title: Investigations of kanuka and manuka essential oils for in vitro treatment of disease and cellular inflammation caused by infectious microorganisms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diseases caused by infectious and inflammatory microorganisms are among the most common and most severe nosocomial diseases worldwide. Therefore, developing effective agents for treating these illnesses is critical. In this study, essential oils from two tea tree species, kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) and manuka (Leptospermum scoparium), were evaluated for use in treating diseases and inflammation caused by microorganism infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolates of clinically common bacteria and fungi were obtained from American Type Culture Collection and from Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for Trichosporon mucoides, Malassezia furfur, Candida albicans, and Candida tropicalis were determined by the broth microdilution method with Sabouraud dextrose broth. The antibacterial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus mutans, and Escherichia coli were determined by the broth microdilution method. A human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) was cultured to test the effects of the essential oils on the release of the two inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple analyses of microorganism growth confirmed that both essential oils significantly inhibited four fungi and the four bacteria. The potent fungicidal properties of the oils were confirmed by minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.78% to 3.13%. The oils also showed excellent bactericidal qualities with 100% inhibition of the examined bacteria. In THP-1 cells, both oils lowered tumor necrosis factor-α released after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Finally, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of the oils were obtained without adversely affecting the immune system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the potent antimicroorganism and anti-inflammation properties of kanuka and manuka essential oils make them strong candidates for use in treating infections and immune-related disease. The data confirm the potential use of kanuka and manuka extracts as pharmaceutical antibiotics, medical cosmetology agents, and food supplements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chien-Chia
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Sui-Hing
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Muh-Yong
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Department of Fragrance and Cosmetic Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Pei-Fang
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wei-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Section of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Biotechnology, Fooyin University, Taiwan, ROC; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Tsi-Shu
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: wzh@mail.nsysu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Fragrance and Cosmetic Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: davidw@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hui-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: David Wang
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D031648:Kunzea / Q000737:chemistry; D031649:Leptospermum / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4
keywords: Bacteria; Fungi; Inflammation; Kanuka essential oils; Manuka essential oils