ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF TEA-TREE OIL AND ITS MAJOR COMPONENTS ON STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS, STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS AND PROPIONIBACTERIUM-ACNES

Major components of two tea-tree oil samples were identified using thi n layer and gas-liquid chromatography (TLC and GLC). Using a TLC-bioau tographic technique, the tea-tree oils, terpinen-4-ol, alpha-terpineol and alpha-pinene were found to be active against Staphylococcus aureu s Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium (acnes whereas cineole was inactive against these organisms. The MIC values of the three active c ompounds increased in the order alpha-terpineol < terpinen-4-ol < alph a-pinene for all three micro-organisms, MIC values of the tea-tree oil s and terpinen-4-ol were lower for P. acnes than for the two staphyloc occi. This study supports the use of tea-tree oil in the treatment of acne, and demonstrates that terpinen-4-ol is not the sole active const ituent of the oil.