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Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil inhibits
the in vitro growth of human melanoma cells.
Calcabrini A, Stringaro A, Toccacieli L, Meschini S, Marra
M, Colone M, Salvatore G, Mondello F, Arancia G, Molinari A.
Laboratorio di Ultrastrutture, Istituto Superiore
di Sanita, Rome, Italy.
The search for innovative therapeutic approaches based on the use of new substances is gaining
more interest in clinical oncology. In this in vitro study the potential anti-tumoral activity of tea tree oil, distilled
from Melaleuca alternifolia, was analyzed against human melanoma M14 WT cells and their drug-resistant counterparts, M14 adriamicin-resistant
cells. Both sensitive and resistant cells were grown in the presence of tea tree oil at concentrations ranging from 0.005
to 0.03%. Both the complex oil (tea tree oil) and its main active component terpinen-4-ol were able to induce caspase-dependent
apoptosis of melanoma cells and this effect was more evident in the resistant variant cell population. Freeze-fracturing and
scanning electron microscopy analyses suggested that the effect of the crude oil and of the terpinen-4-ol was mediated by
their interaction with plasma membrane and subsequent reorganization of membrane lipids. In conclusion, tea tree oil and terpinen-4-ol
are able to impair the growth of human M14 melanoma cells and appear to be more effective on their resistant variants, which
express high levels of P-glycoprotein in the plasma membrane, overcoming resistance to caspase-dependent apoptosis exerted
by P-glycoprotein-positive tumor cells.
PMID: 15009716 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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