Microbial Research Paper Sample on Tea Tree Oil

Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as staph, is one of the medically important bacteria belonging to the Firmicutes. Staph is round-shaped in appearance, and they are normal flora in a certain part of the body such as the nose, skin, and respiratory tract. Staph are catalase reducing as well as exhibit nitrate reduction making them facultative anaerobes. In limited concentrations, staph is not always pathogenic to a healthy person. However, in immunocompromised individuals, and exceeding concentration, staph is a common cause of respiratory infections, skin infections, and food poisoning among others. Infection by staph is facilitated through the production of virulence factors such as protein toxins and expressing a cell-surface protein which works to bind and inactivate antibodies. There is a new and very virulent strain of staph called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that is a major global problem in medicine. To date, scientists have failed to come up with a single vaccine for staph. However, wide spectrum antibiotics have been found to counteract the pathogenicity of staph. Some local tree mixtures have been found to demonstrate antimicrobial activity against staph that is equal to or better than Bactroban (Mupirocin) ointment.

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Background Information and Relevance Of Information

Starting with Tea Tree Oil, it is a popular herbal medication that has been used for its antimicrobial properties. The volatile essential oil is extracted from the leaves and branches of M. alternifolia through a process of steam distillation. TTO is preferred for topical applications on wound infections as it is toxic orally and through injection. In most cosmetics, TTO is the active ingredient in the formula that treats cutaneous infections, control of dandruff, lice, acne, herpes, skin infections, among others (Singh, Vadhana, Bhardwaj & Kumar, 2018). A study conducted to investigate the above claim showed that the antimicrobial activity of TTO was effective against a wide range of bacteria that are often affiliated with the wound and topical infections in human beings("14 Benefits and Uses for Tea Tree Oil", 2018). Approximately 550 bacteria were tested in this research and were found to be sensitive (de Groot & Schmidt, 2016). Staphylococcus, like many other organisms, develops resistance to drugs after excessive use. There is such a thing as a mutation that renders staph immune to Bactroban. Being the preferred antibiotic by many physicians and clinicians, Bactroban has fast become misused and thus, gradually losing its therapeutic effects against Staph. The diluted forms of the oil have wide applications in the cosmetic industry for designing skin products. TTO contains a couple of compounds such as terpinen-4-ol, that serves bactericidal purposes (de Groot & Schmidt, 2015). Terpinen-4-ol also increases the activity of leucocytes, which in turn, help in fighting germs and other pathogenic invaders.

Coconut oil is an active antimicrobial that has been used in treating cold for over five years. It has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties based on the medium chain fatty acids/triglycerides. The above component inactivates microorganisms through its lauric acid that is predominantly found in the medium chain fatty acids. Additionally, coconut oil is a promising antimicrobial agent used in treating antibiotic-resistant infectious microorganisms (Shilling, Matt, Rubin, Visitacion, Haller, Grey, & Woolverton, 2013). Apple cider vinegar, on the other hand, it has both antibacterial and anti-fungal properties thus a useful topical ointment for treating infectious microorganisms. This antimicrobial agent has malic acid that is known for its antibacterial activities (Gopal, Muthu, Jung, Chul, Anthonydhason, Gansukh, & Iyyakkannu, 2017).

Impetigo is a common disease among children. It is a bacterial skin infection that presents with red sores, and at the chronic stages, it can break open with oozing fluid and later develops a yellow-brown crust. The sores can appear anywhere on the body, and it is known to be caused by both strep and staphs. Topical antibacterial agents are used in treating the above infection alongside with other orally administered antibiotics.

Hypothesis

Tea tree, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar have antimicrobial activity comparable to or better than that of Bactroban (mupirocin) ointment thus useful in the treatment of impetigo.

Materials and Method

In the experiment, a combination of Tea tree, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar ingredients was used to prepare an antibiotic and based on the hypothesis; it was used for treating impetigo. Concerning the mixed ingredients, they are active as compared to use a Bactroban ointment that has only one active ingredient. Additionally, based on antibacterial resistance, the above combination is better because of the many anti-bacterial agents.

References

14 Benefits and Uses for Tea Tree Oil. (2018). Healthline. Retrieved 18 February 2018, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-tree-oil#section1

de Groot, A., & Schmidt, E. (2015). Eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil. Contact Dermatitis, 73(6), 381-386. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cod.12450

de Groot, A., & Schmidt, E. (2016). Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition. Contact Dermatitis, 75(3), 129-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cod.12591

Gopal, J., Muthu, M., Jung, S., Chul, S., Anthonydhason, V., Gansukh, E., & Iyyakkannu, S. (2017). Authenticating apple cider vinegar's home remedy claims: antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral properties and cytotoxicity aspect. Natural Product Research, 1-5.

Shilling, M., Matt, L., Rubin, E., Visitacion, M. P., Haller, N. A., Grey, S. F., & Woolverton, C. J. (2013). Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids on Clostridium difficile. Journal of Medicinal Food, 16, 12, 1079-85.

Singh, B., Vadhana, P., Bhardwaj, M., & Kumar, V. (2018). Comparative Antimicrobial Activity of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil) and Common Topical Antimicrobials against Bacteria Associated With Wound and Topical Infections. Retrieved 18 February 2018.