Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil), suppresses inflammatory mediator production by activated human monocytes (original) (raw)

Abstract:

Objective and Design: To evaluate potential anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil, the essential oil steam distilled from the Australian native plant, Melaleuca alternifolia.¶Material and Methods: The ability of tea tree oil to reduce the production in vitro of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF_α_), interleukin (IL)-1_β_, IL-8, IL-10 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated human peripheral blood monocytes was examined.¶Results: Tea tree oil emulsified by sonication in a glass tube into culture medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) was toxic for monocytes at a concentration of 0.016% v/v. However, the water soluble components of tea tree oil at concentrations equivalent to 0.125% significantly suppressed LPS-induced production of TNF_α_, IL-1_β_ and IL-10 (by approximately 50%) and PGE2 (by approximately 30%) after 40 h. Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry identified terpinen-4-ol (42%), α_-terpineol (3%) and 1,8-cineole (2%, respectively, of tea tree oil) as the water soluble components of tea tree oil. When these components were examined individually, only terpinen-4-ol suppressed the production after 40 h of TNF_α, IL-1_β_, IL-8, IL-10 and PGE2 by LPS-activated monocytes.Conclusion: The water-soluble components of tea tree oil can suppress pro-inflammatory mediator production by activated human monocytes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001, Australia, Fax: 61882768658, e-mail: Prue.Hart@flinders.edu.au, , , , , , AU
    P.H. Hart, C. Brand & J.J. Finlay-Jones
  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia 6907, , , , , , AU
    C.F. Carson & T.V. Riley
  3. School of Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001, Australia , , , , , , AU
    R.H. Prager

Authors

  1. P.H. Hart
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  2. C. Brand
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  3. C.F. Carson
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  4. T.V. Riley
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  5. R.H. Prager
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  6. J.J. Finlay-Jones
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Received 1 January 2000; returned for revision 11 May 2000; accepted by R.O. Day 21 June 2000

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Hart, P., Brand, C., Carson, C. et al. Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil), suppresses inflammatory mediator production by activated human monocytes.Inflamm. res. 49, 619–626 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s000110050639

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