Planta Med 2011; 77(1): 54-56
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250055
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Letters
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Tea Tree Oil Might Combat Melanoma

Giuseppina Bozzuto1 , Marisa Colone1 , Laura Toccacieli1 , Annarita Stringaro1 , Agnese Molinari1
  • 1Department of Technology and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

received April 8, 2010 revised May 17, 2010

accepted May 21, 2010

Publication Date:
17 June 2010 (online)

Abstract

In this study we present new data from experiments focused on the antitumor activity of tea tree oil (TTO), an essential oil distilled from Melaleuca alternifolia. TTO proved to be capable of inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells and of overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR), as we reported in our previous study. Moreover, the survival role of the MDR-marker P-glycoprotein appears to be involved in the mechanism of invasion of melanoma cells. The results reported herein indicate that TTO and its main active component, terpinen-4-ol, can also interfere with the migration and invasion processes of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant melanoma cells.

References

  • 1 Grossman D, Altieri D C. Drug resistance in melanoma: mechanisms, apoptosis, and new potential therapeutic targets.  Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2001;  20 3-11
  • 2 Liang Y, McDonnell S, Clynes M. Examining the relationship between cancer invasion/metastasis and drug resistance.  Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2002;  2 257-277
  • 3 Calcabrini A, Stringaro A, Toccacieli L, Meschini S, Marra M, Colone M, Salvatore G, Mondello F, Arancia G, Molinari A. Terpinen-4-ol the main component of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil inhibits the in vitro growth of human melanoma cells.  J Invest Dermatol. 2004;  122 349-360
  • 4 Giordani C, Molinari A, Toccacieli L, Calcabrini A, Stringaro A, Chistolini P, Arancia G, Diociaiuti M. Interaction of tea tree oil with model and cellular membranes.  J Med Chem. 2006;  49 4581-4588
  • 5 Colone M, Calcabrini A, Toccacieli L, Bozzuto G, Stringaro A, Gentile M, Cianfriglia M, Ciervo A, Caraglia M, Budillon A, Meo G, Arancia G, Molinari A. The multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein: a mediator of melanoma invasion?.  J Invest Dermatol. 2008;  128 957-971
  • 6 Takahashi K, Eto H, Tanabe K. Involvement of CD44 in matrix metalloproteinase-2 regulation in human melanoma cells.  Int J Cancer. 1999;  80 387-395
  • 7 Cianfriglia M, Willingham M C, Tombesi M, Scagliotti V, Frasca G, Chersi A. P-glycoprotein mapping identification of a linear human-specific epitope in the fourth loop of the P-glycoprotein extracellular domain by MM4.17 murine monoclonal antibody to human multi-drug-resistant cells.  Int J Cancer. 1994;  56 153-160
  • 8 Luciani F, Molinari A, Lozupone F, Calcabrini A, Lugini L, Stringaro A, Puddu P, Arancia G, Cianfriglia M, Fais S. P-glycoprotein-actin association through ERM family proteins a role in P-glycoprotein function in human cells of lymphoid origin.  Blood. 2002;  15 641-648

Agnese Molinari

Department of Technology and Health
Istituto Superiore di Sanità

Viale Regina Elena 299

00161 Rome

Italy

Phone: + 39 6 49 90 34 06

Fax: + 39 6 49 90 35 63

Email: agnese.molinari@iss.it