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Short Communications
Activity of tea tree oil against Methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus isolated from school children
J.Vimalin Hena* and S.S.Sudha
Abstract
The essential oil obtained from Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) inhibited Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 1.0% and the minimal inhibitory concentration for methicillin resistant S.aureus was 2%. Tea tree is notable for its essential oil which has anti- fungal and anti-bacterial activity. Tea tree oil is bactericidal in higher concentration but at lower concentration it is bacteriostatic. The antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil is attributed mainly to the chemical terpinen -4-01 which is upto 40% in the leaves of the plant. In future compounds can be characterized by gas photo chromatography or by mass spectro retention time data. In the present study the activity of tea tree oil towards CAMRSA is analysed.
Key Words: Melaleuca alternifolia , essential oil, Antibacterial activity, terpinen -4
*Department of Microbiology, Hindusthan College of Arts & Science,Coimbatore. Post graduate and Research Department of Microbiology, Dr. N.G.P Arts and Science College,Coimbatore-646 048, Tamil Nadu, India
*Corresponding Author: post4vimalin@yahoo.co.in