Abstract.
Objective: To examine the anti-inflammatory activities of tea tree oil (TTO) in vivo.¶Methods: Mice were sensitized to a chemical hapten, trinitrochlorobenzene, on their ventral skin and 7 days later challenged (or re-exposed) on their dorsal skin with the same hapten.¶Results: TTO applied 30 min before or up to 7 h after to the same dorsal site as hapten challenge caused a significant reduction in skin swelling after 24 h. TTO reduced oedema but not the influx of inflammatory cells. This finding was supported by the inability of TTO to suppress TNFa-induced E-selectin expression by human umbilical vein endothelial cells. TTO did not suppress irritant- or ultraviolet B-induced oedema.¶Conclusion: Topical TTO, specifically the TTO components, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol can regulate the oedema associated with the efferent phase of a contact hypersensitivity response.
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Received 12 September 2001; returned for revision 21 December 2001; accepted by M. J. Parnham 18 January 2002
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Brand, C., Grimbaldeston, M., Gamble, J. et al. Tea tree oil reduces the swelling associated with the efferent phase of a contact hypersensitivity response. Inflamm. res. 51, 236–244 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000299
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000299