Study of Antimicrobial Activity of New Zealand’s Tea Tree Essential Oil , Grapefruit Seed Extract and its major Component.

  • Han, Chang-Giu (Lamy Dermal Scientific Research Institute, Lamy Cosmetics Co. Ltd.,) ;
  • Lee, Young-Woon (Lamy Dermal Scientific Research Institute, Lamy Cosmetics Co. Ltd.,) ;
  • Zhoh, Choon-Koo (Dept. of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Soongsil Univ.) ;
  • Kim, Byung-Hoon (Lamy Dermal Scientific Research Institute, Lamy Cosmetics Co. Ltd.,)
  • Published : 1999.10.01

Abstract

Manuka oil sometime named New Zealand's tea tree oil is soluble in oil and come from nature. The $\alpha$-pinene extracted from Manuka oil and R-limonene which is one of the component of extracted Citrex from Grapefruit were used to estimate the antimicrobial activity and to improve the capability of antiseptic. Disk diffusion and broth dilution methods were used to measure the antimicrobial activity Escherichia coli which is gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus which is gram-positive bacteria were used as strain. The antimicrobial activity of Manuka oil and $\alpha$-pinene for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus is similar when the concentration of Manuka oil and $\alpha$-pinene is 10${mu}ell$. However, Antimicrobial activity of Manuka oil for EscherEchta coli, Staphylococcus aureus is better than that of $\alpha$-pinene when the concentration of Manuka oil and $\alpha$-pinene is low. Antimicrobial activity of Citrex is superior to that of R-limonene. The proper ratio of Maunka oil and Citrex can Improve the antimicrobial activity. The proper ratio obtained from studies was 75% of Maunka oil and 25% Citrex for Escherichia coli, 25% of Maunka oil and 75% Citrex for Staphylococcus aureus.

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