EFFECTS OF TEA TREE OIL ON ESCHERICHIA-COLI

Tea tree oil (TTO) stimulates autolysis in exponential and stationary phase cells of Escherichia coli. Electron micrographs of cells grown i n the presence of TTO showed the loss of electron dense material, coag ulation of cell cytoplasm and formation of extracellular blebs. Statio nary phase cells demonstrated less TTO-stimulated autolysis and also h ad greater tolerance to TTO-induced cell death, compared to exponentia lly grown cells. It was also revealed that a subpopulation of stationa ry phase cells demonstrated increased tolerance to TTO-bactericidal ef fects.