Tea Tree. Benefits and Properties of the essential oil

100% PURE, NATURAL AND OF AUSTRALIAN ORIGIN OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Known for its many properties, Tea Tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is one of the most widely used essential oils in traditional herbal medicine. Tea tree is an ingredient used today in the manufacture of food and cosmetic products, being used in gastronomy for its ability to provide flavor.

Melaleuca alternifolia, of Australian origin

The tea tree is native to Australia. About 230 species of the genus Melaleuca are known, all of Australian origin, while Tea Tree essential oil is exclusively derived from Melaleuca alternifolia.

Also called "tea tree oil", the origin of Tea Tree is due to the expedition of the English captain James Cook who in 1770 arrived on the coasts of Australia. Running out of their tea reserves, the English sailors decided to boil the leaves of this local tree and, although the flavor was strong, they were satisfied with its freshness. This is where its name comes from.

The first inhabitants of Australia used preparations based on Tea Tree leaves obtaining an infusion that helped to " improve" the stomach and the body as a whole.

M. alternifolia usually appears as a shrub or small tree with very narrow, aromatic linear leaves (10-35 mm long, 1 mm wide), white flowers in spikes and small woody fruit. There are large plantations in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.

Composition of Tea Tree oil

The essential oil obtained from Tea Tree leaves (1 - 2% in fresh material) is composed of terpene hydrocarbons, mainly mono- and sesquiterpenes and their alcohols. In an analysis carried out on 800 samples of Tea Tree essential oil, about 100 different components were found, resulting in a great variability (with high frequency of chemotypes), the main one (>30%) being the terpinen-4-ol, a monocyclic monoterpene monocyclic alcohol. It also contains gamma- and alpha-terpinene, 1,8-cineole, terpinolene, p-cymene, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol and limonene, among other components.

The essential oil obtained from the Tea Tree is a colorless or slightly yellowish transparent liquid, insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents, with a pleasant odor similar to turpentine.

In the European Pharmacopoeia (7.0 ed.) this essential oil (Melaleucae aetheroleum) is defined as "that obtained by steam distillation from the leaves and terminal branches of Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden and Betch) Cheel". However, it is mostly obtained from the first species as recognized by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration.

The European Pharmacopoeia provides specific concentration ranges for the main components, with a minimum limit for terpinen-4-ol (greater than 30% and in accordance with the ISO/FDIS 4730: 2004 standards, required by the Australian standardization systems), a compound to which an important part of its activities is attributed, and maximum concentrations of others, such as 1,8-cineole, which must not be greater than 15% of the composition.

The chemotype marketed is terpinen-4-ol which must contain between 30 and 40% of that component.

References:

Carretero Accame, M. E. (2008). The tea tree. Botplusweb.portalfama.com
Carretero Accame, M. E. et al. (2014). Medicinal plants and derivatives in dermatology (IV): Malaleuca. Botplusweb.portalfama.com.

What are MARNYS® Tea Tree essential oils?

At MARNYS®, we only use 100% pure and chemotyped essential oils to manufacture our products, always keeping our aim of providing the highest quality products.

MARNYS® Organic Tea Tree and Tea Tree Essential Oils are 100% pure, natural and of Australian origin of the highest quality, with more than 80% of total terpenes guaranteed and more than 40% of terpinen-4ol, analyzed by GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Chromatography).

How is the essential oil extracted?

MARNYS® Tea Tree essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of Melaleuca alternifolia leaves. The resulting essential oil has a colorless or slightly yellow-greenish appearance and an intense and refreshing smell.

The main active ingredients of Tea Tree essential oil are terpinen-4-ol, ϒ-terpinene and α-terpinene.

MARNYS® Essential Oils Quality Guarantee

MARNYS® has the most advanced instrumentation, technical equipment and qualified professionals to determine the volatile components present in essential oils, which are used to assess their quality and efficacy.

MARNYS® essential oils are tested with GC-MS (Gas Mass Chromatography) equipment, which allows analyzing and quantifying compounds in complex mixtures with a high degree of effectiveness. This analysis is carried out by using internationally recognized and approved methodology in the European Pharmacopoeia.

The requirements for the levels of each component in MARNYS® Bio Tea Tree and Tea Tree essential oils are in accordance with the International Standard ISO 4730-2004, which is the highest international quality standard required for the above-mentioned essential oils.