Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil in a natural product-based formulation: Antimicrobial and healing effects in Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds

Abstract

Owing to its exposed nature, the skin can be injured by various factors, including by Staphylococcus aureus, which inhabits its innate microbiota. Treatment of infected wounds presents an important challenge, making it imperative to develop new treatment options. Plant-derived formulations, such as those containing Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil (MaEO), are used for wound treatment because of their healing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. This study presents a cream containing 2% MaEO (2% CMa) and evaluates its effects in an S. aureus-infected wound murine model. The 2% CMa was subjected to quality control testing and pH and analysis of density, organoleptic characteristics, and microbiological effects. The quality control parameters all revealed the good stability of the 2% CMa. The formulation strongly reduced the S. aureus ATCC 6538 colony-forming unit (CFU) count in an ex vivo porcine skin model. In the murine model, daily topical application of 2% CMa reduced the severity and size of S. aureus-infected wounds and the bacterial load. These effects may be due to the presence of terpinen-4-ol, which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. Based on these findings, the formulation exhibits good quality and safety. We suggest the topical application of this formulation, which exhibited an antimicrobial effect, as an interesting treatment strategy for wound healing.