Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 1998; 3: 189
Both Australia and New Zealand have indigenous “Tea Trees” in the family Myrtaceae which were originally used for brewing tea by Captain Cook and now used for the production of essential oils which are used extensively by Aromatherapists. Although the Australian Tea tree oil from Melaleuca alternifolia and other Melaleuca species has strong antimicrobial potential, there is scant evidence that Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) has such potential. There are virtually no studies on the pharmacological effects of any of these Tea tree oils, other than a study of the effect of Manuka honey on Helicobacter pylori.
The pharmacological action of these three oils was studied in vitro on guinea-pig smooth muscle. The antibacterial activity was tested against 25 different species and antifungal activity was determined against 3 filamentous fungi.
All the “tea tree” oils had spasmolytic activity on smooth muscle, but both Kanuka and Melaleuca oils producing an initial strong spasmogenic action which was a reflection of their high monoterpene content. The antibacterial and antifungal activity was strongest for Melaleuca oils; different samples of the New Zealand oils showed considerable variation.
The use of the New Zealand oils may be premature unless their quality can be assured and toxicity tests conducted.
