Melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil demonstrates tissue-remodeling and metabolism-modulating activities in human skin cells

Xuesheng Han,Tory L Parker,Dominic Ng

doi:10.1080/23312025.2017.1318476

Abstract

Melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil (MEO), commonly known as tea tree oil, is popularly used in skincare products. In the current study, we investigated the biological activity of a commercially available MEO (with terpinen-4-ol as the major active component) in pre-inflamed human dermal fibroblasts, which were designed to simulate chronic inflammation. We analyzed the levels of seventeen biomarkers that are important in inflammation and tissue remodeling. Additionally, we studied the effect of MEO on genome-wide gene expression. MEO showed a robust antiproliferative activity against the cells. It also increased the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, an inflammatory chemokine, and several tissue remodeling molecules such as epidermal growth factor receptor, matrix metalloproteinase 1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and -2. It was also noted that MEO diversely modulated global gene expression. Furthermore, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis showed that MEO affects many important signaling pathways that are closely related to metabolism, which suggests its potential modulation of metabolism. The results provide an important evidence of the biological activity of MEO in human dermal fibroblasts. They also suggest that MEO plays useful roles in tissue remodeling and metabolism; however, further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying these actions.

Highlights

Melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil (MEO), known as tea tree oil, is commonly used in skincare products
The cell culture was stimulated with a mixture of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), for another 24 h
Bioactivity profile of MEO in a human dermal fibroblast system HDF3CGF We analyzed the activity of MEO in a dermal fibroblast system, HDF3CGF, which features the microenvironment of inflamed human skin cells with a high inflammation and immune response

Summary

Introduction

Melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil (MEO), known as tea tree oil, is commonly used in skincare products. MEO has been shown to possess antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and pro-wound healing properties (Pazyar, Yaghoobi, Bagherani, & Kazerouni, 2013). Reports on the biological effects of MEO or its main active components (such as terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene, and α-terpinene) on human skin cells are scarce. Several small clinical studies found that MEO seems to improve wound healing, presumably due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities (Chin & Cordell, 2013; Edmondson et al, 2011; Pazyar et al, 2013). We studied the effect of MEO on genome-wide gene expression. The study provides important evidence of the biological activity of MEO in human skin cells. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first to document the impact of MEO on human genome-wide gene expression. The data provide important insights into the mechanism of action of MEO and will likely stimulate further research

Materials and methods

Results and discussion

Conclusions