Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia) Research

Latin Name: Melaleuca ericifolia

Family: Myrtaceae

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

GENERAL

• Tisserand, R. & Young, R.  (2014). Essential Oil Safety.  Second Edition.  Churchill, Livingstone, Elsevier.

ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIFUNGAL

•  The antimicrobial activities of Melaleuca spp is reviewed. From: Sharifi‐Rad, J., Salehi, B., Varoni, E. M., Sharopov, F., Yousaf, Z., Ayatollahi, S. A., … & Iriti, M. (2017). Plants of the Melaleuca genus as antimicrobial agents: From farm to pharmacy. Phytotherapy Research, 31(10), 1475-1494.
• Antimicrobial activities of essential oils from Melaleuca species were demonstrated. From: Farag, R. S., Shalaby, A. S., El‐Baroty, G. A., Ibrahim, N. A., Ali, M. A., & Hassan, E. M. (2004). Chemical and biological evaluation of the essential oils of different Melaleuca species. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives, 18(1), 30-35.
• Anethole anisata, Callistris glaucophyllia, Melaleuca spp. and Thyptomine calycina, showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens. From: Wilkinson, J. M., & Cavanagh, H. (2005). Antibacterial activity of essential oils from Australian native plants. Phytotherapy Research, 19(7), 643-646.
• Cajeput oil and its isolated constituents of linalool, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, and 1,8-cineole demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients’ clinical material.  From:  Cuong, N. D., Xuyen, T. T., Motl, O., Stránský, K., Presslova, J., Jedlickova, Z., & Serý, V. (1994). Antibacterial properties of Vietnamese cajuput oil. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 6(1), 63-67.
• Cineole, citral, geraniol, linalool and menthol were tested against a variety of bacteria and fungi, showing a range of antimicrobial activity.  From:  Pattnaik, S., Subramanyam, V. R., Bapaji, M., & Kole, C. R. (1996). Antibacterial and antifungal activity of aromatic constituents of essential oils. Microbios, 89(358), 39-46.

REPELLENT

• Australian plants demonstrated varying degrees of insect (mosquito) repellency and included: eucalyptus, tea tree, cajuput, manuka, balm mint bush, fragonia, myrtle, cypress, and niaouli. From: Webb, C. E. (2014). Insect repellents derived from Australian plants and implications for public health messages. Insect repellents handbook, 213.
• Laboratory and field testing showed oil from Melaleuca ericifolia to be an effective insect repellent. From: Greive, K. A., Staton, J. A., Miller, P. F., Peters, B. A., & Oppenheim, V. J. (2010). Development of Melaleuca oils as effective natural‐based personal insect repellents. Australian journal of entomology, 49(1), 40-48.

IMPROVED RESPIRATION

•  In this placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial 246 patients with chronic bronchitis, long use (one month) of myrtol (contains alpha pinene, cineole, and d-limonene) over one month was tolerable and effective.   From:  Meister, R., Wittig, T., Beuscher, N., & de Mey, C. (1999). Efficacy and tolerability of Myrtol standardized in long-term treatment of chronic bronchitis. Arzneimittelforschung, 49(04), 351-358.
• In this 2 week treatment of 676 patients with chronic bronchitis, myrtol (contains alpha pinene, cineole, and d-limonene) was safe and effective.  From:  Matthys, H., de Mey, C., Carls, C., Ryś, A., Geib, A., & Wittig, T. (2000). Efficacy and tolerability of myrtol standardized in acute bronchitis. Arzneimittelforschung, 50(08), 700-711.

NEUROPROTECTIVE

•  In a review of essential oils from the Myrtaceae family, those containing higher amounts of 1,8-cineole demonstrated the highest activity to inhibit the AchE.  Alzheimer’s disease is related to a loss of neuron function and neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh).  From:  Petrachaianan, T., Chaiyasirisuwan, S., Athikomkulchai, S., & Sareedenchai, V. (2019). Screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in essential oil from Myrtaceae. TJPS, 43(1), 63-68. 

ANXIETY

• Linalool applied to the skin with a mask covering the nose to prevent smelling had a sedative effect in humans.  From:  Heuberger, E., Redhammer, S., & Buchbauer, G. (2004). Transdermal Absorption of ()-Linalool Induces Autonomic Deactivation but has No Impact on Ratings of Well-Being in Humans. Neuropsychopharmacology, 29(10).
• Linalool possess anxiolytic properties in mice.  From: Cheng, B. H., Sheen, L. Y., & Chang, S. T. (2015). Evaluation of anxiolytic potency of essential oil and S-(+)-linalool from Cinnamomum osmophloeum ct. linalool leaves in mice. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 5(1), 27-34.  
• Linalool and the anxiolytic effect on rats was assessed.  From:  McCall, S. (2008). Investigation of the anxiolytic effects of linalool, a lavender extract, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat. AANA journal, 76(1), 1.
• Linalool has a sedative effects on the Central Nervous System, including hypnotic, anticonvulsant and hypothermic properties, due to an inhibitory effect on glutamate binding in the (rat) cortex.  From:  Elisabetsky, E., Marschner, J., & Souza, D. O. (1995). Effects of linalool on glutamatergic system in the rat cerebral cortex. Neurochemical research, 20(4), 461-465.
• Inhalation of linalool oxide was anxiolytic in animal studies.  From:  Souto-Maior, F. N., de Carvalho, F. L., de Morais, L. C. S. L., Netto, S. M., de Sousa, D. P., & de Almeida, R. N. (2011). Anxiolytic-like effects of inhaled linalool oxide in experimental mouse anxiety models. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 100(2), 259-263.

ANALGESIC

• Batista et al discussed linalool and the glutamatergic system involved in antinociception in mice.  From:  Batista, P. A., de Paula Werner, M. F., Oliveira, E. C., Burgos, L., Pereira, P., da Silva Brum, L. F., & dos Santos, A. R. S. (2008). Evidence for the involvement of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors on the antinociceptive effect of (−)-linalool in mice. Neuroscience letters, 440(3), 299-303.

Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 9/9/19