TY - JOUR
T1 - Correlations of the components of tea tree oil with its antibacterial effects and skin irritation
AU - Lee, Chia Jung
AU - Chen, Li Wei
AU - Chen, Lih Geeng
AU - Chang, Ting Lin
AU - Huang, Chun Wei
AU - Huang, Ming Chuan
AU - Wang, Ching Chiung
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (grant no. 96-COS-2 ) for financially supporting this study.
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - Tea tree oil (TTO), the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia L., is one of the most popular agents used in cosmetics. This study aimed to explore the correlations of components in TTO with its anti-acne activities and skin irritation. TTOs were isolated from the leaves (TTO-L), twigs, and branches of M. alternifolia by steam distillation, and the components analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that components of TTO-L satisfied the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4730 guidelines. TTO-L and its components, terpinen-4-ol, terpinolene, α-terpinene, and α-terpineol, had strong inhibitory activities against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, six TTO formulas (DF-TTO) were designed according to ISO 4730 guidelines by adjusting the proportions of these four active components. All DF-TTO formulas showed a positive correlation between terpinen-4-ol concentration and anti-P. acnes activity. In the skin irritation assay, TTO-L, terpinen-4-ol, and 1,8-cineole did not cause significant skin irritation at 2% per site. In conclusion, terpinen-4-ol is the major active component responsible for TTO's antibacterial efficacy, while minor components in TTO also contributed to its efficacy. Moreover, we suggest that a concentration less than 5% is more suitable and safer for treating acne than higher concentrations.
AB - Tea tree oil (TTO), the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia L., is one of the most popular agents used in cosmetics. This study aimed to explore the correlations of components in TTO with its anti-acne activities and skin irritation. TTOs were isolated from the leaves (TTO-L), twigs, and branches of M. alternifolia by steam distillation, and the components analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that components of TTO-L satisfied the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4730 guidelines. TTO-L and its components, terpinen-4-ol, terpinolene, α-terpinene, and α-terpineol, had strong inhibitory activities against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, six TTO formulas (DF-TTO) were designed according to ISO 4730 guidelines by adjusting the proportions of these four active components. All DF-TTO formulas showed a positive correlation between terpinen-4-ol concentration and anti-P. acnes activity. In the skin irritation assay, TTO-L, terpinen-4-ol, and 1,8-cineole did not cause significant skin irritation at 2% per site. In conclusion, terpinen-4-ol is the major active component responsible for TTO's antibacterial efficacy, while minor components in TTO also contributed to its efficacy. Moreover, we suggest that a concentration less than 5% is more suitable and safer for treating acne than higher concentrations.
KW - Antibacterial effect
KW - Melaleuca alternifolia
KW - Skin irritation
KW - Tea tree oil
KW - Terpinen-4-ol
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jfda.2013.05.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jfda.2013.05.007
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84881422979
SN - 1021-9498
VL - 21
SP - 169
EP - 176
JO - Journal of Food and Drug Analysis
JF - Journal of Food and Drug Analysis
IS - 2
ER -