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Antimicrobial Efficacy of Tea Tree Oil Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Contact Lenses

Franco A Manzanelli1, Ariel G Garro, Claudia B R Aimaretto

  • 1Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Villa María (CIT VM) (F.A.M., L.P.C., S.R.), CONICET, Villa María, Argentina; Ministerio de Producción (A.G.G.), Ciencia e Innovación Tecnológica de la Provincia de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina; Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Humanas (A.G.G., C.B.R.A., S.R.), Universidad Nacional de Villa María, Villa María, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación en Tecnologías Energéticas y Materiales Avanzados (IITEMA) (S.R.M.), CONICET, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Argentina; Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba (R.V.A.), Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba, Pabellón CEPROCOR, Santa María de Punilla, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) (R.V.A.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (S.D.P., M.G.V.), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, UNITEFA, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.

Eye & Contact Lens
|January 26, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Tea tree oil (TTO) effectively combats multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its biofilms, outperforming commercial solutions. While direct eye application is limited by cytotoxicity, TTO shows promise for contact lens solutions to prevent microbial keratitis.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Microbiology
  • Natural Products

Background:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a primary cause of contact lens-related keratitis.
  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains pose a significant treatment challenge.
  • Tea tree oil (TTO) possesses known antimicrobial properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of TTO against MDR P. aeruginosa.
  • To evaluate TTO's performance compared to commercial contact lens solutions.
  • To determine the cytotoxicity of TTO on ocular cells.

Main Methods:

  • Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill kinetics were determined.
  • Biofilm formation and eradication assays were performed on contact lenses.
  • Cytotoxicity was assessed using murine cone photoreceptor cells (661W).

Main Results:

  • TTO demonstrated potent antibacterial activity (MIC: 3.5 mg/mL, MBC: 7 mg/mL).
  • TTO inhibited biofilm formation and eradicated mature biofilms on contact lenses, surpassing commercial solutions.
  • Effective TTO concentrations exhibited cytotoxicity in 661W cells, indicating a narrow therapeutic window.

Conclusions:

  • TTO exhibits significant antibacterial and antibiofilm effects against MDR P. aeruginosa.
  • TTO outperforms commercial solutions in reducing P. aeruginosa biofilms on contact lenses.
  • While direct ocular application is limited by cytotoxicity, TTO is a promising agent for contact lens solutions to prevent microbial keratitis.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistanceBiofilmCytotoxicityEssential oilsOcular infections

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