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. 2002 May;51(5):236-44.
doi: 10.1007/pl00000299.

Tea tree oil reduces the swelling associated with the efferent phase of a contact hypersensitivity response

C Brand  1 , M A Grimbaldeston, J R Gamble, J Drew, J J Finlay-Jones, P H Hart
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Tea tree oil reduces the swelling associated with the efferent phase of a contact hypersensitivity response

C Brand et al. Inflamm Res. 2002 May.

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 TNFalpha-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 alpha-terpineol can regulate the oedema associated with the efferent phase of a contact hypersensitivity response.

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