.PMC3524441.PMID23255861.
  6. ^abc"Opinion on Tea tree oil"(PDF).SCCP/1155/08 Scientific Committee on Consumer Products. 16 December 2008.
  7. ^abcd"Tea tree oil".National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. 1 October 2020.Retrieved3 May2023.
  8. ^abcdeThomas, J; Carson, C. F; Peterson, G. M; et al. (2016)."Therapeutic Potential of Tea Tree Oil for Scabies".The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene(Review).94(2): 258–266.doi:10.4269/ajtmh.14-0515.PMC4751955.PMID26787146.
  9. ^"Summary for ARTG Entry: 79370 Tea Tree Oil, Pure Essential Oil".Therapeutic Goods Administration.2020.Retrieved3 July2020.
  10. ^ab"Tea Tree Oil".National Capital Poison Center.Retrieved4 December2013.
  11. ^abcPazyar, N; Yaghoobi, R; Bagherani, N; Kazerouni, A (July 2013). "A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology".International Journal of Dermatology.52(7): 784–90.doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05654.x.PMID22998411.S2CID2270233.
  12. ^abcRussell J, Rovere A, eds. (2009)."Tea Tree Oil".American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies(2nd ed.).American Cancer Society.ISBN9780944235713.
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  14. ^"Melaleucae aetheroleum".Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. 24 November 2014.
  15. ^Halteh P, Scher RK, Lipner SR (2016). "Over-the-counter and natural remedies for onychomycosis: do they really work?".Cutis.98(5): E16–E25.PMID28040821.
  16. ^"Head lice and nits".National Health Service. 10 January 2018.
  17. ^Eisenhower, Christine; Farrington, Elizabeth Anne (2012). "Advancements in the Treatment of Head Lice in Pediatrics".Journal of Pediatric Health Care.26(6): 451–61, quiz 462–4.doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2012.05.004.PMID23099312.
  18. ^Savla K, Le JT, Pucker AD (June 2020)."Tea tree oil for Demodex blepharitis".Cochrane Database Syst Rev(Systematic review).6(6): CD013333.doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013333.pub2.PMC7388771.PMID32589270.
  19. ^"Tea tree oil".PubChem, US National Library of Medicine. 30 October 2021.Retrieved31 October2021.
  20. ^de Groot AC, Schmidt E (2016)."Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition".Contact Dermatitis(Review).75(3): 129–43.doi:10.1111/cod.12591.PMID27173437.
  21. ^abHammer, K; Carson, C; Riley, T; Nielsen, J (2006). "A review of the toxicity ofMelaleuca alternifolia(tea tree) oil ".Food and Chemical Toxicology.44(5): 616–25.doi:10.1016/j.fct.2005.09.001.PMID16243420.
  22. ^Aberer, W (January 2008). "Contact allergy and medicinal herbs".Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft.6(1): 15–24.doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2007.06425.x.PMID17919303.S2CID10292505.
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  24. ^Lee KA, Harnett JE, Cairns R (2019)."Essential oil exposures in Australia: analysis of cases reported to the NSW Poisons Information Centre".Medical Journal of Australia.212(3): 132–133.doi:10.5694/mja2.50403.ISSN0025-729X.PMID31709543.
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  26. ^"Gynecomastia".Endocrine Society. May 2018.
  27. ^Poon SW, Siu KK, Tsang AM (October 2020)."Isoniazid-induced gynaecomastia: report of a paediatric case and review of literature".BMC Endocr Disord(Review).20(1): 160.doi:10.1186/s12902-020-00639-9.PMC7590456.PMID33109161.
  28. ^Restrepo R, Cervantes LF, Swirsky AM, Diaz A (October 2021). "Breast development in pediatric patients from birth to puberty: physiology, pathology and imaging correlation".Pediatr Radiol(Review).51(11): 1959–1969.doi:10.1007/s00247-021-05099-4.PMID34236480.S2CID235767694.
  29. ^"Chemicals in lavender and tea tree oil appear to be hormone disruptors".Endocrine Society. 19 March 2018.
  30. ^"Tea Tree Oil and Dogs, Tea Tree Oil and Cats".Petpoisonhelpline.RetrievedDecember 13,2012.
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  33. ^abcCarson, C. F.; Hammer, K. A.; Riley, T. V. (2006)."Melaleuca alternifolia(Tea Tree) Oil: A Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties ".Clinical Microbiology Reviews.19(1): 50–62.doi:10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006.PMC1360273.PMID16418522.
  34. ^Billee Sharp (18 September 2013).Lemons and Lavender: The Eco Guide to Better Homekeeping.Cleis Press. pp. 43–.ISBN978-1-936740-11-6.
  35. ^"Melaleuca alternifolia".The University of Arizona.RetrievedJune 23,2023.
  36. ^"Melaleuca quinquenervia".University of Florida.RetrievedJune 23,2023.
  37. ^Sávia Perina Portilho Falci (July 2015)."Antimicrobial activity of Melaleuca sp. oil against clinical isolates of antibiotics resistant Staphylococcus aureus".Acta Cirurgica Brasileira.30(7): 401–6.doi:10.1590/S0102-865020150060000005.PMID26108028.
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