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Published on: June 15, 2019
Activity of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil against L3 larvae of Anisakis simplex
Carlota Gómez-Rincón1, Elisa Langa1, Paula Murillo1
1Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, Campus Universitario Villanueva de Gállego, Autovia A-23 Zaragoza, Huesca, Km 299, 50.830 Villanueva de Gállego, Zaragoza, Spain.
Abstract:
Nematicidal activity of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil, commonly known as tea tree oil (TTO), was assayed in vitro against L3 larvae of Anisakis simplex. The results showed a mortality of 100% for concentrations between 7 and 10 μL/mL after 48 h of incubation, obtaining an LD50 value of 4.53 μL/mL after 24 hours and 4.27 μL/mL after 48 hours. Concentration-dependent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was observed for tea tree essential oil showing inhibition values of 100% at 100 μL/mL. This fact suggests that TTO may act as an AChE inhibitor. Terpinen-4-ol was discarded as main larvicide compound as it did not show larvicidal or anticholinesterase activity. The data obtained suggest that the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia may have a great therapeutic potential for the treatment of human anisakiasis.
