Bronson & Jacobs and Maria River Improved Identification Methods for Australian Tea Tree Oil
History: Australian Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil, steam distilled from the Australian plant Melaleuca Alternifolia. It has been used medicinally by Australian Aborigines for centuries and was identified as an antiseptic by the New South Wales chief chemist in the 1920s. In the decades since, tea tree oil has also been found to have substantial anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity. The oil is steam-distilled and has been produced and marketed in Australia for the past 80 years. It is only in the past 20-30 years however, that Melaleuca Alternifolia has been cultivated intensively as a commercial agricultural crop.
Current Specification: The oil of Melaleuca Alternifolia has more than 100 components. The most abundant of these is terpinen-4-ol which makes up at least 30 per cent and has an important role in the oil s antimicrobial activity. Levels of 15 components are stipulated in the International Standard for Oil of Melaleuca, Terpinen-4-ol type (ISO 4730). These levels are shown in the table. An increasing number of other national and international standards apply to tea tree oil. The European Pharmacopoeia and the World Health Organisation have produced international monographs, and Australia, France and Germany have published national standards.
Purpose: Dangers of Non-Standard Australian Tea Tree Oil Efficacy All Industry (ATTIA) Testing has been done on ISO / EP Standard Material Fraud Deliberate Australian Tea Tree Oil is expensive approx A$40.00kg Fragrance Grade is available at lower cost but NO efficacy Accidental Misunderstanding the origin of the material NOT Green or White Tea Natural from the plant, includes many trace components Nature Identical copying the plant by blending synthetic & natural components Synthetic man made
What a Certificate of Analysis Looks Like:
What a Certificate of Analysis Looks Like:
What a Certificate of Analysis Looks Like:
What Is Being Done Market Awareness Program Australian Tea Tree Oil Industry Association (ATTIA) Public Presentations IFEATT In-Cosmetics PCHi Facebook and other social media Topic papers for circulation amongst suppliers/consumers Code Of Practice [CoP] Develop an industry code of practice to provide NATTO users with confidence of quality. ATTIA CoP has endorsed by SCCP Conducts strict field audits prior to certification Produced CoP stainless steel drum seal to prevent synthetic Tea Tree Oil from passing off as NATTO Ensures Chain of Custody Chiral testing in the new ISO standard
Examples of the Seal / Caps for the ATTIA CoP
New Specification Chiral Testing: Nature makes compounds in specific enantiomeric (chiral) forms (i.e. d-glucose not l-glucose) In TTO we have three compounds which are enantiomeric Terpinen-4-ol α-terpineol Limonene
What Have We Found: 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% (S)-terpinene-4-ol (R)-terpinene-4-ol 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% tea tree 43 tea tree 67 tea tree 68 tea tree 69 tea tree 71 tea tree 72 tea tree 73 tea tree 74 tea tree 75 tea tree 78 tea tree 79 tea tree 80 tea tree 81 tea tree 82 tea tree 83 tea tree 88 tea tree 89 tea tree 91 tea tree 92 tea tree 41 tea tree 42 tea tree 44 tea tree 45 tea tree 46 tea tree 47 tea tree 65 tea tree 66 tea tree 70 tea tree 76 tea tree 77 tea tree 85 tea tree 87 tea tree misc t type tea tree sample D tea tree tks 09103025 tea tree tks 09103040 tea tree tks 09110301 tea tree tks 09110302 The samples to the Left Side of the graph have been supplied by ATTIA members. Those to the Right Represent a random selection of retail products, purporting to be Australian Tea Tree Oil
What Have We Found: 100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% (S)-alpha-terpineol (R)-alpha-terpineol 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% tea tree tks 09110302 tea tree tks 09110301 tea tree tks 09103040 tea tree tks 09103025 tea tree sample D tea tree misc t type tea tree 87 tea tree 85 tea tree 77 tea tree 76 tea tree 70 tea tree 66 tea tree 65 tea tree 47 tea tree 46 tea tree 45 tea tree 44 tea tree 42 tea tree 41 tea tree 92 tea tree 91 tea tree 89 tea tree 88 tea tree 83 tea tree 82 tea tree 81 tea tree 80 tea tree 79 tea tree 78 tea tree 75 tea tree 74 tea tree 73 tea tree 72 tea tree 71 tea tree 69 tea tree 68 tea tree 67 tea tree 43 The samples to the Left Side of the graph have been supplied by ATTIA members. Those to the Right Represent a random selection of retail products, purporting to be Australian Tea Tree Oil
What Have We Found: 100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% tea tree 43 tea tree 67 tea tree 68 tea tree 69 tea tree 71 tea tree 72 tea tree 73 tea tree 74 tea tree 75 tea tree 78 tea tree 79 tea tree 80 tea tree 81 tea tree 82 tea tree 83 tea tree 88 tea tree 89 tea tree 91 tea tree 92 tea tree 41 tea tree 42 tea tree 44 tea tree 45 tea tree 46 tea tree 47 tea tree 65 tea tree 66 tea tree 70 tea tree 76 tea tree 77 tea tree 85 tea tree 87 tea tree misc t type tea tree sample D tea tree tks 09103025 tea tree tks 09103040 tea tree tks 09110301 tea tree tks 09110302 (S)-limonene (R)-limonene The samples to the Left Side of the graph have been supplied by ATTIA members. Those to the Right Represent a random selection of retail products, purporting to be Australian Tea Tree Oil
Where is the Specification Headed: GC testing can differentiate the enantiomers. Needs special column Is this used for other oils? Lavender Oil already has chiral testing in the pharmacopea Benefits for the User / Consumer Guarantee of Raw Material Efficacy Intermediate Step Ensure you receive a complete analysis to ISO 4730, EP 2012
Personal Care, Cosmetics & Pharmaceuticals The cosmetics to which tea tree oil is added are moisturisers (1.25%), body lotions (1.25%), shampoos and conditioners, mouth washes (0.2%), face cleansing washes (0.7%), hand washes (0.7%), soaps (2%), foot sprays (2%), foot powders (1%), shaving products (2%), post-waxing treatments (1.25%) and deodorants (2%). Because of its anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-viral and antiinflammatory activity, tea tree oil is also sold over-the counter as neat oil or in 10-15% tea tree oil solutions. At the University of Western Australia, ongoing research into improved tea tree oil based formulations that can eradicate cancer cells and be used to treat superficial and deep skin cancers more efficiently
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil (INCI) A Natural Product from a Single Plant Produced by Steam Distillation Has over 100 Compounds working in concert Efficacy Data only applies to EP/ISO Standard Material Don t Accept Short Cuts in Specification or COA, when efficacy is critical Ensure material is packed in stainless steel or bare aluminium packing (with DG marks) to ensure product integrity
Acknowledgements: Australian Tea Tree Industry Association www.attia.org RIDIC NSW Rural Industries Development & Investment Corp Integria Health Maria River Plantation www.mariariverplantation.com Bronson & Jacobs www.bronsonandjocobs.com.au