Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and its monoterpene constituents in treating protozoan and helminthic infections

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 130; p. 110624
• Main Authors: Lam, Nelson Siukei, Long, Xinxin, Su, Xin-zhuan, Lu, Fangli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.10.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - therapeutic use; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Antiprotozoal Agents - therapeutic use; Cestode; Helminthiasis - drug therapy; Helminthiasis - parasitology; Humans; Melaleuca - chemistry; Melaleuca alternifolia; Monogenean parasites; Monoterpenes - chemistry; Monoterpenes - pharmacology; Monoterpenes - therapeutic use; Nematodes; Protozoa; Protozoan Infections - drug therapy; Protozoan Infections - parasitology; Tea tree oil; Tea Tree Oil - chemistry; Tea Tree Oil - pharmacology; Tea Tree Oil - therapeutic use; α-Terpinene; Aromadendrene; Protozoa; δ-Cadinene; 1,8-Cineole; Cestode; Tea tree oil (TTO); Monogenean parasites; Viridiflorol; p-Cymene; α-Pinene; Tea tree oil; Terpinen-4-ol (T4O); Globulol; Sabinene; Melaleuca alternifolia; Terpinolene; Nematodes; Limonene; γ-Terpinene; α-Terpineol; Ledene
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110624

[Display omitted] •Australian tea tree oil display a range of biological and pharmacological properties.•Tea tree oil and its 15 major constituents have effects on parasitic infections.•The parasites include protozoa, nematodes, cestodes, and monogenean parasites.•Prolonged survival or curative effect on protozoan infections in treated animals.•Helminthic burden was reduced or controlled in treated animals. Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil (TTO) and its monoterpene constituents such as terpinen-4-ol (T4O), 1,8-cineole, limonene, p-cymene, and α-terpinene have been shown to be effective in controlling a wide range of parasitic infections. The anti-parasitic effects of these compounds are mainly due to their anti-histamine and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities as well as their ability to modulate host inflammatory responses. This review attempts to summarize recent advances in the uses of TTO and its 15 major monoterpene constituents in treating parasitic infections in both humans and animals. Activities against parasitic protozoans (Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., Acanthamoeba castellanii, Trichomonas vaginalis, Eimeria, and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis), nematodes (Haemonchus contortus and Anisakis simplex), cestode (Echinococcus ortleppi), and monogeneans (Gasterosteus spp. and Dactylogyrus minutus) have been reported, showing good potentials in treating parasitic infections. Further studies are necessary for developing anti-parasite therapies using TTO or its monoterpenes constituents.