Melaleuca (tea tree) is one of the most popular essential oils, and for good reason. It has numerous applications for skin care and in support of various body systems. Although Melaleuca has been used in Australia for centuries, little is known about its biological activity. However, that is changing thanks to the work of doTERRA scientists. doTERRA scientists recently published a study in the journal Cogent Biology on Melaleuca oil in human skin cells.
What makes doTERRA's research so new and unique? First, it is one of the few studies testing the impact of Melaleuca oil on human skin cells. This means the study is relevant to how Melaleuca is most commonly used: topically on human skin. Second, this is believed to be the first study ever to test the influence of Melaleuca on overall gene expression in humans. In other words, this study is one of the first to truly examine the influence of Melaleuca on the ongoing processes taking place within human cells.
Imagine the human cell as a factory with various workers, most of whom are proteins, which ensure its proper functioning. The level of these proteins can often indicate how the cell functions. Genes are the building blocks of cells and are essential for protein production. To learn how Melaleuca affects the processes and functions of human cells, doTERRA scientists measured the impact of Melaleuca on the levels of cellular proteins and the expression of various genes.
So what does this mean? In short, the study shows that Melaleuca has a robust influence on our genes and the proteins that make up our cellular makeup. The findings suggest that Melaleuca affects various processes and functions in human cells, including tissue regeneration and metabolism. The potential for future research and utility models is exciting.