Paper Details

Pharmacological attributes and nutritional benefits of tea tree oil

Sidra Sabir, Muhammad Arshad, Kulsoom Zahara, Shaista Tabassum, Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/5.2.80-91

Int. J. Biosci. 5(2), 80-91. July, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

Tea tree oil is obtained from different Melaleuca species (Melaleuca quinquenervian, M. alterniolia, M. leucadendra) which accounts for 99% of commercial oil production. Melaleuca plant is indigenous to Australia. It is cultivated because of its great medicinal and economical properties. Oil is extracted mostly from leaves of Melaleuca plants by steam distillation. Melaleuca oil is mainly composed of terpene hydrocarbons including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and their associated alcohols. Tea tree oil (TTO) is well known for its disinfectant, antiseptic as well as its antimicrobial properties. That’s why it is found to be most effective in treatment of skin infections. This oil also possesses nutritional properties but produce toxicity if taken in large amounts. This paper gives an overview of scientific literature available on nutritional and pharmacological properties of Tea tree oil.