This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Carson, C. F.
Right arrow Articles by Riley, T. V.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Carson, C. F.
Right arrow Articles by Riley, T. V.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 2006, p. 50-62, Vol. 19, No. 1
0893-8512/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties

C. F. Carson,1 K. A. Hammer,1 and T. V. Riley1,2*

Discipline of Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia 6009,1 Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia2

Complementary and alternative medicines such as tea tree (melaleuca) oil have become increasingly popular in recent decades. This essential oil has been used for almost 100 years in Australia but is now available worldwide both as neat oil and as an active component in an array of products. The primary uses of tea tree oil have historically capitalized on the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions of the oil. This review summarizes recent developments in our understanding of the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the oil and its components, as well as clinical efficacy. Specific mechanisms of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action are reviewed, and the toxicity of the oil is briefly discussed.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Microbiology and Immunology (M502), School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Phone: 61 8 9346 3690. Fax: 61 8 9346 2912. E-mail: triley{at}cyllene.uwa.edu.au.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 2006, p. 50-62, Vol. 19, No. 1
0893-8512/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Wilkinson, J. M., Tinley, P. (2009). Knowledge, Beliefs, and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Australian Podiatric Physicians. J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc. 99: 121-128 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • McGready, R. (2008). On the nose. BMJ 336: 1240-1240 [Full Text]  
  • Papadopoulos, C. J., Carson, C. F., Chang, B. J., Riley, T. V. (2008). Role of the MexAB-OprM Efflux Pump of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Tolerance to Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Oil and Its Monoterpene Components Terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-Cineole, and {alpha}-Terpineol. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 1932-1935 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • van de Sande, W. W. J., Fahal, A. H., Riley, T. V., Verbrugh, H., van Belkum, A. (2007). In vitro susceptibility of Madurella mycetomatis, prime agent of Madura foot, to tea tree oil and artemisinin. J Antimicrob Chemother 59: 553-555 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sanguinetti, M., Posteraro, B., Romano, L., Battaglia, F., Lopizzo, T., De Carolis, E., Fadda, G. (2007). In vitro activity of Citrus bergamia (bergamot) oil against clinical isolates of dermatophytes. J Antimicrob Chemother 59: 305-308 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Brady, A., Loughlin, R., Gilpin, D., Kearney, P., Tunney, M. (2006). In vitro activity of tea-tree oil against clinical skin isolates of meticillin-resistant and -sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci growing planktonically and as biofilms.. J Med Microbiol 55: 1375-1380 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Furneri, P. M., Paolino, D., Saija, A., Marino, A., Bisignano, G. (2006). In vitro antimycoplasmal activity of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil. J Antimicrob Chemother 58: 706-707 [Full Text]  
  • Papadopoulos, C. J., Carson, C. F., Hammer, K. A., Riley, T. V. (2006). Susceptibility of pseudomonads to Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and components. J Antimicrob Chemother 58: 449-451 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»